Tyres for tarmac and forest roads?

Harnser · 2 Jul 2020 at 15:58

I hauled my old bike (a Ridgeback Comet+ hybrid) out of the shed at the start of lockdown and it's worked okay, but both tyres are perished and the sidewall split on one last night.

I'm lost for what to get: the cycling market has changed since I last bought tyres; there's a bewildering array of products available and new categories like 'Gravel', and no local bike shop to say "Here, buy this" (mind, they sold me a lot of crap).

The life-expired tyres are Panoracer Crosstown 700x38c I fitted in 2005(?). They were okay for city commuting though I never felt secure cornering. I now live nearer the New Forest so the bike used for road riding (over bad tarmac) to get to the forest, and then stretches on gravel forest roads.

What would you recommend?

And what category does this usage now fit into? The 'Hybrid' label seems to have gone; there's now road/mountain/gravel/urban/cyclocross/touring categories, and tyres and bike designs for each.

lordrobs · 2 Jul 2020 at 17:31

I use Schwalbe G-One All Round for the type of riding you are describing, these are categorised as "Gravel" tyres but TBH the terminology is only to differentiate from "Hybrid" becoming more of a term associated with urban / leisure bikes.

As for the tyres... they are available in 35 - 40 mm. Personally I run the 38mm version. They are great on the road and good on dry trails. If you regularly ride over anything wet or sloppy you'd probably find the tread fills with mud and they get pretty slick. If this is the case I'd still recommend the G-One but the "Bite" tread version which is available in 40 - 50 mm.

Harnser · 2 Jul 2020 at 20:40

Thanks, those sound good. I'd seen the reviews while browsing but got lost in the "gravel" wording.

For a wheel with inner tubes, these are the right ones? https://www.merlincycles.com/schwal...aceguard-folding-gravel-tyre-700c-100498.html. I see too that Schwalbe have a Performance sub-line and an Evolution sub-line for G-One All-round, using different compounds. Which do you have?

lordrobs · 3 Jul 2020 at 11:21

Harnser said:
Thanks, those sound good. I'd seen the reviews while browsing but got lost in the "gravel" wording.

For a wheel with inner tubes, these are the right ones? https://www.merlincycles.com/schwal...aceguard-folding-gravel-tyre-700c-100498.html. I see too that Schwalbe have a Performance sub-line and an Evolution sub-line for G-One All-round, using different compounds. Which do you have?

You can use the tubeless version with inner tubes so whatever one you go with you'll be fine.

I've just got the basic Performance Line version. *Touch wood* no punctures so far (1300 miles).