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What gravel tire do I need? – Gravel Bike Tech

Often people will recommend a certain gravel tire based on terrain you ride. But that's only half the story.

Posted by Gerard Vroomen - 01 June 2020

What size is my gravel tire anyway?

What it most likely is NOT is what it says on the label. To understand why and learn about WAM (Width as Measured) and RAM (Radius As Measured), read it here.

So which tire do I need?

The gravel tire you need depends on 3 main factors. People often focus on the terrain, for example by defining 3, 6 or 20 types of gravel and then recommending the perfect gravel tire for each. But that ignores a major factor: the rider.

The rider has (or doesn’t have) certain skills to keep the bike under control and avoid flats. The rider also determines the speed. The winner of Dirty Kanza may use 35mm tires, but if I use the same tires, I will likely end up walking a few miles. Especially if it’s wet and my slower speed sees me sinking into the mud more than the faster rider who floats over it.

Furthermore, roots, rocks and cracks get smoothed over more at high speed than at low speed where you really bump into everything. This image explains it:

Taking into account both terrain and speed, the graph of suggested (gravel) tire widths looks something like this (it’s just an indication, don’t get too hung up on a mm here or there). And again, if you need a refresher on WAM, just check it here.

Spoiler: the front derailleur

It’s important to note that when using a 2x setup, the front derailleur will interfere with the width of the tire before the Racemax frame does. The exact WAM that will fit depends on the exact front derailleur used (for example electronic front derailleurs are bulkier and leave less space for the tire).

The front derailleur clearance is fairly constant independent of which frame you choose, as the derailleur is always set up a certain distance from the center plane of the frame. This means that at a certain point, if your 2x setup interferes with your rear tire, you only have three options:

  1. Change the front derailleur to something with more clearance (mechanical always has more clearance. Other than that, SRAM WIDE AXS has more clearance than regular, and Shimano GRX more clearance than Shimano road groups)
  2. Change to a 1x setup. No front derailleur always gives you more tire clearance
  3. Change the tire.

Changing the frame won’t really change the outcome in a significant way, unless you have a frame with a crazy long chain stay so the front derailleur sits in front of the tire instead of next to it. But then you have a frame that won’t handle well, so that’s not really an option either.

Recommended gravel tires for Exploro RaceMax

Because WAM depends partially on the inner width of the rim, you might want to use a different tire on a different rim. This is not only important for tire fit but also for its performance. A very wide tire on a narrow rim is very flexible sideways, meaning that in corners your handling won’t feel as secure. So as you move from road tire widths (28-35mm) to real gravel widths (35+mm), it pays to also look for a wider rim.

As the WAM changes, so does the RAM. This is not so critical in most cases, but in the case of the Exploro RaceMax where we try to optimize the clearance between the tire and the seat tube cutout, we do target a specific RAM for optimal performance. We recommend the tires below based on:

  • WAM & RAM
  • Tire profile
  • Casing design
  • Rolling resistance (keeping in mind the profile)
  • Puncture resistance (keeping in mind profile & weight)
  • Aerodynamics (this one is tough as we can’t put every tire in the wind tunnel)

Please note that while WAM & RAM measurements are more accurate than the dimensions on the tire label, there are still variations:

  • While inner rim width is the biggest rim factor, the exact shape of the rim bed and depth of the flanges also affects the shape and size of the tire mounted.
  • Tires vary due to production conditions, so two tires from different batches may size differently. That means an individual tire’s RAM may be off by a few mm (much less for WAM), and that is a lot when you’re trying to create a proper fit between tire and seat tube.

So with WAM and RAM, we’ve gotten closer to a solution but we’re not 100% there yet.

Always check for sufficient clearance between the specific tire you use and your bike frame irrespective of WAM & RAM listed here. 

35-42mm low profile (oversized road)

RIM INNER WIDTHBRANDTIRE MODELETRTOWAMRAM
19mm inner widthPanaracerGravelKing slick35-62237352
19mm inner widthPanaracerGravelKing slick40-62239354
19mm inner widthPirelliCinturato Velo35-62234350
23mm inner widthPanaracerGravelKing slick35-62238352
23mm inner widthPirelliCinturato Velo35-62235352
25mm inner widthPirelliCinturato Velo35-62235349
25mm inner widthPanaracerGravelKing slick35-62238352
25mm inner widthPirelliCinturato Velo35-62237350
29mm inner widthPirelliCinturato Velo35-62239348
29mm inner widthPanaracerGravelKing slick35-62240351
29mm inner widthPanaracerGravelKing slick40-62242352

 

35-42mm with profile

RIM INNER WIDTHBRANDTIRE MODELETRTOWAMRAM
19mm inner widthSchwalbeG-One Allround35-62236351
19mm inner widthPanaracerGravelKing SK35-62238353
23mm inner widthSchwalbeG-One Allround35-62237351
23mm inner widthPanaracerGravelKing SK35-62238353
25mm inner widthWTBRiddler Fast light TCS37-62239352
25mm inner widthSchwalbeG-One Allround35-62238351
25mm inner widthSchwalbeG-One Speed TLE35-62237350
25mm inner widthSchwalbeG-One Speed TLE40-62240354
25mm inner widthPanaracerGravelKing SK35-62238351
25mm inner widthPanaracerGravelKing SK40-62241354
25mm inner widthPirelliCinturato Gravel H35-62237350
29mm inner widthSchwalbeG-One Allround TLE35-62239348
29mm inner widthSchwalbeG-One Speed TLE35-62240348
29mm inner widthSchwalbeG-One Bite TLE40-62242352
29mm inner widthSchwalbeG-One Speed TLE40-62242352
29mm inner widthPanaracerGravelKing SK35-62241350
29mm inner widthPirelliCinturato Gravel H35-62240350

 

53-61mm with profile

RIM INNER WIDTHBRANDTIRE MODELLABELWAMRAM
19mm inner widthVittoriaBarzo isotech 4c tnt27.5×2.25″55346
19mm inner widthVittoriaBarzo isotech 4c tnt27.5×2.1″53343
19mm inner widthSchwalbeG-One Allround TLE27.5×2.25″58343
23mm inner widthPanaracerGravel King SK27.5×2.1″56345
23mm inner widthVittoriaBarzo isotech 4c tnt27.5×2.1″53345
23mm inner widthSchwalbeG-One Allround TLE27.5×2.25″58345
28mm inner widthVittoriaBarzo isotech 4c tnt27.5×2.1″55351
28mm inner widthSchwalbeG-One Allround TLE27.5×2.25″61352
28mm inner widthContinentalRaceKing Perform.27.5×2.0″54348
28mm inner widthSchwalbeG-One Bite27.5×2.1″56348
28mm inner widthPanaracerGravel King SK27.5×2.1″58351
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56 responses to “What gravel tire do I need? – Gravel Bike Tech”

  1. T

    Trent says:

    15 December 2020

    What’s the largest 650b tire you have been able to run on the Exploro Race Max with an Ultegra/GRX Di2 2x hybrid drive train? I am currently running 700c wheels with the Schwalbe G-One All Round 38 tire on a rim with 22mm internal width. The tire only clears the back side of the body of the Ultegra Di2 front derailleur by 1 mm. I don’t see how it could accommodate 650b tires. My original intent when I bought the bike was to run both 700c and 650b wheels depending on the terrain.

    Reply
    1. Gerard Vroomen says:

      15 December 2020

      Hi Trent, we don’t run any Di2 setups so I don’t know the exact answer. The electronic front derailleurs (this also applies to SRAM and Campy) are bulky so they limit the tire clearance. This doesn’t really have anything to do with the specific frame you choose, on any frame the front derailleur needs to be a certain distance from the center plane and that determines how much tire fits next to it (unless you go with a REALLY long chain stay so that the front derailleur sits in front of the tire instead of next to it, but then you don’t have a properly handling bike anymore). The effect is less with mechanical front derailleurs but even there, the maximum tire width in 650b is not as large as with 1x.

      The exact max tire you can fit also depends on the FD setup, how closely you trim the inside limit (which is also determined by which exact crank with which chainline) and of course the clearance you want to maintain between derailleur and tire.

      Reply
      1. T

        Trent says:

        16 December 2020

        Thanks for the quick response. Sounds like I will need to convert to 1x if I want to 700 and 650b wheel sets.

        Reply
  2. A

    Arjo says:

    13 December 2020

    Hi again,
    I ran into another confusing issue. Tubeless -ready tires are not compatible with all tubeless -ready rims. It depends on the rim being “hooked” or “hookless”.
    So my question is that have you used hooked or hookless rims with your measurements?

    Reply
    1. Gerard Vroomen says:

      15 December 2020

      That depends, in general hooked on wheels meant for high pressure setups and hookless for low pressure (i.e. 650b) setups.

      Reply
  3. A

    Arjo says:

    02 December 2020

    Hello,
    I have just purchased a RaceMax and that is awesome! Anyway I am struggling with the tyre options. I would like to go with 40-622 but I am worried about the clearance being safe enough. The recommended RAM is 347-353 mm. However 40-622 Schwalbe and Panaracer with 354 RAM are still recommended despite of the extra 1 mm. Would that be a problem with the clearance? Other than that would you recommend some kind of cover tape on the seat tube regardless of the clearance?

    Reply
    1. Gerard Vroomen says:

      02 December 2020

      Hi Arjo, It means the clearance is tighter than average. Not a problem if you live in an area where it is usually dry, but not recommended if you constantly ride through thick mud.

      Reply
      1. A

        Arjo says:

        03 December 2020

        Thank you for the quick response! That was helpful. I might concider 650b wheelset for muddy rides.

        Reply
        1. Gerard Vroomen says:

          03 December 2020

          Yes, those have in general a few mm less RAM, so great for clearance. And of course you sink into the mud less with a 55-60mm tire.

          Reply
    2. Gerard Vroomen says:

      02 December 2020

      As for the Tape, you can but of course it does reduce the clearance slightly.

      Reply
  4. P

    Paul says:

    21 November 2020

    Hi,

    I just got my exploro max and I love it! Especially the big tires on the gravel are amazing. I am thinking of getting a 700 wheelset ready with a 40mm tire or so and have some Fulcrum Racing 6 DB left that I would like to use. The inner rim width is 17mm. I know it’s a road wheel, but this setup would be for winter asphalt rides.. does anything speak against mounting those (just because the lowest in the table above is 19mm) thang you!!

    Reply
    1. Gerard Vroomen says:

      27 November 2020

      A 17mm rim with a 40mm tire will work. It just means the tire rolls sideways a bit more while cornering, but it’s not a big deal. And it beats having to buy a new wheel set. If you ever do go that route, then of course go with a much wider rim. Don’t go from 17mm to 19mm, that’s rather pointless.

      Reply
  5. B

    Bernard says:

    31 October 2020

    Hi Gerard

    What is the minimum width tires size for 3T Exploro Max series which has the 650b ?
    Because I would not rather to change to 700c rim for road riding. Thanks !

    Reply
    1. Gerard Vroomen says:

      09 November 2020

      I would look at the bigger Rene Herse for example, 47/48mm is a nice size to start from for the RaceMax and they make a really nice one that is also pretty light.

      Reply
  6. b

    binx says:

    23 October 2020

    Any updates for recommended tires? I have a set of Rene Herse 38mm Barlow Pass tires, and I’m wondering how they would fit on the Discus 45/40 rims for WAM/RAM. Also wondering about the Challenge Strada Bianca 36mm. Thanks

    Reply
  7. R

    Robert Weiser says:

    13 October 2020

    Hello,
    Just purchased a Exploro Race 2X GRX and I’m waiting for delivery. I live in S. Florida where there is no climbing and it’s flat everywhere. Can you check with the Shimano rep to see if I could change out the front small chain ring from a 30 to a 36 and the rear cassette from a 11-36 to a Ultegra 11-28 or a GRX 11-30. I see GRX doesn’t make a 36 chainring so it would have to be an FC-R 8000. 46/36 chainrings are more suited for the gravel riding here. Thanks.

    Reply
  8. L

    Lars Kristensen says:

    09 October 2020

    Hi,

    I have just purchased a racamax with 3T 700c wheels with 29mm inner width and looking for a set tires for the winter, since it is muddy and lots of flintstones in Denmark, I have looked at Schwalbes utrabite tires, but which max size can fit in the frame and are they suitable at all?

    Thx in advance
    Lars

    Reply
    1. L

      Lars Kristensen says:

      09 October 2020

      – sorry exploro max, I meant
      /lars

      Reply
  9. Eric says:

    01 October 2020

    Some questions on how aerodynamic the Exploro RaceMax can be, and how I would configure it for maximum aerodynamic benefit.

    My hips and back are now too old for an aero-position, and I am looking for a road bike which, on occasion, I can take to a triathlon with the least aerodynamic disadvantage possible compared to a triathlon bike. I’d prefer it be an all-road bike, because I like to get “off-piste” on road rides, and I relish the idea of serious gravel riding.

    Background. I showed up to Ironman Canada in 2000 with a MTB, saw the aero bikes, freaked, and bought a road bike on the spot. It was a Cannondale R1000 Aero and I think it turned out to fairly aerodynamic, though the wrong size. I currently ride a custom Habanero frame, which I intended to be an all-road bike. I love the bike, but it has two shortcomings: the chainstays won’t allow a tire bigger than ~30mm (I use GP4000s @ 28mm), and it is much slower cutting through the air than I was used to. Compared to the R1000Aero, its terminal velocity coasting on a very long, steep downhill is significantly lower (the best test of aerodynamics I have).

    How would I want to configure (wheels, tires) an Exploro RaceMax for TT mode (presuming no aero-position)?

    How close could an Exploro RaceMax get to the best road bikes (Strada? Cervelo?) and triathlon bikes in terms of aerodynamics (lets say watts at 25 mph) presuming any choice of wheels and tires?

    Thanks for your insights!

    Reply
  10. F

    Florian says:

    01 October 2020

    Hi Gerard,

    I’m a bit confused about the RAM23 measurements of the Schwalbe G One Allround tires. In the table above it’s specified with 345mm whereas the 1x specs for the Exploro Max versions in the online shop state it at 354mm. Which one is correct?

    My second question is about the new Campagnolo Ekar groupset. Does anything speak against building a Exploro Max version with that groupset? In particular, is the maximum tire clearance the same as the one for the Sram mullet build? For me, an Exploro Max setup with 2 wheelsets (700c & 650b) looks more reasonable with the given Campa cassette range (10-44 for 650b and a 9-42 for the 700c wheel set) than it does with the Sram cassette options (personally I don’t like the ratios of the Shimano GRX, so I would neglect it here).

    Thx!
    Florian

    Reply
  11. T

    Tiago says:

    02 September 2020

    Wonderful job.

    Could you tell me what is the size recommended for a rider with 183cm height and 89cm inseem, please?

    Thank you.

    Reply
    1. Gerard Vroomen says:

      02 September 2020

      Do you mean tire size or frame size?

      Reply
      1. T

        Tiago says:

        02 September 2020

        Hello, I was wondering what the adequate frame size was, sorry for asking this here.

        Thank you.

        Reply
        1. T

          Tiago says:

          02 September 2020

          Other measurements:

          Inseam Measurement (cm):
          89

          Total Height Measurement (cm):
          183

          Trunk Measurement (cm):
          63.3

          Arm Measurement (cm):
          64.9

          Thank you very much.

          Reply
          1. Gerard Vroomen says:

            07 September 2020

            Hi Tiago, given your measurements, the 58cm frame should be the correct size for you. Of course if you’re really unsure about your riding position, then a full bike fit would be recommended.

            Reply
  12. J

    Josh Deetz says:

    12 August 2020

    Again great work, and so overdue.

    Reply
  13. M

    Michael Martineau says:

    24 July 2020

    I love the new Exploro’s amazing job! Would you be able to tell me what the clearance is between the rear tire and the seat tube. With the tires that are come on both the Exploro Race and the Exploro Max.

    Thanks

    Michael

    Reply
    1. Gerard Vroomen says:

      24 July 2020

      We spec a lot of different tires and obviously from the tables, we suggest even more. A 353mm RAM tire will have 4mm clearance, which doesn’t sound like a lot but the way this frame sheds dirt, it actually works very well.Not sure why you ask, maybe you’re concerned about the clearance, and that’s not uncommon for people when they first see it. Interestingly enough, nobody seems to have that concern anymore after riding it.

      Reply
      1. M

        Michael Martineau says:

        24 July 2020

        Hello Gerard,
        Thank you for your response. Yes I was a little concerned about the clearance. Your explanation make total sense.

        Thank you
        Michael

        Reply
  14. S

    Simon says:

    15 July 2020

    Sorry replied at the wrong place:

    Hi Gerard,
    I bought a Discus 45 | 32 LTD Wheelset for my Gravel Bike. Until now I was using a wheelset with 19 mm inner width and 40 mm Schwalbe G-One Allround. I am quite happy with the tyre and the WAM.
    What do you recommend for the new broader wheels: Taking Schwalbe G-One Allround in 35 mm – save some weight and get approx. same WAM then before? I do not need more WAM.
    PS: By the way – is the SRAM XD body driver sold out, cannot find it in your online shop?
    Kind regards
    Simon

    Reply
    1. Gerard Vroomen says:

      16 July 2020

      Hi Simon, I agree with you that if you don’t need a bigger WAM, you can go to the smaller tire. As for the driver body, we do have those too, not sure why they aren’t visible right now but just send a note to tech support and they can help you out: https://company.3t.bike/contact-us/

      Reply
  15. F

    Fredrik S says:

    08 July 2020

    Hi,
    Is there a aerodynamic dissadvantage when useing 35mm pirelli cinturato tire on the Discus 45/40 to a Say GP 5000 28mm on the Discus 45/32 on the ERM. Allso can you use a
    28-30mm tire on the Discus 45/40?

    Reply
    1. Gerard Vroomen says:

      16 July 2020

      Hi Fredrik, the 28mm tire on the Discus 45 | 32 will be a little faster than the 35mm tire on the Discus 45 | 40 aerodynamically. Rolling resistance will be a bit lower on the 35mm tire but in the aggregate, the 28mm tire on the 45 | 32 will still be a bit faster.

      However, this is all assuming that the roads are pretty good. If you flat more often, or if you bump around because the roads are so bad, or if you decide to do some offload after all, then it could be a different story.

      Maybe it’s easiest to see it like this: If you’re really doing road riding/racing on properly paved roads and are looking for ultimate speed,, the 28mm tire is the choice. If you care about versatility, the roads you ride are bad and you’d also like to ride some other terrain, then it’s the 35mm tire.

      Reply
      1. F

        Fredrik says:

        17 July 2020

        Thanks Gerard.
        The Discus Wheelset is just for speed, fast paced group rides. I do a lot of gravel/farm/singletrack rideing on my CX. On the ERM I’m planing on useing a 650B Wheelset for Offroad. The ERM seems to be a great race bike and gravelbike!
        Best regards
        Fredrik

        Reply
  16. Gary P says:

    23 June 2020

    The 36c Challenge Strada Bianca Pro needs to be one of the tires you chart. Other than 44c Extra Light Compass/Rene Herse Snoqualmie Pass, which almost certainly exceeds the ERM’s maximum RAM, I’ve yet to see a gravel or “Oversize Road” tire with a lower .crr. Doesn’t mean one doesn’t exist, I just haven’t seen one.

    Reply
  17. P

    Paul says:

    20 June 2020

    Hi,

    My lbs just received raxemax frame! I want to set up with my current red etap axs 2x groupset. And will install ENVE 3.4AR. What is best tire option here? ENVE 3.4AR optimized upto 32mm. And racemax designed with 35mm.

    Reply
    1. Gerard Vroomen says:

      22 June 2020

      I couldn’t give you a definite answer without putting them both in the tunnel, but I would venture that the difference is very small between the two setups. And thus I would always go with the bigger tire. To really optimize, probably the 32mm in the front and the 35mm in the rear.

      Reply
  18. S

    Steven says:

    18 June 2020

    Hello,
    I have a Cervelo RS xs with the 650c wheels from 2012? I’m 5’2″ and 107lbs. Thanks for designing and producing it. 🙂 Only if I could fit my Compass Babyshoe pass 42mm extra light tire on it. I see that the Exploro Max-XXS has a 69 head angle that is more relaxed than the larger sizes. Does the XXS have the same ride characteristics as the larger sizes?

    Reply
    1. Gerard Vroomen says:

      22 June 2020

      You can fit the Babyshoe, you just have a lot of clearance with the seat tube, and obviously a smaller tire RAM also means the BB sits a bit lower. As for the XXS, it has a slacker head tube but also a bigger fork offset (62mm vs 54mm) to compensate for that so that taken together, the handling is very similar.

      Reply
  19. Stefan says:

    17 June 2020

    Hey Gerard,
    I have the Explore teams and just purchased the new 3T Discus 45 /32 LTD with Cris King hubs and we (LBS and me) are dubbing what tires I need to take for the fastest road setup? we are dubbing if the Continental 5000 TL 700x32C would be te best choice or do you recommend something else? For the heavy mountain rides I will take the 3T 650B wheel set with WTB tires.

    Reply
    1. Gerard Vroomen says:

      18 June 2020

      That’s a great tire. Another option would be the Pirelli Cinturato Velo in 32 or 35mm. The 5000 TL fits pretty big, so that 32mm is almost like the Pirelli in 35mm.

      Reply
  20. M

    Matt says:

    14 June 2020

    Hi,
    I’m curious why 47mm tires were ignored in the tables. Is there a reason the likes of WTB Venture in 47mm or the WTB Raddler (new Riddler) at 44mm are left out in the gray zone? Thanks.

    Reply
    1. Gerard Vroomen says:

      15 June 2020

      hi Matt, these 47mm RoadPlus tires were designed to have the same size as 700x28c road tires. That was great for bikes designed for those, but once you have the tire clearance, it’s clear that even for pure road, a 32 or 35mm road tire is a better choice. That then in turn means that the 47mm 650b tires are pretty small (in RAM). And since you have the WAM clearance for much more, it makes sense to use it.

      Bottom line, both in WAM and RAM these 47mm tires are smaller than all the tires listed here. So they all fit. But we wouldn’t recommend them because the bike will work better with tires that have a bigger WAM and RAM (both from an aerodynamic and a steering geometry point of view). Does that mean these RoadPlus tires are unridable on the RACEMAX? No, absolutely not, they still work pretty well. But you have the chance to get a better experience than that, and that’s why those other tires get our recommendation and the RoadPlus tires do not.

      Reply
      1. M

        Matt says:

        22 June 2020

        Hi Gerard,
        Thank you for the detailed reply. It’s making me think. I’ve been (really) enjoying my 2018 Exploro, so much so I’ve basically dropped triathlon to ride gravel (which is easy where I live in Switzerland). Having put in about 4’000km on that bike just in the past six months, with ~58’000m of ascent, you’re making me wonder if I should be changing out my tires. I’m running 47mm Ventures on 650b DT Swiss GRC 1400 rims, which has worked well. I don’t want to go a narrower tire because I’m often on tracks more suited for mountain bikes. Is your advice applicable to the 3T Exploro as well (presumably it is) and thus you’re recommending I upsize from 47mm to the 53+?

        Reply
        1. Gerard Vroomen says:

          22 June 2020

          Hi Matt, tire clearance is not the same and this list is really meant for the RaceMax. But if it fits, then of course we like the tire on any frame. There are definitely some bigger tires that can fit in the original Exploro than the 47mm you have now. The 2.1″ Barzo could be a good choice, there are also some Schwalbe G-Ones that work well in the Exploro (though not the 2.25″, that one is too big!)

          Reply
  21. E

    E Bigarella says:

    14 June 2020

    At what end of the pressure range the measurements were done?

    Reply
    1. Gerard Vroomen says:

      15 June 2020

      We use the maximum rated pressure as listed on the tire. Of course you would ride it with less but the difference is not that big.

      Reply
  22. J

    Jon says:

    09 June 2020

    Hi Gerrard

    What inner wheel width is recommended for the Challenge Gravel Grinder TLR 700 x 38C?

    These will be my first gravel tires, but also thinking I may drop back down to 35C (think Panaracers)

    I have an array of choices for rims, but what would you recommend I get inner and outer wheel width wise? The wheelset will be primarily used for gravel. No plans.

    Im thinking something between 25 to 28 inner width, but you have the expertise

    Reply
    1. Jim says:

      12 June 2020

      I have that exact tire on a stans crest 3 rim, which is about 23/24mm internal. It makes a great shape, pops out to an actual 40mm width.

      Reply
      1. Gerard Vroomen says:

        15 June 2020

        Hi Jim, but what is the RAM of the tire? That will be the key number in this case.

        Reply
  23. Maciej Biłas says:

    08 June 2020

    Hey! I have a question about the G-One Bite TLE 40-622 tires. Those are only recommended for the 29mm wide rims. Why is that? Would they fit the RaceMax when mounted on a narrower rim?

    Reply
    1. Gerard Vroomen says:

      08 June 2020

      Hi Maciej, in general wider tire -> wider rim. With this particular model, the RAM is not compatible on a narrower rim.

      Reply
  24. B

    Binx says:

    02 June 2020

    How do 35/36 vs 40mm nominal tires respond on the 29mm internal width? Do you run into issues with the tire profile and exposing the sidewall to cuts/abrasions or being on the pavement during cornering on the road? The difference in WAM on the 35 vs 40mm version of the tires you have above seems pretty small, and I’m wondering what part of the tire is making up the difference.

    Reply
    1. Gerard Vroomen says:

      08 June 2020

      Hi Binx, you have to keep in mind that the tire still starts (in the extreme case) at 29mm for the inner, so the sidewall is always angled outward and as such protected by the front half of the tire profile. The angle you would need to touch the pavement in cornering is WAY beyond where you would have crashed already, unless you’re a Speedway racer and have removed your cranks.

      Reply
      1. S

        Simon says:

        15 July 2020

        Hi Gerard,
        I bought a Discus 45 | 32 LTD Wheelset for my Gravel Bike. Until now I was using a wheelset with 19 mm inner width and 40 mm Schwalbe G-One Allround. I am quite happy with the tyre and the WAM.
        What do you recommend for the new broader wheels: Taking Schwalbe G-One Allround in 35 mm – save some weight and get approx. same WAM then before? I do not need more WAM.
        PS: By the way – is the SRAM XD body driver sold out, cannot find it in your online shop?
        Kind regards
        Simon

        Reply
        1. Gerard Vroomen says:

          22 July 2020

          Hi Simon, yes, I would recommend going with the smaller tire if you don’t need more WAM. XD body will be back in stock soon.

          Reply
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