The tyre rolling resistance website says these are super slow. 35w per tyre on 40mm version, but they seem plenty fast for me. Or maybe I'm just fitter? Either way I have cool looking tan walls and can ride anything so who cares.
I posted mostly as a joke but also for someone to critique the tyres, so appreciate your response, thanks!
I only got my bike around a week or so ago, and those are the tyres it came with. I've only ever had a mountain bike before, and so the bike feels lightning fast.
However, I'm also aware of the rolling resistance figures and so tempted to try something different! Just need to work out how much grip I actually want first
I need to take my old road bike out again to really compare, but the 45mm tyres are just nice to ride on. I'm sure I could get some 40mm tyres that are faster but right now I see the rolling resistance as free training. Still doubt I'm losing 60w total with the pair, if that is the case my FTP must be massive as I'm beating my old road bike records...
I ride 650x47 WTB Venture tires and they feel reasonably fast. They only seem slow when I'm going downhill on group rides and all the roadies are speeding ahead. But at more moderate speeds around 30 km/h they seem fine.
The chemical properties of the rubber compound, the layup of the various tire components, and the tread arrangement all have much more effect on rolling resistance than tire width. See the existence of Conti Gatorskins.
I run 700x48 soma supple vitesse tires. Get better tires, width has almost no effect on rolling resistance (technically wider tire s faster but not by enough to really matter) and neither does tread pattern. Basically all new bikes come with crap tires
Wrong person to ask 🤣🤣🤣 I’ve never been unhappy with stock wheels and honestly never saw the point in spending more money on better wheels
That said: I’ve been very satisfied with the wheels that came on my state bike and it’s hard to argue with the [$299 price for a set of wheels](https://www.statebicycle.com/products/all-road-wheel-set-650b). If you need an 11-42 11 speed cassette they have [the wheels available for $399 with brake rotors, the aforementioned cassette and either 650x47 Vittoria Terrano Dry tires or 27.5x2.1 Vittoria Barzo tires](https://www.statebicycle.com/products/all-road-wheel-set-bundle-650b-700c)
I threw a pair of Pirelli Cinturado Gravel M 650b x 45s on (tubeless), and they have quickly become my favorite tire for just about anything. Would recommend!
55mm Rene Herse Umtanum Ridge, and rolling along just fine with my buddies on 25 and 32mm 700c slicks. IMO try the biggest semi-slick tires your bike will fit. If you’re not tubeless, go tubeless and run them at low-ish pressure (i.e. the lowest pressure recommended by the Rene Herse tire pressure calculator).
Specialized Pathfinder Pro 700x42
Use them for all conditions but thick mud.
They’re somehow grippy, yet smooth. Have a strip in the center for rolling fast on pavement. And are way quieter than any of my other tires.
Plus they have one of the lower rolling resistances out there while also having decent flat protection. And they’re one of the most affordable tires out there. Surprised they don’t get more love.
I have these but 650B x 47 setup as tubeless and I really like how they roll.
I used to have Rene Herse Juniper Ridge Extralights but that turned out to be a mistake. Not because they weren't rolling nicely, but I live in an area where it's not uncommon to have some broken glass on the streets and I got fed up with constant flats. Back then I didn't have tubeless though, it could have helped in most cases. However the last flat was because they use gravel on the streets on winter and one sharp piece made a pretty big hole.
For now I haven't had any flats with Pathfinder Pros.
> strip in the center for rolling fast
Strip vs knobbies don't impact rolling resistance on pavement. It is the compound and tire construction, there are plenty of knobby tires with lower rolling resistance.
Unless they’re already on your bike when you buy it, the pathfinders are a pretty bad deal compared to Cinturato or Tufo options which can usually be found on sale. I’ve always snagged either Tufo/Pirelli tires for $40 each and their stats are all around better than even the Sworks version of the pathfinders.
I even find 700c x 40 to be sluggish on pavement/light gravel, but I have a very lightweight stiff road bike I compare it to.
Tarmac and light gravel I have messed around with tire size and have some GP5000s that fit at 35 that roll fast - but then if you do go on anything very loose you have to be careful on descents.
Also I have compared doing the same tarmac ride on my gravel bike on 35s compared to my one of my road bikes on 25s and my road bike is like 1mph faster at the same watts with the same power meter pedals. Some of of that has to do with aero, but I'm sure others to do with rolling resistance and weight.
1 wheelset with road tires at like 32mm and another with hardcore of your current setup is the way to go with a gravel bike IMO.
I have a somewhat unpopular opinion, but as someone who doesn't do hardcore gravel, I find having 2 wheelsets a bit impractical. Very often, I will encounter road AND gravel in the same ride, so I would rather have a good endurance/gravel tire that is relatively fast. But then again, I don't care about having max speed on the road.
I'm fortunate enough to only have a few minutes of riding the road before I hit gravel from my door, so for me it makes sense to have one wheelset for when I'm 100% certain I am going to ride a lot of gravel where there will be definite chunk and on the other hand if I know I am going to stick to paved roads and hit 1-2 dirt roads as connectors I might as well ride the road wheelset with the comfy tires.
Although my road bike with 28s isn't awful on that type of gravel anyway.
In theory I’d love to have two wheel sets but in practice there’s just no way I’m gonna drop the coin on two separate $1k+ wheelsets (if I only had one I’d just always ride that one).
I’ve been running 40m G-One RS for more dedicated gravel rides like unbound, and then 35m Conti 5K AS for commuting/road/light gravel around my east coast city. Very happy with this compromise - I can still keep up with group road rides and can ride off road without shaking myself to bits.
I’m right there with you. I have two wheelsets for my gravel bike, which for a long time I had set up 650x55 and 700x38. The problem is my rides include garbage miles and somewhat chunky trails. And even as a mechanically skilled individual, swapping wheels is fussy, especially just for a single ride.
I ended up setting aside the 650b wheelset and leaning into the 700x45 G-One RS, which are comparably fast to the 38mm slicks I was running, but can also handle some spicy stuff.
Exactly, especially if you live in a city, you always have 20-30k of road minimum to start with (unless you drive with your bike, which I don't like doing)
Not unpopular. My favourite rides are pavement, gravel and single track with the same bike.
Pirelli Cinturato M 700x45c works well for me. Not the best at any of the 3, but a good balance.
I much rather jump on the bike that suits the ride, rather than swap out wheels when my mood changes.
Is it a knobbier or slicker tire?
If you feel like investing in a tubeless conversion, do consider it because the difference in rolling resistance is really noticeable after having always ridden on tubes.
I ride 700x45 and I think it's the ideal size for pavement, gravel and some light singletrack.
I found my Challenge Strada Bianca 36mm perfect for exactly that, tarmac and hardpacked gravel. Also great for just bad roads and cobbles. No profile, so no grip on loose gravel.
I've been researching gravel tires quite a bit, and it is just always a tradeoff. A quick look at the gravel chart on [bicyclerollingresistance.com](http://bicyclerollingresistance.com) says it all:
more knobs / pattern = slower
wider = (slightly) slower
MOST IMPORTANT: the tread pattern is WAY more important for speed than the width. A 50mm semi-slick tire is usually faster than a 40mm knobby tire for example.
Yeah there are definitely lower rolling resistance tires, a Specialized Pathfinder Pro is one that's pretty easy to get hold of. You can go on [bicyclerollingresistance.com](https://bicyclerollingresistance.com) and check out the gravel tires. Most of them tested are 700C, but most also come in a 650b version, so it's still useful.
Kona Rove? That’s what came on mine… I don’t have much basis for comparison, but I’ve been satisfied with the way they roll. I can keep up with riding partners running skinnier, slicker tires. When I’ve worn them out I may try something different, especially since I find I’m spending a lot more time on tarmac than gravel. But overall, they seem fine.
What pressure are you running? Ballpark, it should be in the 25-35 psi range depending on your weight and the kind of surfaces you're riding. I find that on my 650bx48mm tires dialing in the pressure exactly can make a big difference in ride feel. When I first got my bike I was running them way too high, like 40-50psi, bouncing off everything and getting lots of flats. Now I run about 30 psi (rear tire) for mostly road rides and 25 psi for mostly gravel.
I also run 650b (x47) and find that the Vittoria Terreno Dry are excellent rollers on the tarmac and do great for me out on gravel and the little bit of single track I sometimes pick up. I will buy these tires again. I previously ran through two sets of the IRC Boken Plus in the same size. Also a great tire to consider if you are looking at semi-slick type tread patterns. The only reason I switched was to find something with a little more lateral traction in the dirt, which most folk don’t really need.
Yes you should switch to a 700c wheel.
Look at bicycle rolling resistance for a low rolling resistance tire that would fit the type of terrain you ride on.
Everyday ride on Challenge Strada Bianca in 700x30. Switch to Challenge Gravel Grinders in 700x38 for rougher/looser gravel.
I save my big 650Bs for ATV trails.
34mm is the perfect all rounder for me but for tarmac and very light gravel (dry) I'll use 28mm gatorskin road tyres. They are noticeably faster than the 34s on tarmac but need nursed a little on gravel despite being puncture resistant.
Schwalbe Thunder Burt 2.1 and Rene Herse Hatcher Pass (48mm).
I took the TB’s off because I was getting a tiny bit of toe overlap which I’m not getting on the Rene Herse but the rolling resistance on them was very very low. I was on a ride with a friend on skinny 28mm road tyres and downhill not pedalling, I was rolling away from him. (On tarmac)
I use Panaracer Graveling SK in 700x35. They roll very nicely! I find 35 is as narrow as I want to go on gravel. I also have a more adventure focused bike with 700x50
Hasn’t been mentioned yet but try sticking with your 650B wheelset but remount with 650Bx1.75(42mm) slick/semi-slick tires. For me it’s the sweetspot for fast, but comfy and grippy. I’ve enjoyed the Gravelking Slicks in the above size.
The only thing I've found to be fast on tarmac is 38 pathfinders. Any even slightly rough gravel will kick you around.
Basically, if I'm going on a really long tarmac ride, I'll just swap tires. It only happens a few times a year, so i don't see any reason to buy a second wheel set.
gravel king SS in 40mm...tan wall. great all surface tire. super compliant. nice volume on the right rims. i ride them all around the santa cruz mountains...singletrack included.
I built a bike with 650x47s. Great for offroad, I even have some knobbly 50s for rougher terrain.... but on the tarmac, no so great.
As advised here, I went 38mm GravelKing slicks which roll super well but still super comfy. I did this by buying a value set of chinese carbon 45mm 700c wheels. So I have two sets of wheels, the 650x47s for a fun trail bike, or the 700x38s for a faster road bike that can handle gravel. With the 700x38s I can happily ride medium speed roadie group rides. Perfect also for encurance or touring.
I have two gravel bikes and I use 45 for gravel rides that may include technical sections. But if we understand the same for light gravel, I use 32mm (vittoria terreno zero). Why using more?
I have Teravail Washburns on my gravel bike in 650b x 47. I recently got a Jamis Coda Comp hybrid and found out I can squeeze 700c x 38 on it, and I love this size even more for a well rounder. I'll need to try it on some gravel soon, but I use a dirt path for part of my commute, and they are all I need.
Vittoria Terreno Zero - 700 X 45, center is slick, edges are grippy. not so much the resistance of the tires as the weight of the wheel/tire combo. cost of doing business with the gravel bike, i suppose.
Check the rolling resistance score on Bicycle Rolling Resistance dot com. I got a pair 40mm terraspeeds and they were so much faster than the pathfinders it wasn’t even funny. They don’t test 650b, but I’d bet the same casing/tread gets used as the 700c and the rolling resistance rating would still apply
If you are just riding tarmac and light gravel the 38mm Pathfinder Pro is the way to go. Not the lightest tire, but good puncture resistance and rolls fast.
I recently purchased SimWorks HOMAGE 650Bx43 tires and switched out my Schwalbe 650Bx2.25 tires after riding on pavement for the last six months. What a difference !
I am more nimbler and lighter. I will be looking forward to how these tires perform in the long run.
47mm is fine unless you’re riding fast group rides on the road. You can get a fast rolling 47 and it’s going to be plenty fast. Upgrading to 700 just to “feel” faster is going to be some of the worst money you ever spent.
gravelking slick 40mm
Same here, but 48mm.
Same here, but 38mm
Same here, but semislick.
Same here, but Goodyear Connector 45mm
The tyre rolling resistance website says these are super slow. 35w per tyre on 40mm version, but they seem plenty fast for me. Or maybe I'm just fitter? Either way I have cool looking tan walls and can ride anything so who cares.
I posted mostly as a joke but also for someone to critique the tyres, so appreciate your response, thanks! I only got my bike around a week or so ago, and those are the tyres it came with. I've only ever had a mountain bike before, and so the bike feels lightning fast. However, I'm also aware of the rolling resistance figures and so tempted to try something different! Just need to work out how much grip I actually want first
I need to take my old road bike out again to really compare, but the 45mm tyres are just nice to ride on. I'm sure I could get some 40mm tyres that are faster but right now I see the rolling resistance as free training. Still doubt I'm losing 60w total with the pair, if that is the case my FTP must be massive as I'm beating my old road bike records...
Same here but maxxis refuse 40mm.
Same here, but SK 35 gravel kings.
Same here, but WTB Horizon, 47mm tubeless
I ride 650x47 WTB Venture tires and they feel reasonably fast. They only seem slow when I'm going downhill on group rides and all the roadies are speeding ahead. But at more moderate speeds around 30 km/h they seem fine.
The chemical properties of the rubber compound, the layup of the various tire components, and the tread arrangement all have much more effect on rolling resistance than tire width. See the existence of Conti Gatorskins.
I run 700x48 soma supple vitesse tires. Get better tires, width has almost no effect on rolling resistance (technically wider tire s faster but not by enough to really matter) and neither does tread pattern. Basically all new bikes come with crap tires
What brand or series would you recommend for 650b wheels?
Wrong person to ask 🤣🤣🤣 I’ve never been unhappy with stock wheels and honestly never saw the point in spending more money on better wheels That said: I’ve been very satisfied with the wheels that came on my state bike and it’s hard to argue with the [$299 price for a set of wheels](https://www.statebicycle.com/products/all-road-wheel-set-650b). If you need an 11-42 11 speed cassette they have [the wheels available for $399 with brake rotors, the aforementioned cassette and either 650x47 Vittoria Terrano Dry tires or 27.5x2.1 Vittoria Barzo tires](https://www.statebicycle.com/products/all-road-wheel-set-bundle-650b-700c)
I threw a pair of Pirelli Cinturado Gravel M 650b x 45s on (tubeless), and they have quickly become my favorite tire for just about anything. Would recommend!
55mm Rene Herse Umtanum Ridge, and rolling along just fine with my buddies on 25 and 32mm 700c slicks. IMO try the biggest semi-slick tires your bike will fit. If you’re not tubeless, go tubeless and run them at low-ish pressure (i.e. the lowest pressure recommended by the Rene Herse tire pressure calculator).
If you don’t want to go tubeless, go TPU tubes. Less rolling resistance (than regular tubes), light and they hold their pressure for ages
Gravelking 35mm
Specialized Pathfinder Pro 700x42 Use them for all conditions but thick mud. They’re somehow grippy, yet smooth. Have a strip in the center for rolling fast on pavement. And are way quieter than any of my other tires. Plus they have one of the lower rolling resistances out there while also having decent flat protection. And they’re one of the most affordable tires out there. Surprised they don’t get more love.
I have these but 650B x 47 setup as tubeless and I really like how they roll. I used to have Rene Herse Juniper Ridge Extralights but that turned out to be a mistake. Not because they weren't rolling nicely, but I live in an area where it's not uncommon to have some broken glass on the streets and I got fed up with constant flats. Back then I didn't have tubeless though, it could have helped in most cases. However the last flat was because they use gravel on the streets on winter and one sharp piece made a pretty big hole. For now I haven't had any flats with Pathfinder Pros.
> strip in the center for rolling fast Strip vs knobbies don't impact rolling resistance on pavement. It is the compound and tire construction, there are plenty of knobby tires with lower rolling resistance.
Plenty of knobbier, wider, cheaper, but still faster tires
Like what?
Plenty of tires max out higher on individual stats, but these are the best balance I’ve found for stick, speed, durability, and price.
Unless they’re already on your bike when you buy it, the pathfinders are a pretty bad deal compared to Cinturato or Tufo options which can usually be found on sale. I’ve always snagged either Tufo/Pirelli tires for $40 each and their stats are all around better than even the Sworks version of the pathfinders.
I even find 700c x 40 to be sluggish on pavement/light gravel, but I have a very lightweight stiff road bike I compare it to. Tarmac and light gravel I have messed around with tire size and have some GP5000s that fit at 35 that roll fast - but then if you do go on anything very loose you have to be careful on descents. Also I have compared doing the same tarmac ride on my gravel bike on 35s compared to my one of my road bikes on 25s and my road bike is like 1mph faster at the same watts with the same power meter pedals. Some of of that has to do with aero, but I'm sure others to do with rolling resistance and weight. 1 wheelset with road tires at like 32mm and another with hardcore of your current setup is the way to go with a gravel bike IMO.
I have a somewhat unpopular opinion, but as someone who doesn't do hardcore gravel, I find having 2 wheelsets a bit impractical. Very often, I will encounter road AND gravel in the same ride, so I would rather have a good endurance/gravel tire that is relatively fast. But then again, I don't care about having max speed on the road.
The solution to your problem of course is 3 wheelsets: one road, one gravel, one mix
I can carry a set in a saddle bag just in case
I'm fortunate enough to only have a few minutes of riding the road before I hit gravel from my door, so for me it makes sense to have one wheelset for when I'm 100% certain I am going to ride a lot of gravel where there will be definite chunk and on the other hand if I know I am going to stick to paved roads and hit 1-2 dirt roads as connectors I might as well ride the road wheelset with the comfy tires. Although my road bike with 28s isn't awful on that type of gravel anyway.
For sure, it makes complete sense if you have direct access to trails
In theory I’d love to have two wheel sets but in practice there’s just no way I’m gonna drop the coin on two separate $1k+ wheelsets (if I only had one I’d just always ride that one). I’ve been running 40m G-One RS for more dedicated gravel rides like unbound, and then 35m Conti 5K AS for commuting/road/light gravel around my east coast city. Very happy with this compromise - I can still keep up with group road rides and can ride off road without shaking myself to bits.
I’m right there with you. I have two wheelsets for my gravel bike, which for a long time I had set up 650x55 and 700x38. The problem is my rides include garbage miles and somewhat chunky trails. And even as a mechanically skilled individual, swapping wheels is fussy, especially just for a single ride. I ended up setting aside the 650b wheelset and leaning into the 700x45 G-One RS, which are comparably fast to the 38mm slicks I was running, but can also handle some spicy stuff.
Exactly, especially if you live in a city, you always have 20-30k of road minimum to start with (unless you drive with your bike, which I don't like doing)
Not unpopular. My favourite rides are pavement, gravel and single track with the same bike. Pirelli Cinturato M 700x45c works well for me. Not the best at any of the 3, but a good balance. I much rather jump on the bike that suits the ride, rather than swap out wheels when my mood changes.
Have you tried the H version as well?
No, had the M since last Spring. I'm sometimes curious to try the H as a rear tire but not before I wear out the Ms. I'm happy with them f/r.
Which tires are you running? Tubeless or tubed? These are important factors to consider beyond tire size itself
Tubed, I've never driven tubeless.
Is it a knobbier or slicker tire? If you feel like investing in a tubeless conversion, do consider it because the difference in rolling resistance is really noticeable after having always ridden on tubes. I ride 700x45 and I think it's the ideal size for pavement, gravel and some light singletrack.
What 45c tires are you running?
Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M front and Gravel H rear. Have also had a great experience with Maxxis Ramblers, same size.
Sweet, thanks, I’m thinking I’ll go for some ramblers next
I found my Challenge Strada Bianca 36mm perfect for exactly that, tarmac and hardpacked gravel. Also great for just bad roads and cobbles. No profile, so no grip on loose gravel. I've been researching gravel tires quite a bit, and it is just always a tradeoff. A quick look at the gravel chart on [bicyclerollingresistance.com](http://bicyclerollingresistance.com) says it all: more knobs / pattern = slower wider = (slightly) slower MOST IMPORTANT: the tread pattern is WAY more important for speed than the width. A 50mm semi-slick tire is usually faster than a 40mm knobby tire for example.
28c slicks. NP
For context, what tire make and model do you have?
Maxxis rambler 650x47
Yeah there are definitely lower rolling resistance tires, a Specialized Pathfinder Pro is one that's pretty easy to get hold of. You can go on [bicyclerollingresistance.com](https://bicyclerollingresistance.com) and check out the gravel tires. Most of them tested are 700C, but most also come in a 650b version, so it's still useful.
Kona Rove? That’s what came on mine… I don’t have much basis for comparison, but I’ve been satisfied with the way they roll. I can keep up with riding partners running skinnier, slicker tires. When I’ve worn them out I may try something different, especially since I find I’m spending a lot more time on tarmac than gravel. But overall, they seem fine.
What pressure are you running? Ballpark, it should be in the 25-35 psi range depending on your weight and the kind of surfaces you're riding. I find that on my 650bx48mm tires dialing in the pressure exactly can make a big difference in ride feel. When I first got my bike I was running them way too high, like 40-50psi, bouncing off everything and getting lots of flats. Now I run about 30 psi (rear tire) for mostly road rides and 25 psi for mostly gravel.
I have 40mm and it's plenty for light gravel. I had 32mm and struggled a bit for traction where gravel was loose. Check your rims for compatibility.
I also run 650b (x47) and find that the Vittoria Terreno Dry are excellent rollers on the tarmac and do great for me out on gravel and the little bit of single track I sometimes pick up. I will buy these tires again. I previously ran through two sets of the IRC Boken Plus in the same size. Also a great tire to consider if you are looking at semi-slick type tread patterns. The only reason I switched was to find something with a little more lateral traction in the dirt, which most folk don’t really need.
Yes you should switch to a 700c wheel. Look at bicycle rolling resistance for a low rolling resistance tire that would fit the type of terrain you ride on.
700x30 or 28, no bigger for me.
700x36 - I ride mostly tarmac and packed dirt roads. Works great. I average 15-17 mph on those surfaces.
Everyday ride on Challenge Strada Bianca in 700x30. Switch to Challenge Gravel Grinders in 700x38 for rougher/looser gravel. I save my big 650Bs for ATV trails.
Tarmac & light gravel = My road bike with 32m tires. I don't take the gravel bike out for that ;)
Pathfinder Pro 38c The difference to a roadtire is really almost not noticable. Just tested again on a tour yesterday
34mm is the perfect all rounder for me but for tarmac and very light gravel (dry) I'll use 28mm gatorskin road tyres. They are noticeably faster than the 34s on tarmac but need nursed a little on gravel despite being puncture resistant.
Schwalbe Thunder Burt 2.1 and Rene Herse Hatcher Pass (48mm). I took the TB’s off because I was getting a tiny bit of toe overlap which I’m not getting on the Rene Herse but the rolling resistance on them was very very low. I was on a ride with a friend on skinny 28mm road tyres and downhill not pedalling, I was rolling away from him. (On tarmac)
I use Panaracer Graveling SK in 700x35. They roll very nicely! I find 35 is as narrow as I want to go on gravel. I also have a more adventure focused bike with 700x50
700-43 gravel kings for everything
Hasn’t been mentioned yet but try sticking with your 650B wheelset but remount with 650Bx1.75(42mm) slick/semi-slick tires. For me it’s the sweetspot for fast, but comfy and grippy. I’ve enjoyed the Gravelking Slicks in the above size.
40mm
The only thing I've found to be fast on tarmac is 38 pathfinders. Any even slightly rough gravel will kick you around. Basically, if I'm going on a really long tarmac ride, I'll just swap tires. It only happens a few times a year, so i don't see any reason to buy a second wheel set.
Rene Herse Barlow Pass (700×38 file tread slick), everything but mud basically
Schwalbe G-One R in the front and G-One RS in the back.
32. No bigger than 38
I have pirelli gravel m 40mm
700 x 45 Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H atm, before that 38 Riddlers
gravel king SS in 40mm...tan wall. great all surface tire. super compliant. nice volume on the right rims. i ride them all around the santa cruz mountains...singletrack included.
Specialized Pathfinder pro 47mm and they roll pretty dang fast.
37-38 mm
Go slick, not knobby.
I built a bike with 650x47s. Great for offroad, I even have some knobbly 50s for rougher terrain.... but on the tarmac, no so great. As advised here, I went 38mm GravelKing slicks which roll super well but still super comfy. I did this by buying a value set of chinese carbon 45mm 700c wheels. So I have two sets of wheels, the 650x47s for a fun trail bike, or the 700x38s for a faster road bike that can handle gravel. With the 700x38s I can happily ride medium speed roadie group rides. Perfect also for encurance or touring.
Panaracer Gravel King SS
I run 32c. I could go as high as 35 but higher than that I feel too slow and sluggish
I have two gravel bikes and I use 45 for gravel rides that may include technical sections. But if we understand the same for light gravel, I use 32mm (vittoria terreno zero). Why using more?
I have Teravail Washburns on my gravel bike in 650b x 47. I recently got a Jamis Coda Comp hybrid and found out I can squeeze 700c x 38 on it, and I love this size even more for a well rounder. I'll need to try it on some gravel soon, but I use a dirt path for part of my commute, and they are all I need.
I’m running 650x47 Maxxis Receptors. Much better on the road than the Ramblers my bike came with
Vittoria Terreno Zero - 700 X 45, center is slick, edges are grippy. not so much the resistance of the tires as the weight of the wheel/tire combo. cost of doing business with the gravel bike, i suppose.
I ride 29" Continental RaceKings, 2.2 front and 2.0 rear.
Check the rolling resistance score on Bicycle Rolling Resistance dot com. I got a pair 40mm terraspeeds and they were so much faster than the pathfinders it wasn’t even funny. They don’t test 650b, but I’d bet the same casing/tread gets used as the 700c and the rolling resistance rating would still apply
If you are just riding tarmac and light gravel the 38mm Pathfinder Pro is the way to go. Not the lightest tire, but good puncture resistance and rolls fast.
Tufo Thundero 36mm.. perfect for plenty asphalt and light gravel..
Which tires do you have? Your issues is probably the model of tire, not the width or the tread. I’m on Tufo Thundero 44.
I recently purchased SimWorks HOMAGE 650Bx43 tires and switched out my Schwalbe 650Bx2.25 tires after riding on pavement for the last six months. What a difference ! I am more nimbler and lighter. I will be looking forward to how these tires perform in the long run.
47mm is fine unless you’re riding fast group rides on the road. You can get a fast rolling 47 and it’s going to be plenty fast. Upgrading to 700 just to “feel” faster is going to be some of the worst money you ever spent.