
User submitted reviews
Review by dlw
Virtually the same tire as the speed cross by conti but in a 35c vs the 42c and $XX more! But if your bike can't clear the 42, this is a great ride for gravelpave combo.
Review by ORbiker
I use these for summer gravel riding. They've been great. I've easily ridden 800 miles on my first pair. just fat enough for some cushion and great rolling. Not sure why folks are suggesting easy flats or soft sidewalls. they've been as good as any non-puncture resist tire i've used and they've handled the high-mileage rough roads of eastern oregon without problems.
Review by Anonymous
This is a very fast tire, however after running them for a few months on paved paths and dirt roads, about 200 miles, I have had several flats. Thin and light are a plus, but I would only use this tire on race day.
Review by bill
Tire is really supple. Rolls like a road tire on pavement. I have found the sidewalls to be pretty fragile though-they cut very easily-I've DNF'd three gravel races because of catastrophic sidewall cuts. When it holds air, it's awesome though.
Review by GERARD
I have never had such a bad set of tires. 4 flats in 2 months. Totally unacceptable. I have run Conti Grand Prix 4 Season and NEVER flatted on me. I am going to request an exchange.
Review by Aloscutoff
Good tire here by continental. I've never understood why most gravel tires are so chunky when it's not needed.
These roll fast on the road. and hit the gravel with speed.
Width is adequate for most endeavors.
Weight is light and Haven't had to question their durability yet.
Overall I recommend for gravel road riding. Perhaps not in the back country but the average gravel road these will excel
Review by Octospawn
Very good for hard packed singlerrack and road. Very fast
Review by cob
I have these on my cyclocross bike that is used for gravel and light trail riding. I also have the SpeedRide 42C on my commuter bike, and it actually performs better in almost all conditions - my commute is over two-rutters and light single track so the terrain is similar. The cross tires are a bit lighter and sharper (and harsher) handling, so for those with racing aspirations maybe a bit more appropriate. Otherwise they are quite similar, and a very good design for quick paced, mixed terrain use.
Review by Anonymous
I am loyal to this tire because it works for me. Good wear. Good size. Nice on graveldirt, lime and pavement.
Review by Mr. Moto
Was using Sammy Slicks on my titanium cross bike for trails & gravel but had numerous flats and a sidewall failure. No problem with Continental Cyclocross Speed Clinchers in about 1,000 miles. I haven't ridden a cyclocross race since 1968 when I decided cross wasn't for me (and sorry just stupid). Now 65 I ride my cross bike about 75% of the time even on pavement. Still ride my carbon road bike the other 25%.
Review by JWBarclay
My third set of these tires. Until this last set I had used almost exclusively on dirt and gravel. But on the suggestion of a friend I chose to use this tire on a long ride (350 miles of Western New England Greenway) that was 75% paved and 25% graveldirt. I was pleasantly surprised with the ride and i seemed to suffer no real speed loss on pavement. And the ride is sublime.
Review by WEB330i
I bought these tires for a cyclocross bike, but I don't race cyclocross. I bought the bike to use as a winter bike and for the occasional foray onto gravel roads. The bike came with 35mm Schwalbe Sammy Slick file tread tires and they suited my style of riding, but they did wear quickly. When it came time to replace the OEM tires, I decided to stick with a file tread design in a 35mm width (I'm a big guy at 6'5 and 215lbs, so I need the extra width versus a standard 33mm cyclocross tire). I've had good luck with Conti tires, so my decision to purchase these tires was made pretty easily.
Out of the box, these tires are good looking. The file tread is deep, but the knobs are not very aggressive. They mount easily and inflate to a nice round cross section. On the road they ride quietly and comfortably. They're not as plush as, say, Conti GP 4000's, but that's down to the carcass. These tires are built up on fairly course fabric. Good for durability, bad for ride quality. But they're meant to be used off road and, when used off road, they're fine. I've got some miles on them on grass, dirt and gravel and they've been fine. No lack of traction despite the small shoulder knobs and no flats. If they last longer than the Sammy Slicks, I'll be happy.
So ... In summary ... These seem to be good gravel tires. There are better road tires and there are better cyclocross tires but, if you spend a fair amount of time on dry grass, gravel and or dirt, these tires will be fine for you.
Review by OpusBikes
I thought this tire would be great for rides that hit packed dirt, gravel, and pavement. It is a very good tire and I thought it rolled well and performed well in all surfaces, but there doesn't seem to be any puncture resistance. It had multiple flats by my second ride and I finally moved on to a different tire. I wasn't riding a different route than I normally ride, so it wasn't just from not knowing the terrain. I think if it had better puncture resistance I would get it again.
Review by Flinthillgrinder
I was hesitant at first to go from a fat tire to a cross tire on the terrain I ride but have been happy with it. Due to its smaller outside diameter it actually feels a bit more maneuverable in tight turns. I'm sold on the smaller tire on the mountain bike unless you are doing downhill.
Review by MikeyL
I bought these tires to replace a set of Ravens that never held air well when running tubeless on Stans Wheels. These are on my X-Fire and right now it will start doing more duty as a trail bike.The tires ride very supple and very fast. the first day out i caught some light rain and they are a little loose once the ground gets a muddy. and it doesn't take much mud to pack these up! no complaints to that, it is obvious these aren't mud tires. i will probably mount these to some road wheels and use them when i use the bike on the street or horse trails. as a general trail tire i find them comfortable but a bit spooky in the traction limited areas!
Review by Anonymous
A real fast tire. We have some gravel road races up here in Michigan that are a combination of gravel pavement. So far, they are a real fast rolling tire. Looking forward to using them at the races this year.
Review by Anonymous
Fast. Good grip in dry, hardpack and grass conditions. Decent wear on asphalt. High volume casing delivers nice comfort and float at moderate pressures. 40-50psi is plenty for dirt, 60psi for asphalt, 30-35psi for ice. Commute to 'Cross practice!
Review by Anonymous
Have used the tires in preseason cross races in dry conditions. The tire rolls well and corners very well with no pinch flats at 30 psi.
Review by NE Biker
These tires came on my bike when I bought it, and 3,000 miles in I'm finally ready for a new set. I have ridden on crushed limestone and paved trails as well as hiway shoulders with great results. I did switch for a short while to a slicker and narrower tire thinking it would give me better performance on the road, but was surprised to find it slowed me by about 10%! Unlike the other reviews I keep mine inflated around 80psi, the ride is a little bumpier, but I like to go fast!
Review by cyclo
I use this tire for both commuting and the occasional trail riding in the park near my home. So far I have logged more than 3,000 km on these and the rear tire still has treads although the center section has lost the x marks on the treads.
I would classify these tires as perfect for all weather commuting bar icy conditions. I have been riding these hard (I use commuting on my cyclocross bike as my workout in preparation for faster weekend rides on a road bike), occasionally skidding the rear tires when braking from high speeds to full stops. The tires grip the pavement very well even in wet conditions.
I have also been using these on trails and they also do a good job. I do experience some sliding when I go up steep wet grassy hills but in most occasions they perform well.
The tires are relatively light and supple and absorb road shocks very well. I inflate mine to 50 psi in the front and 55 psi in the rear.