this needs to be shown to every single gravel forum and FB group on social media.

THANK YOU FOR THE 650b ACKNOWLEDGMENT 🙌🏼 I’ve been arguing with coworkers about this for a few years now 😂

I'm 53 and only road mtb over the past 30 years...until last year when I got into road & group riding. The switch from big cushy mtb tires to thin road tires was a bit jarring. So I was stoked when i came across an article by rh about going big on road tires, that they're just as fast if not faster than thinner tires etc. Within a week, I had switched out the stock vittoria zero pros on my new synapse for the much wider rh bon jons. Couldn't be happier or more comfortable. Made a great ride even better.

Thanks Ted, maybe the best overall tire breakdown on the ‘Tube!

Extraordinarily useful!! Thanks, Ted!!

So much good info. Thanks! It's a lot to take in for beginners, but it helps so much.

Been using RH tires for many years now. going with the 44 Snoqualmie on my recumbent. so nice to have the extra squish since I can't stand up for the bumps; and I'm certainly not losing any speed. Just got the new custom gravel bike a month ago, 650b wheels currently running knobbies 55/48 f/r just because. working great. spent a few years on the 42 Hurricanes on my CX bike in all kinds of roads. heck, I'm even using the 26x2.3 Humptulips on my old Santa Cruz Heckler mtbike, and those have been great! The consistent cornering is wonderful.

A lot of information there. Thanks for the rundown. Vermont is melting today. Take care, Al

Another important point you forgot to mention about tires on a gravel bike is that they must have tanned side walls😁

Loved this video. Just bought my first René Herse tires (32mm) for the harsh Eastern Canadian roads😅. JD

Love it- great content Ted!

Thank you for the insight!

Love Rene Herse tires! I tend to run nobbies in front and slicks in the back. So, in turns down a hill, the front tends to stay in track better and if the rear breaks out earlier, no biggie. Although the Hurricane Ridge is 42 and the Barlow is 38, both share the same casing and the Barlow blows up to the same size as the Hurricane.

Great video! Rene is lucky to have you! I noticed you skipped over tire pressure ? Good luck this season!

Wow. Great video, I am 64 wish we had these type of wheels and tires when I was in my teens and 20s touring the world with panniers and 700x23. 120psi.

Great insights, thanks for sharing! 🚴✨✨

Great watch. Really informative ♥💪

I am a big fan of Panaracer Gravel Kings on the road bike in 650x38 or 42. Compared to a 700x19/23 on a 20 year old race bike four times the volume and half the pressure. They make a bit of noise but nice combination of comfort and performance on paved or some mixed surface rides. Panaracer makes tires for many others so good quality.

Hey Ted. Great info. Thanks for making the video. I'm doing unbound XL on some 650b. Curious what you would recommend for minimal flat, minimal energy usage for the race. I'm unfamiliar with the terrain in Kansas. Thanks!! I live in Colorado and ride a lot of gnarly singletrack and chunky rocky gravel here

This is my daily lecture in the bike shop.

I just picked up an addict gravel Tunes and I put 38mm pathfinder pros . My average speed today was the same as my ride from 3 days ago on my also new Supersix evo with 32 slicks . I think I’m going to need to get a set of endurance plus Barlow passes 38mm to try out a full thick slick! Thought about the 44but that seems huge! Out here in NYC and a guy from a bike shop told me months ago that I should go thick slick and that it’s so comfortable plus you still go fast. I didn’t believe it but now that I’ve tested it I’m a changed man !!

I'll be running Naches Pass (Endurance) on a 3,750 km tour of Europe this Spring and it will be the first time that I'm not using Schwalbe while on tour. I'm a bit nervous about that but the Naches Pass (26X1.8) is the most comfortable tire I have ever had the pleasure of riding on. Fast too! Here's hoping they last the distance with few to no flats!

Great video Ted! I've been preachin' the wider is better to anyone who will listen. : )

Very comprehensive video. I need to learn how to shop for tires. It's difficult specially online.

Thanks for the breakdown Ted. I'll be joining you on the flint hills in June for the XL so I wanted to see what you would recommend or plan to ride for something of that caliber? Any feedback is greatly appreciated; good luck out there mate🍻

Excellent, wide-ranging video! Since you offered...I'm racing RPI Queen Stage race, what would your tire selection be? Thank you!!!

I use Rene Herse UMTANUM RIDGE (650x55) Endurance (nobbs) and Rene Herse BARLOW PASS (700x38) Extra Light (slick) and I love them both! Best tires on gravel bikes i ever tested. I use PIRELLI P-ZERO (30mm) with the new SpeedCore (2023) tech on my road bikes.

Endurance + RH tires let you get away with riding luxury tires every day. I’m a huge fan.

I put the RH Hurrican Ridge 42s on my Diverge for The Last Best Ride and have kept them on since. (Nice to see you there!) I mostly ride Midwest gravel - Minnesota / Iowa. There is a lot of big chunk farm gravel, but really there is always a wide variety in every ride out here. I do hit stretches of road/pavement in many of my rides. Usually, about 1-4 mile stretches on average. *Two questions: 1. Should I just keep these on or switch them up? (I guess I should ask what would be the best tire for all this midwest variable gravel, with some road) 2. I will be riding in Vermont in June, in the Middlebury / Cornwall area. What's the recommendation for that area? Or is there a tire that will work for home and Vermont? (I don't have spare wheels to easily switch.)

I can fit either the Hurricane Ridges or Snoqualmies on my Aspero-5. Have the HRs in the endurance casing for softer stuff and the Snoqualmies in the extra light for harder pack/road. Running with Silca sealant. Ted - in general - what’s the minimum clearance you are looking for if it’s not exceptionally muddy?

I almost cannot hear you from the background music.

I run Rene Herse 48mm Hatcher Pass slicks on my 7.2Kg, flat bar, MTB-based gravel bike. I usually run them at 25 - 28 PSI, depending on the surface of our gravel rides. This bike is fast, comfortable and reliable for recreational riding and for races like the Dirty 130 out of Wagga Wagga that had a mix of road, smooth and gnarly gravel, plus a bit of single track. I love these tires.

@Ted King I did a great Gravel Race today called Mixtape 📼 in Lakeville Massachusetts I was running 40c nubby’s

Hey Ted, I'm going to Rasputitsa, what tire should I use......I mean, you pretty much answered that question in the video, and I've actually got a pair of Juniper Ridges waiting at the post office anyhow. thanks for the video, feeling good about my decision. 🙌

Hey Ted, Rasputitsa's coming up. Which Herse tire would you recommend for 175 lbs (of man, bike and bottles)? Thanks!

Thanks! Ted.

Hi @Ted King, thanks for your explanations ! For my touring bike, even if i'm rather a road biker, there are path with no pavement so what would you advice me ? Thanks

Ted - sounds like E+ for races, what version do you train on?

Hey Ted, what would you recommend for the SBT ride?

Great insight, Ted. None tire related question: Where are your pants and hoodie from?

Great vid Ted, interesting point about the size of tire not slowing you down, Ins there more weight and slowed rolling resistance? Hmm

Love Rene Herse tires but they need more black wall options. I honestly passed on some Rene Herse because of tan wall only models. 😂

love my hurricane ridge but now can't wait till I get the 44 Manastash Ridge 🤙

Hello, after watching your video I have a question. I know that studies have suggested that 40mm tyres and 50mm tyres are very similar, but I would like to know if I went for say a 40 mile ride with both tyres, would I have to put more effort into keeping the 50mm tyres going? Thank you

I’m not doing any races but I do ride in groups on hilly socal so would 38 gravel king ss be too wide for the road? I know you mentioned go as wide as your bike allows but I didn’t hear mention of 38c. For reference I currently have cheap 32c on and I’m already the slowest lol. I know with my size and fitness I’m splitting hairs here but any suggestions would be appreciated.

I'm curious what slicks you'd ride on a road bike that had the ability to run say 700x60. I see Rene Herse has a 700x55 slick now, but for 100% road riding and trying to KOM a rolling segment is that going to be faster than a 32 or 38c?

Hey Ted! Can I run 48mm Oracle Ridges in a Supersix Evo SE frame? I currently ride the SuperX and 42mm is max in there.

A big slick is probably what I’d choose specifically for Unbound. But unlike a sponsored athlete, I probably won’t have tires just for that race. So I’ll probably put on a pair of Oracle Ridge for versatility

Juniper ridge for Rasputitsa, no brainer 🤩

I've been running Rene Herse tires since 2016ish, always buy the extralights but I seem to always have the casing wear out before the tread... is this to be expected?

A bit off Topic, what tire sizes were used in Oracle on the MTB?

What would you use for early season (dryish) Cyclocross in the UK 🇬🇧?!

wondering how the manastash work on loose uphill gravel? like the Last Best Ride in Montana. Fairly new to gravel and looking for a tire with better grip on the loose up/down hill gravel of a race like this. Live in Colorado. Thanks

Eager to try SP

This Video is highly under-rated.......I cannot more people don't give it thumbs up, it's totally legit and I appreciate the content!

Hi Ted - I’m going to Alaska. What tyre should I use ?

any mud pointers after UnboundXL'23? i.e. clearance and slicks ... hold less mud (so smaller tires w massive distance between fork/stays and tread), You think 650b w 40c tire slicks would have worked better than 50c knobbies?

Hello Ted - off to Iceland in 8 weeks for The Rift. What tyres would you recommend? Cheers …

What did you run in HIco Texas Gravels LOCO'S?

I have been using Rene tires on my gravel bike 48 for a year they are great I use a standard on the front for better cornering and endurance for the rear

Ted!!! I am coming for Big Sugar for the first time and I am doing the 50. I have a 2022 Kona Libre that I ride for gravel and it should be able to accommodate a 48 like you said. In your big sug video it kind of muffles what tire you used. Can you please specify if you would use the new Manastache or another? I am Also wondering if I can get away with a 44 for the 50. Thank you in advance for the help! Love your videos!

Thanks Ted! Any thoughts on running a wider tire up front and skinnier tire in back?

Great info! On a road bike, what is the effect of the additional weight of wider tires versus narrower tires? Also, does the better "traction" from wider tires mean increased friction with the road, which means increased resistance?

Sawtooths are excellent ! I like them better than the pathfinders I think

"Doing some work here in Healdsburg." Moi, en Californie: "Drinking lots of good wine." lol. I am going to start with 42mm ultralight slicks. If I get flats, I'll move to standard. If I get still flats, I'll go to endurance. But if Monsieur Heine can ride that bloody Kansas race on ultralights...

what about stetina's paydirt gravel. manastash or snowqulamie? thx

Legit question: I understand that wider tires are supposed to not be slower, but my mind still can't come to terms with that. I ride gravel tires, MTB tires, and fat-bike tires. One my big fattie, I feel a difference between 4" and 4.5" on flat hard-pack where the terrian is out of the question. Same for my MTB: I feel way faster on 29x2.2 than I do on 29x3.0. Is it just in my imagination?

Do you use tire inserts?

Slight nitpick -- if you have tires with stiff sidewalls and lossy rubber, then wider will be slower (than otherwise equivalent narrow tires) because either there is more lossy flexing at low pressure; or at high pressure, more bouncing and dissipation in your body itself. The super supple casing is what allows wider tires to still perform very well compared to narrow.

I’ve liked my Rene Herse tires pretty well but they are a pain in the ass trying to keep air in them.

Thanks, what about tire pressures?

Great video. Much appreciated. I couldn't see which model gravel bike you have? I've been tying myself in knots trying to decide best choice gravel bike for me. Am particularly interested in gravel style like BWR San Diego. Thank you!

How does he pack 4 (or more) bikes, his indoor trainer, the kids (and all their stuff) to go cross country is what I wanna know! Respect

I take it you can fit 37 gravel tyres on deep dish carbon wheels judging by your cannondale?

We've rediscovered merino, randonneur, porteur, and cyclosportif, but the Birkies just sail on and on and on...

What sealant do you use? I can’t get my Juniper Ridges to hold air.

Rene Hearse tires may be good however, based on reviews, they are finicky and even Jan says they were require "special" handling when mounting. Last thing I want to mess with when out riding and having tire issues is something that requires "special" handling. I want a tire that is set-and-forget.

Wider tyres tend to be less aerodynamic. For gravel the benefits of wider tyres outweigh that though, and I like 30mm on my road bike.

i like rene herse tires but there’s way more to a tread pattern than just some squares. semi slick? mud? side knobs with a raised ridge? side knobs with slick center? raised ridge with no side knobs?

Why no mention of tubes vs tubeless? I ride 38mm Barlow’s ultralights on my Open UP for everything. So comfy and fast

Tires for The Traka? A gravel race in Girona, there will be sharp rocks but also a lot of hard packed gravel

The RH website states that the Stampede Pass 32s require tubes? Are you running tubes on your road setup?

You said zero about climbing, but good intro video for newbies. Rene rocks. Thanks!

there is nothing harder in cycling than choosing your tires and most youtubers just review expensive brands that aren't even available in most places, so you are pretty much on your own

I just put 32mm tires on my Super Six, it is gorgeous, never will go back to 25.

Riding the Gravel Locos 100 in May, thinking I'm gonna go Snoqualmie Pass

Yup, cant watch bc of music. Damn, i would like this info.

I think there are another two quite vital aspects. Tire pressure and inserts or not (I tried inserts on gravel and I am never going back).

Not trying to be (particularly) contentious here. But you should try a race pace/fast road ride at 650c x 25, 28, 30, etc; simply I think you will be surprised at effort differences. Also, this is a channel built off of being a former pro and insights that the layman may not have....do some leg work out side of "studies Ive read".

Tubeless always or not?

How about weight compared to wide vs narrow tires?

hello, anyone has any experience running 32 mm tires on 15 mm inner width rim (622x15) is that to fat of a tire to be safe or is it still safe?

32 tubeless?

What should I run for SBT GRVL black?

So 650b x 2.1 is as fast as 700c x40? grrrhh, I just bought a 2nd wheelset to have the choice of both...waste of money?

Do people actually have the time and effort to have a quiver of tires they change out for different events? Sounds horrible to deal with reseating/sealant/etc that often haha!!

Good video. But I have to say the background music is really annoying and to loud

Music is too loud... distracts from the information.

Throw us a discount code?

Please drop the background music, its fu¢king distracting! 😜 But thanks for the great video.