High Pressure Gravel Tyres

[foo on patrol]

No 29er's.

Foo

[MichaelB]

No 29er's.

Foo

Aren’t the 700’s 29ers ?

[ldrcycles]

"29r" is just a fat 622mm (700C), so depending on the rim width the 700x42 version of that tyre should be suitable.

Edit: just checked my 29er in the shed, it's got 2.2" Maxxis Ikons, and they roll well on bitumen as well as having plenty of grip in the dirt.

[singlespeedscott]

I wouldn’t say the Ikon is a very good tyre on the bitumen.

[Paddles]

Here's another test where someone has tried to figure out between slick and tread.

https://www.bikeradar.com/au/road/gear/ ... rip-53341/

I checked out those Specialized ones before going with a high volume slick Michael, I ended up questioning whether I needed that file tread or edge knobs for the gravel riding I mainly do which is firm gravel and pine forest sand. I also really wanted my tyres to roll nicely on sealed roads because my Silex is my road bike as well and has to do it all.

[foo on patrol]

No 29er's.

Foo

Aren’t the 700’s 29ers ?

Well I'm used to seeing 26x or 27x or 29x so I didn't know that.

Foo

[foo on patrol]

"29r" is just a fat 622mm (700C), so depending on the rim width the 700x42 version of that tyre should be suitable.

Edit: just checked my 29er in the shed, it's got 2.2" Maxxis Ikons, and they roll well on bitumen as well as having plenty of grip in the dirt.

Hate you youngins!

Foo

[MichaelB]

Well I'm used to seeing 26x or 27x or 29x so I didn't know that.

Foo

Welcome to the metric world

[Thoglette]

Well I'm used to seeing 26x or 27x or 28x so I didn't know that.

Fixed it for you, young fella.

[foo on patrol]

Well I'm used to seeing 26x or 27x or 28x so I didn't know that.

Fixed it for you, young fella.

Foo

[ldrcycles]

Well I'm used to seeing 26x or 27x or 29x so I didn't know that.

Foo

It's easy, just remember that 29" is smaller than 27", and either the same size as 28", or smaller depending on which of the three 28" sizes you're comparing

[Paddles]

Well I'm used to seeing 26x or 27x or 29x so I didn't know that.

Foo

It's easy, just remember that 29" is smaller than 27", and either the same size as 28", or smaller depending on which of the three 28" sizes you're comparing

Bwahaha, I'm confused for you now Foo

[foo on patrol]

Well I'm used to seeing 26x or 27x or 29x so I didn't know that.

Foo

It's easy, just remember that 29" is smaller than 27", and either the same size as 28", or smaller depending on which of the three 28" sizes you're comparing

Say What?

Foo

[Thoglette]

Say What?

When in doubt, refer to the Collected Thoughts of Sheldon Brown (Tire Sizing Systems)
27 x anything is ETRO 630 (except one Danish size which is 609)
28 as I remember it (British roadsters) is ETRO 635. But I have one tubular labelled 28" (and another labelled 27")
29er aka 700C is ETRO 622. The great irony here is that 40mm "29er" tyres are actually the correct 700C.

Meanwhile 27 1/2 is correctly known as 650B and is ETRO 584

Clear as, really.

On the other hand, 26" and 24" can get a little confusing.

[foo on patrol]

Say What?

When in doubt, refer to the Collected Thoughts of Sheldon Brown (Tire Sizing Systems)
27 x anything is ETRO 630 (except one Danish size which is 609)
28 as I remember it (British roadsters) is ETRO 635. But I have one tubular labelled 28" (and another labelled 27")
29er aka 700C is ETRO 622. The great irony here is that 40mm "29er" tyres are actually the correct 700C.

Meanwhile 27 1/2 is correctly known as 650B and is ETRO 584

Clear as, really.

On the other hand, 26" and 24" can get a little confusing.

Clear as mud!

Foo

[MichaelB]

Nothing like having standards.

[Thoglette]

Nothing like having standards.

"The nice thing about standards is that you have so many to choose from; furthermore, if you do not like any of them, you can just wait for next year's model."
Admiral Grace Hopper, popularised by Andrew Tanenbaum (most likely)

[ldrcycles]

The ridiculousness of bicycle tyre sizing is one of my great delights

The french sizing system was 700A, 700B, 700C, 700D, and so on with 650 and a few other sizes. In the UK it was 27x1", 26x2" etc.
Comparing the rim circumference is the only way to make sense of it.

So 700C is a 622mm circumference rim, 29" is the same size rim, just wider with a fatter tyre.

27" is 630mm and IMO is the correct size (as 27x1 1/4") for a road/gravel bike. The revival from almost obsolescence of 650B (now infuriatingly called 27.5") gives me a faint glimmer of hope that 630 could make a comeback

Like thoglette said, 28" is sometimes used on 700C tyres, as is 27".

28x1 1/2 (635mm rim, also called 700B) is still used today in India on the same sort of half tonne roadster that men rode to work in the 40s.
28x1 3/8 (642mm rim, also called 700A) is what was used on those roadsters for the UK and Australian markets (like the 1955 Healing I take to the Noosa Strade Bianche each year).

Both of those are pretty close to obsolete though.

[MichaelB]

Getting this back up the top for a specific reason.

Was shopping around to fill a basket, and noticed that some of the 650B (looking at 42 or 47 wide to fit my Cannondale Slate) tyres that have been discussed oft around here are either "not shippable to Aus", ridiculously expensive, or just available in MTB size (i.e 2.0" or bigger).

So, where do people shop for their gravel/650B tyres that have reasonable prices, reasonable range, will ship to Aus and have a selection ?

Thanks in advance

PS - because of where I ride (mix of road, hard packed clay (dry & wet), and sharpish embedded rocks) I'm leaning towards tyres like the ;
Schwalbe G-One Allround
Donnelly X'Plor MSO
Specialized Pathfinder Pro
WTB Riddler
Panaracer Gravel King

[Thoglette]

Getting this back up the top for a specific reason.
So, where do people shop for their gravel/650B tyres that have reasonable prices, reasonable range, will ship to Aus and have a selection ?

Germany, usually Bike24. Shipping remains a large expense. In my case it's decent, fast 32x630 tyres which no-one imports.

Panaracer Gravel King

For Panaracer, you can ask SCV Imports (the importer) who, if anyone, is bringing them in. Drop them an email.

As you've noted, paying RRP (or a bit more) in .au can still be cheaper than buying overseas.

[Patt0]

Bikebug stock WTB but no riddler in stock. Prolly try the riddler or resolute when they are in stock.

[MichaelB]

Thanks Thoglette & Patt0.

Geoblocking stops the shipping of some, and most local stores only have MTB type 650B tyres, so it looks like OS it is.

[Paddles]

Michael, Commuter Cycles in Melbourne stock Panaracer products (Panaracer/Soma Fabrications/Compass) and may have something you're after. I just got my local bike shop to order my Soma tyres in through SCV Imports (I did the legwork for them) and they were in overnight. Even if it costs a couple more bucks, try to keep your local bikeshop in business for those sundays when you need something in a hurry.

Edit: a quick look on the SCV website shows Gravelking slicks in stock at 650Bx48, let that be lesson to you to only buy 700C

[singlespeedscott]

I have 3 x gravel king slicks in 650b x 48mm if your interested Michael.

[MichaelB]

I have 3 x gravel king slicks in 650b x 48mm if your interested Michael.

PM sent