From experience, seating GK tires involve: 1. seating 1 side with a tube, 2. use a tire leaver to pull one side of the bead over so that there's an air seal when you blast some air in. Just seated two GK 38mm slicks (old version) with just an air chamber.
Compass Barlow Pass (made by Panaracer?) are the best..but also the most expensive. My hope is these new GK's get close to their nice ride at a price that won't make you cry when you cut one to the point you have to toss it.
I just received the 2024 standard slick GK tyres in a 35mm width and those are the ones that have the brown side walls like their old tyres! Annoying, I was hoping for lighter-coloured sidewalls like the R-line tyres you have. The pictures on all websites are wrongly matched. Mine mounted with just a track pump though and without even having to remove the valve cores. 😂
What I found that works when the tyre is stubborn and air is escaping around the bead as I pump air in, I put pressure on that spot with my hand. If the tyre is prepped properly (pulled out of the centre of the rim towards the bead all round on both sides) or when the tyre is used I usually don't have to do it, mostly when seating new tyres because of the way they're folded. I don't use wax or other lubricants like soap, so the rubber makes a pretty good seal all round just by hand.
I fitted a pair of SS 35mm with some difficultly a few weeks back. First one I left like I was going to snap the tyre lever. Second one I made sure to work the slack around and it was much easier. Just pumped them up with a crappy floor pump to seat them too. Running tubeless about 250km in so far and zero issues. Touch wood.
Panaracer aren’t the easiest to seat as others say. My last 35c tyre held air but the sidewalls leaked sealant so had to remove it. Look forward to trying the 2024 update, none available here in the UK yet.
Perfect tire to test your tubeless sealant on the road. As soon as the tire is a little worn, it's a puncture after another. This apply for the regular version and this R version is even worse.
@@Dyoochoob no. how fast a tire is, is usually determined by the casing/sidewall, not the thickness of the tread/tread pattern. so you CAN make a tire roll well AND be puncture proof. I dont know how Rene Herse manage to do it, but their Snoqualmie Pass slick tire rolls incredibly well and has good puncture protection. and it's manufactured in the Panaracer factory. I once had a Gravelking Slick, it was a nightmare, never had a more puncture-prone tire.
@@fragfarmerCA Ok I hear ya. I don't know these tyres specifically. I just meant the nicest rolling tyres have traditionally been a bit fragile and not the best choice for everyday cyclists (obviously). I agree sidewalls are key but tread thickness will still affect suppleness. Challenge SB is another fast tyre with good puncture protection. 👍
René Herse Bon Jon Pass in 35 mm is a tad lighter and maybe a bit more supple. Probably wears quicker too though. I'm using it on my Time ADHX and love it.
Yep th-cam.com/video/SUaDw-5owyE/w-d-xo.html Very nice riding tires, but in the end they weren't reliable tubeless for me (I'm not claming that they arent for anyone else!)
@@slayerofgrams Yeah, the seeping sidewalls can be a pain... I ran a set of Switchback Hills some four years ago on my GT Grade, it was a pain to keep the sealant topped up. In all other aspects, they were fabulous. I'm using the Bon Jons with TPU inner tubes now (on Bora WTO 45s), mostly due to not wanting to deal with the Bora's relatively narrow inner channel when installing tubeless. I plan to switch to a wider rim and then might give them a go tubeless.
Pro one is an excellent road tire, one of my favorites… I would guess it’s an out and out faster tire on tarmac. But my bet is that this is a better “all-road” tire. It’s all down to the riding conditions you plan on using them for. And even then there’s always an element of luck when it comes to punctures :)
I tested the previous version of the Gravelking slick (regular model, 40mm), and even being very fast and supple, it had a lot of small punctures...and this only using mainly on road(90%) and light gravel (10%). I swapped for the WTB Exposure, and they seem to wear longer, without punctures, and also providing speed and confort! Curious about this new R model though...
@@guivans I got a deal on a bulk buy of the 35mm slicks. Luckily they wear fast. I can't wait to not run them anymore. Better than clinchers but for tubeless, I've never had so many issues with poor sealing with punctures. And I run them under 40psi
Have you ever tried riding these types of tires with just a TPU tube? I do understand that it may affect the way the bead sits in the rim's bead channel, but am curious if some people just ride it anyway, because it is easier, cleaner and probably lighter.
I'm actually contemplating riding them with TPUs to start with. I rode the previous version 32mm with TPU tubes on these same wheels... I did crash haha! But I'm pretty sure that was my own damn fault and not the TPUs or tires 😅 Annyway, shouldn't be any problem running them with TPU's. The risk of puncture will go up, but there always a risk of that.
I also have good seating experience on the new GravelKing series. Overnight air loss is very low too. By the way how wide your 35c slick becomes on a rim? Panaracer used to undersize their tire size so just curious how you experience it with slicks. Also let me know how wide your internal rim width is so I can compare with my wheels.
Probably not. It's been a typical gravelking experience for me. No punctures, no drama, not the fastest feeling tire in the world, but here in Japan value for money is brilliant at below $30. However, I would no pay more than $50 like they seem to go for overseas.
Realistically they will probably stay on tarmac 90% of the time, but they will tackle paved mountain roads that’s often not in the best condition and/or are closed for a longe time due to various reasons and are full off debris.
@@richardhookway I’ve haven’t done any back to back comparisons so honestly hard to say. I also only use TPU in them this far. For me it’s the typical gravel king slick the which in my opinion a good all-road tire and thanks to the reasonable price here in Japan it’s been my go-to for many years.
@@slayerofgrams I should receive a pair tomorrow. I’ve just read the rolling resistance review which has recently been posted. Similar to the previous version - fairly average overall.
I just mounted some GK+ slicks, 35mm no issues on 303FC's. They weigh in at 350 grams. What is the reason for the "R" being so heavy? I would have thought they would be lighter than the regular GK Slicks which are claimed at about 310 gms.
I had ordered these exact tires in 35mm. I plan to set them up WITH tubes. Would you be able to advise the max PSI for a tubed set up? I am not able to find this information on their Panaracer website.
Typical Panaracer, so hard to get the bead seated. i could only get my Gravelking SK mounted with a big shop compressor, nothing else would cut it. great tyres otherwise.
@@jonpoon3896 that is strange, I have light bicycle WR45 with a 25mm internal. The gravelkings are the only tyres that I cannot seat the bead with just a floor pump.
I've mounted different tyres from panaracer (gravelling and their road tyres) on different DT Swiss wheel sets and each time, it was a pain in the ass to get the beads seated.
tire weight doesn’t matter. i one tire is a little heavier but has better rolling resistance it will be faster everywhere. check the websites that test this with rollers. yes, the real world is not rollers but real world relative ranking of tires will be the same
Heh. I always put sealant in first, use a booster or compressor, and push the tire down a bit at the valve. Life is too short. I can't count the number of GKs of all varieties I've mounted tubeless.
People love their Panaracers. But when you ask...they have not risen much else. I find them to be harsh at any pressure when compared to many tires. If you want fast light and plush get so Rene Herse.
Measured size is Spot on 35mm on 21mm internal rims @ 40psi
Which beadwax is that??
@@DDai-qd8uk I would like to know as well @slayerofgrams
From experience, seating GK tires involve: 1. seating 1 side with a tube, 2. use a tire leaver to pull one side of the bead over so that there's an air seal when you blast some air in. Just seated two GK 38mm slicks (old version) with just an air chamber.
"ultimate all-road" for the Echo 😃 Can't wait for this as I ride an Echo as well
The old 38 Gravel King slicks are my favourite tyres of all time. I hope the new ones are at least as good 🤞🏼
Compass Barlow Pass (made by Panaracer?) are the best..but also the most expensive. My hope is these new GK's get close to their nice ride at a price that won't make you cry when you cut one to the point you have to toss it.
To seat the bead while inflating, put a ratchet strap around the circumference to hold the tyre in place and limit air escape.
I just received the 2024 standard slick GK tyres in a 35mm width and those are the ones that have the brown side walls like their old tyres! Annoying, I was hoping for lighter-coloured sidewalls like the R-line tyres you have. The pictures on all websites are wrongly matched. Mine mounted with just a track pump though and without even having to remove the valve cores. 😂
What I found that works when the tyre is stubborn and air is escaping around the bead as I pump air in, I put pressure on that spot with my hand. If the tyre is prepped properly (pulled out of the centre of the rim towards the bead all round on both sides) or when the tyre is used I usually don't have to do it, mostly when seating new tyres because of the way they're folded. I don't use wax or other lubricants like soap, so the rubber makes a pretty good seal all round just by hand.
I fitted a pair of SS 35mm with some difficultly a few weeks back. First one I left like I was going to snap the tyre lever. Second one I made sure to work the slack around and it was much easier. Just pumped them up with a crappy floor pump to seat them too. Running tubeless about 250km in so far and zero issues. Touch wood.
I am so curious about these tires long term use, have not had the best experiences with gravel kings ss since the last time I used them tubeless.
Panaracer aren’t the easiest to seat as others say. My last 35c tyre held air but the sidewalls leaked sealant so had to remove it. Look forward to trying the 2024 update, none available here in the UK yet.
Perfect tire to test your tubeless sealant on the road. As soon as the tire is a little worn, it's a puncture after another. This apply for the regular version and this R version is even worse.
I can attest to that.
Always the drawback with fast tyres
@@Dyoochoob no. how fast a tire is, is usually determined by the casing/sidewall, not the thickness of the tread/tread pattern. so you CAN make a tire roll well AND be puncture proof. I dont know how Rene Herse manage to do it, but their Snoqualmie Pass slick tire rolls incredibly well and has good puncture protection. and it's manufactured in the Panaracer factory. I once had a Gravelking Slick, it was a nightmare, never had a more puncture-prone tire.
@@fragfarmerCA Ok I hear ya. I don't know these tyres specifically. I just meant the nicest rolling tyres have traditionally been a bit fragile and not the best choice for everyday cyclists (obviously). I agree sidewalls are key but tread thickness will still affect suppleness.
Challenge SB is another fast tyre with good puncture protection. 👍
Seems like a step backwards in technology. Give me easily changeable tubes any day of the week 😂
I had that exact bead seating problem with the older version slick 38b versions (on 26mm internal), but nothing that can't be fixed with a canister ;)
Thank you for the insight!
A charged air canister floor pump works like a charm !!!
René Herse Bon Jon Pass in 35 mm is a tad lighter and maybe a bit more supple. Probably wears quicker too though. I'm using it on my Time ADHX and love it.
Yep th-cam.com/video/SUaDw-5owyE/w-d-xo.html
Very nice riding tires, but in the end they weren't reliable tubeless for me (I'm not claming that they arent for anyone else!)
@@slayerofgrams Yeah, the seeping sidewalls can be a pain... I ran a set of Switchback Hills some four years ago on my GT Grade, it was a pain to keep the sealant topped up. In all other aspects, they were fabulous.
I'm using the Bon Jons with TPU inner tubes now (on Bora WTO 45s), mostly due to not wanting to deal with the Bora's relatively narrow inner channel when installing tubeless. I plan to switch to a wider rim and then might give them a go tubeless.
I find it is easier to seat tyres with this problem with the valve on the bottom and a bit of pressure holding it down.
I have a Schwalbe Pro One in 34mm, wondering if this is better. I like the Rene Herse-adjacent skinwall colouring.
Pro one is an excellent road tire, one of my favorites… I would guess it’s an out and out faster tire on tarmac. But my bet is that this is a better “all-road” tire. It’s all down to the riding conditions you plan on using them for. And even then there’s always an element of luck when it comes to punctures :)
I tested the previous version of the Gravelking slick (regular model, 40mm), and even being very fast and supple, it had a lot of small punctures...and this only using mainly on road(90%) and light gravel (10%). I swapped for the WTB Exposure, and they seem to wear longer, without punctures, and also providing speed and confort! Curious about this new R model though...
Just get hey Rene Herse. I've been all three and the Rene Herse are lighter, faster and more plush.
@@guivans I got a deal on a bulk buy of the 35mm slicks. Luckily they wear fast. I can't wait to not run them anymore. Better than clinchers but for tubeless, I've never had so many issues with poor sealing with punctures. And I run them under 40psi
@@edrcozonoking I can get three zippy fast tyres for the price of one Rene Herse, tho~
Conti GP Urban, 35 mm, super fast
Wow this is actually heavier than the old version of GK slick 38mm - how wide does it actually measure?
Have you ever tried riding these types of tires with just a TPU tube? I do understand that it may affect the way the bead sits in the rim's bead channel, but am curious if some people just ride it anyway, because it is easier, cleaner and probably lighter.
I'm actually contemplating riding them with TPUs to start with. I rode the previous version 32mm with TPU tubes on these same wheels... I did crash haha! But I'm pretty sure that was my own damn fault and not the TPUs or tires 😅
Annyway, shouldn't be any problem running them with TPU's. The risk of puncture will go up, but there always a risk of that.
I just put butyl tubes in 'em. See no reason to f__k around with sealants...I wanna RIDE, not wrench!
"it's that guy who always orders more tyres than he's willing to buy"
I just got my GK X1 R in 45 mm. Both were under the 510g spec weight; one is 495g, the other 493g.
I also have good seating experience on the new GravelKing series. Overnight air loss is very low too.
By the way how wide your 35c slick becomes on a rim? Panaracer used to undersize their tire size so just curious how you experience it with slicks.
Also let me know how wide your internal rim width is so I can compare with my wheels.
Spot on 35mm on 21mm internal rims @ 40psi
Ahhh mine is 25mm internal so maybe it will expand more... to 37-38mm Thanks,
I'm running 35mm on 19mm rim, they are 36mm actual size.
what is the name of that wax you use on your tyres for install?
How are they compared to the previous compound?
Which bead wax are you using? Also, the socks go well with the floor pump.
I thnk it is this: Maruni Industrial Tire Bead Lubricant Beet Wax 1.4 oz (40 g) B.PW-109
Any review video following this?
Probably not. It's been a typical gravelking experience for me. No punctures, no drama, not the fastest feeling tire in the world, but here in Japan value for money is brilliant at below $30.
However, I would no pay more than $50 like they seem to go for overseas.
@@slayerofgrams Thanks for the review. $30 is a steal. Back to RH then!
fwiw, the tan shade of the sidewalls looks real nice. you using these tires for mixed terrain riding?
Realistically they will probably stay on tarmac 90% of the time, but they will tackle paved mountain roads that’s often not in the best condition and/or are closed for a longe time due to various reasons and are full off debris.
How are you finding these? I'm tempted, but I am surprised there are so few reviews.
@@richardhookway I’ve haven’t done any back to back comparisons so honestly hard to say. I also only use TPU in them this far. For me it’s the typical gravel king slick the which in my opinion a good all-road tire and thanks to the reasonable price here in Japan it’s been my go-to for many years.
@@slayerofgrams I should receive a pair tomorrow. I’ve just read the rolling resistance review which has recently been posted. Similar to the previous version - fairly average overall.
I'm enjoying these. They roll nicely and are a bit faster than my previous tyres.
Can you tell us, how wide the tires measure on your rims? How wide is your inner rim width?
Spot on 35mm on 21mm internal rims @ 40psi
I just mounted some GK+ slicks, 35mm no issues on 303FC's. They weigh in at 350 grams.
What is the reason for the "R" being so heavy? I would have thought they would be lighter than the regular GK Slicks which are claimed at about 310 gms.
You’re probably reading the wrong SKU then, the regular slick 35 tlr is claimed 370g.
The whole GK line got substantially heavier with the revamp. Too bad, I know I will dearly miss the old 32c slicks at 290 grams.
I had ordered these exact tires in 35mm. I plan to set them up WITH tubes. Would you be able to advise the max PSI for a tubed set up? I am not able to find this information on their Panaracer website.
So what is the difference between this and the already excellent and very affordable pari-moto?
(Looks like the pari-moto has gotten more expensive.)
Isn't the Pari-Moto only available in 650B? Or am I mistaking?
wow a Bianchi floorpump.
12 years old and counting 💪
I usually hate it when I'm at a concert, and I hear many people off-beat popping... :D
you ar ride of japan
Heavier on back as wears quicker - gets lighter
Typical Panaracer, so hard to get the bead seated. i could only get my Gravelking SK mounted with a big shop compressor, nothing else would cut it. great tyres otherwise.
Never had issues there. Sealing actual punctures is a different story though😂
Strange. I’m able to install mine at home with a floor pump. Might’ve used a tire lever once if at all.
Maybe it’s easier with wider rims
@@jonpoon3896 that is strange, I have light bicycle WR45 with a 25mm internal. The gravelkings are the only tyres that I cannot seat the bead with just a floor pump.
@@tomcrigstar weird. I have WR35 and have no problems.
I've mounted different tyres from panaracer (gravelling and their road tyres) on different DT Swiss wheel sets and each time, it was a pain in the ass to get the beads seated.
Soapy water in the bead has been my panaracer trick
tire weight doesn’t matter. i one tire is a little heavier but has better rolling resistance it will be faster everywhere. check the websites that test this with rollers. yes, the real world is not rollers but real world relative ranking of tires will be the same
Gravel king sticker on rene herse
It is the other way around.
No
Heh. I always put sealant in first, use a booster or compressor, and push the tire down a bit at the valve. Life is too short. I can't count the number of GKs of all varieties I've mounted tubeless.
People love their Panaracers. But when you ask...they have not risen much else. I find them to be harsh at any pressure when compared to many tires. If you want fast light and plush get so Rene Herse.
Rene herse are rebadged panaracers.... 🤣
Which are made at the same factory from what I remember. There are many plush models.
Ill bring my glasses to the bikeshop from now on because the new gravelking font is so ugly...