Panaracer GravelKing Slick TLC Folding Tyre

Product Information

AX technology uses extremely narrow cord which is weaved at a super high density into the casing for lightness and flexibility. This increased density improves resistance to cuts and abrasions.

The combination of genuine gravel trails, cobbles, off road and on road riding gave the tyres, not just a good going over for each geographical element, but also how well they transition from one to another, and I have to say I was really impressed with the balancing act that thePanaracer Gravelking SK TLC gravel tyre managed to perform. On the road they felt amazing, the comfort of a large volume tyre on a carbon gravel bike is really welcome. On mixed surfaces they didn't inspire much confidence.

Pirelli P Zero Road TLR Black 700x30

Tyre choice has a fundamental impact on how your gravel bike rides, so we put seven of the latest and best-selling gravel tyres to the test to find out which offers the best grip, speed and puncture protection over the rough stuff. At 309g per tyre it's pretty light, and only 19g heavier than the 32mm version. Meanwhile the 38s give a slightly bigger jump at 337g, so you could argue these are the sweet spot for weight versus width. Certainly they're a lot lighter than the outgoing 40mm Schwalbe G-One All Round tyres that came with my all-roads/gravel bike, which are about 480g. Each item entering Canada will be charged GST (General Sales Tax) and PST (Provincial Sales Tax - varies by province) based on the declared value.

For more about our grip test, and how the knobby tread pattern affects the test results, we have more information here.We've already reviewed this tyre in the 32mm width and the more puncture-protected (and heavier) 'Plus' 38mm version, and here we are now with the 35mm – a size that's probably becoming a little less popular as ever wider is becoming the norm. Still, there's reason not to discount the middle-of-the-road 35mm option. Big(ish) in Japan It's critical to understand our static wet grip test works with a hard surface. This means the grip data is only directly useful for comparing tires on hard surfaces where the rubber compound creates the grip. Understanding the test results gets more difficult when grip is created by the knobs digging into the surface.

ZSG Natural Compound: This compound has the same low rolling resistance as the premium compound. Its enhanced wear resistance makes it perfect for a long lasting training tire with an excellent ride. I found fitting these a bit of a nightmare, though that could just be my Hunt rims. Getting that last bit of tyre over the rim was nigh on impossible with conventional means. Tyre levers were useless (I actually broke one before giving up), and in the end it took soapy water on everything and a pair of grippy rubber gloves to roll the tyre over the edge. Not fun.

Advanced Extra Alpha Cord: AX technology uses extremely narrow cord which is weaved at a super high density into the casing for lightness and flexibility. This increased density improves resistance to cuts and abrasions. Panaracer lists the maximum pressure at 60psi, which is about the most you'd want in a tyre this large. Running them at 50 or under most of the time gave me a supple, comfortable ride and no discernible reduction in rolling speed. It also meant that they coped well with the terrible state of Wiltshire's roads.