Yet another Vado SL tire thread

[rochrunner]

Now that I've decided against going tubeless, I'm ready to ditch my Pathfinder Pros because they are too prone to punctures when run with tubes. Both of my recent flats were caused by really tiny pieces of gravel working their way thru the tread just enough to pierce the tube; it was not even visible from the outside without knowing where it was. With a tubeless setup (which these are intended for) I wouldn't have even been aware of it.

Anyway, what I'm looking for are some reasonably durable tube-type tires in the 700x42 or thereabouts size for an original series Vado SL 4.0 w/o fenders. I kept hearing about Schwalbe tires but then looked at their site and saw that they had about 5,000 models that were almost all sized in inches instead of what they call the "French system". I ride mainly on pavement but occasionally on packed limestone/gravel trails and regular dirt and gravel roads.

I've done a forum search that turned up a number of possibilities but personal recommendations also go a long way (listening @Stefan Mikes )?

 

[stompandgo]

I have been very happy with the Panaracer Gravel King X1 Plus tires on my Pinarello. The 40mm version on my 25mm GRX rims measure 42mm at the cross section. I am riding them with Tupolito CX Gravel TPU tubes. I ride on smooth and broken pavement, dirt, gravel, chipseal, and packed sand. They excel on all. The Plus version has additional puncture protection over the standard X1. They are available in black or brown sidewalls.

 

[Marcela]

I put a a pair of these tires on my Sequoia with 1" inner width rims. I was impressed with how they turned out. After inflation they tended to continue expanding a little so I had to repressurize with air, other than that there were no creases from folding and they were very round and consistent, as I put them on a rim I had just respoked.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/3-pack-Blackburn-700c-Road-Bike-Tire-700-x-35c-Black/282318464?filters=%5B%7B%22intent%22%3A%22fulfillmentIntent%22%2C%22values%22%3A%5B%22In-store%22%5D%7D%5D

 

[Brendon@OEB]

Can't you fit 50c tires without the fenders? I'd run something bigger if you can.

Also, based on your riding, tubeless is definitely worth considering. Granted it's more work to setup and maintain but works great for the riding you're talking about and the tubeless sealant is designed for those really small punctures.

That said, flat tires suck and when they're tubeless, field fixes can be a real "treat" so I get wanting to stay away. I run Tannus liners on gravel tires on my commuter, 700x50c. My bike is way heavier than your SL and they've held up great to use/abuse. I've run some WTB and Maxxis tires. Schwalbe makes some great options too, so does Vittoria specifically the Terreno Zero.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

@rochrunner, it is not an easy question. The issue is the market has moved in the worst possible direction: the proper tyres offered now are either 700x40 or 700x45. With no fenders, you probably might fit the 700x45, which would leave a very tight clearance. 700x40s would be safe (especially for riding mud and dirt).

Nowadays, the brand that is really respected is Continental. They make several good tubeless tyres: Terra Competition, model 0102026, 700x40 or 0102027, 700x45. Continental also has 3 other other models for "gravel cycling" and each model has its own varieties.
See https://www.continental-tires.com/products/bicycle/Terra/ My close friend Marek swears by Continental Terra Competition. (He had a bad time with the notorious Tufo Thundero, never choose ones!)

My brother Jacek is a fan of Schwalbe G-One Overland 365. These tyres are available in 40-622 (700x40) or 45-622 (700x45): https://www.schwalbetires.com/Schwalbe-G-One-Overland-365. (As I can see only 700x40 is available in the U.S, the 45s have sold out). They are good for any season and very durable. The tyres are made with three layers of fabric and are e-bike E50 rated.

Both Marek and Jacek are competing riders now, so their opinion does matter.

Note: Marek rides tubeless but Jacek is a tubed rider Perhaps the Schwalbe is the right choice for you! I mean: tubeless ready tubes are good for both systems as these are very supple.

P.S.2. The three systems for tyre measurement:

• ETRTO: 40-622 (the first number is the tyre width, the other is the rim diameter in mm). ETRTO is the only precise system.
• French: 700x40c
• Inch: 28x1.60"

are all the same tire.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Can't help with puncture resistance or the tubed vs. tubeless part, but don't feel that you have to stick with a semi-slick like the Pathfinder.

My Vado SL 1 EQ feels vastly more sure-footed on mixed surfaces after changing just my front tire from a 38 mm tubeless Pathfinder Pro to a 40 mm tubeless with some center tread. My sense is that the improvement is mainly in the center tread.

In my case, went with a tubeless 40 mm Specialized Tracer TLR up front but kept my rear Pathfinder Pro for now (see below). Result: Much better front wheel traction on all surfaces, but especially offroad, and especially when braking on steeper offroad descents.

If the front Tracer's small center lugs are slowing me down on pavement, I can't feel it. In fact, the 40 mm tubeless Tracer has a lower Crr than the 38 mm tubeless Pathfinder Pro at www.bicyclerollingresistance.com. This could be true of other tires as well.

Not saying that the Tracer's the tire for you, as www.bicyclerollingresistance.com rates it below the Pathfinder Pro in puncture resistance.

Just saying that a little center tread is a good thing on the mixed surfaces we both ride. And you may not have to accept a noticeable penalty in pavement speed to get it.

Squirrely rear end now

Eventually I'll have 40 mm Tracers front and rear. The fenders and rack will have to go, because (a) don't need fenders here, (b) the SL 1 EQ's stock rear fender can't accommodate anything taller than a 38 in back, and (c) 38s are rapidly vanishing from the gravel tire market. Loss of the rack will hurt onboard storage capacity, but now I'm determined to improve rear traction.

Why? Because with my upgraded brakes and a Pathfinder still in back, steeper descents on our typical sand-coated hardpack currently go kinda like this: