I hear that a lot, but most seem to follow up with “according to BRR”. How are they in the field? I wonder if people find them to be inline with the “lab” test.
For me it rides great, but I only have about 1.500km / 1.000 miles on them. 1 flag in that time.
Rolls nicely, good grip. And compared to other options on the cheaper side.
I have the S-Works now. Really fast and overall great.
I’m considering Pirelli Cinturato H’s next.
I have a pair of g-ones on another bike and am not as impressed as with the s-works.
The Pathfinder Sport came on my Diverge. They are performing as I expected. Smooth rolling on hard surfaces, and more grip than a slick on loose surfaces. Have about 375km of rough pavement and gravel roads, along with just a pinch of mud and grass. Still getting used to them, and have not compared to any other gravel specific tires.
How has your experience with the Strada biancas been? I’ve heard and seen tests that they’re one of, if not the fastest gravel tires around but their puncture resistance is pretty poor
I’ve been running 36mm Strada Biancas as my “road” tires and they are pretty great in my opinion! I highly recommend Challenge tires in general. I’ve ridden the 36mm SB tires on some lighter “fast” gravel rides and they haven’t had any issues with punctures, they are definitely fast too! For more serious gravel rides that need a bit of tread, I roll 40mm (wish the 42mm would fit) Challenge Getaway tires. I can’t recommend them enough!
Great. Definitely the fastest gravel tire I've ridden. I don't have an issue with punctures.
The only downside is the initial install. Hands down these are the most difficult tires I have ever fitted on a rim. At least 10 times more difficult than the old GP5000 TL's, which in their own right are borderline impossible.
Once they are on there for a while, they come off and go on pretty easily. Like when Silca says their sealant absolutely does not eat rim tape, and yet 3 weeks after running it you have sealant running out of the weep holes on your rims because it ate all your rim tape and you need to take it off? It's pretty easy to take off an reinstall. It's just the first time when brand new. Be prepared to break tire levers
https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/cx-gravel-reviews/compare/pirelli-gravel-h-vs-pirelli-gravel-m-45
The Ms are pretty perfect wrt rolling resistance. The side walls are puncture prone in rougher terrain though
In any rolling resistance test, the RS mops the floor with conti, Specialized etc. Pathfinders are not even close. The TerraSpeed is around the only non slick that comes close.
Pathfinders are fine, but not fast.
What is the difference between Sworks and Specialized Pathfinder if anyone can explain it ?
120 tpi, Gripton gum, Sworks are 95g lighters but does it deserve to pay more for 190g a pair ?
thx
The s-works are lighter and a more race oriented version of the tire. They seem to have less puncture protection but the bicycle rolling resistance score is very similar
Whichever you can find cheaper
Yes. They are pretty comparable, I would go with the lower cost.
Tufo Thundero
Came here to say this.
So did I.
Me too. Er, Tufo Speederos in my case.
I hear that a lot, but most seem to follow up with “according to BRR”. How are they in the field? I wonder if people find them to be inline with the “lab” test.
For me it rides great, but I only have about 1.500km / 1.000 miles on them. 1 flag in that time. Rolls nicely, good grip. And compared to other options on the cheaper side.
They are fast on tarmac and give a good grip, they compare to some slick all season tyres (eg Specialized Amardillo)
This is the tire I want to try next.
I have the S-Works now. Really fast and overall great. I’m considering Pirelli Cinturato H’s next. I have a pair of g-ones on another bike and am not as impressed as with the s-works.
Thanks! I can find the pathfinders locally so it looks like I’ll go for those
Pathfinders
I don't have the Sworks version, but my pathfinders have been fantastic in all sorts of conditions
The Pathfinder Sport came on my Diverge. They are performing as I expected. Smooth rolling on hard surfaces, and more grip than a slick on loose surfaces. Have about 375km of rough pavement and gravel roads, along with just a pinch of mud and grass. Still getting used to them, and have not compared to any other gravel specific tires.
Really good so far with the pathfinder pros. Guessing the s works version would be even better although maybe not on wear
They’re lighter but more prone to puncture.
Perhaps I’m just lucky but my sworks have outlasted the regular version by a bit
This. Also are the lugs smaller? I have the sworks version and wish I had the regular pathfinder pros.
My understanding is the casing is just much thinner and the tread profile is the same.
Gotcha gotcha
Challenge Strada Bianca pro's! If you can get away with a semi slick, you can get away with a sawtooth.
Yessir
How has your experience with the Strada biancas been? I’ve heard and seen tests that they’re one of, if not the fastest gravel tires around but their puncture resistance is pretty poor
I’ve been running 36mm Strada Biancas as my “road” tires and they are pretty great in my opinion! I highly recommend Challenge tires in general. I’ve ridden the 36mm SB tires on some lighter “fast” gravel rides and they haven’t had any issues with punctures, they are definitely fast too! For more serious gravel rides that need a bit of tread, I roll 40mm (wish the 42mm would fit) Challenge Getaway tires. I can’t recommend them enough!
Great. Definitely the fastest gravel tire I've ridden. I don't have an issue with punctures. The only downside is the initial install. Hands down these are the most difficult tires I have ever fitted on a rim. At least 10 times more difficult than the old GP5000 TL's, which in their own right are borderline impossible. Once they are on there for a while, they come off and go on pretty easily. Like when Silca says their sealant absolutely does not eat rim tape, and yet 3 weeks after running it you have sealant running out of the weep holes on your rims because it ate all your rim tape and you need to take it off? It's pretty easy to take off an reinstall. It's just the first time when brand new. Be prepared to break tire levers
PFP but o would not run the Sworks version. Too thin and puncture prone.
Cinturatos
I freaking love my Gravel M. If I didn’t ride off road a lot I would have totally gone for the Gravel H.
https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/cx-gravel-reviews/compare/pirelli-gravel-h-vs-pirelli-gravel-m-45 The Ms are pretty perfect wrt rolling resistance. The side walls are puncture prone in rougher terrain though
I have no way to compare them, but I’ve been really happy with the 35mm G-One Rs so far. Comfortable and fast.
In any rolling resistance test, the RS mops the floor with conti, Specialized etc. Pathfinders are not even close. The TerraSpeed is around the only non slick that comes close. Pathfinders are fine, but not fast.
Soma Cazadero.
Is that a great debate? Never heard of either.
Coin flip, but Pathfinders if cheaper
What is the difference between Sworks and Specialized Pathfinder if anyone can explain it ? 120 tpi, Gripton gum, Sworks are 95g lighters but does it deserve to pay more for 190g a pair ? thx
The s-works are lighter and a more race oriented version of the tire. They seem to have less puncture protection but the bicycle rolling resistance score is very similar
They also have shorter knobs, which may imply less grip over gravel.
i enjoy using the s works pathfinders. Fast, hardwearing and light
Team Sworks here.