Panaracer Gravel King tyres

Fast-rolling and capable of tackling bad road conditions and even venturing away from the tarmac, Panaracer's new Gravel King tyres are a really good option for the winter with rugged durability and great traction.

The Gravel Kings are brand new in Panaracer's range this year and as the name indicates, they're aimed at the growing (or has it already grown?) gravel riding and race scene that is big over in the US. However what Panaracer have created here are very versatile tyres that are ideal for the demands of UK cycling, whether you're after reliable winter training tyres, or rubber for touring or daily commuting.

Riding the Gravel Kings reminded me of the excellent Vittoria Open Pave tyres, and both have a similar file tread pattern. This is to provide more traction when heading off-road, and on trails where a slick tyre might otherwise slip and struggle, the Gravel Kings powered through.

We had a really dry summer and autumn which provided perfect conditions for exploring the many bridleways and byways that lace through the Cotswolds, and if you enjoy a bit of off-road cycling and the sense of discovery that comes from just following a path with no idea where it might lead, the Gravel Kings are the perfect tyre choice.

See a bridleway, not sure where it goes but what the hell, just point the bike along it and barrel through the woods and see where it takes you. You can sometimes get away with doing that on a regular road tyre, but the file tread pattern, bigger volume and toughness of the Gravel Kings add vital peace of mind when such adventures take over.

The Gravel Kings are available in three sizes, 23, 26 and 28mm widths. It's the two larger sizes that are undoubtedly going to interest most people, especially if you've got the clearance for the bigger tyres. The latest endurance bikes such as Cannondale's Synapse and Trek Domane have room for tyres like these. The 26mm version, which I tested, is a good balance of width and weight that will appeal to many people, but if you're planning longer off-road excursions or fancy tough touring tyres, the 28mm will be of more interest.

On the subject of tyre width, it's worth pointing out that you won't necessarily get the tyre width that it says on the sidewall: I mounted the 26mm Gravel Kings to a pair of Mavic Aksium wheels, a narrow rim by modern standards, and the tyres actually measured 24mm across at their widest point. Rim width is as, if not more, important than the tyre width. Something to be aware of.

Gravel Kings are constructed from the same ZSG Natural Compound that Panaracer uses in their other road tyres, along with an Anti-Flat 126tpi casing to ward off punctures. In regular road riding mode the tyres felt reasonably responsive and perfectly competent at a range of cruising speeds, but lack the fizz of road race tyres. Where they excel is in providing confidence in poor conditions, whether the roads are soaked with rain or covered with a slick layer of fallen leaves. This makes them really good British winter tyres.

For straying away from the road on gravel tracks, singletrack, bridleways or dirt tracks, the Gravel Kings cope impressively well, providing plenty of useful traction. They're not the most supple tyres out there (Vittoria's Pave tyres best them in this department) but they are durable. The Anti-Flat casing works well, and there are few signs of the abuse I've given them when heading off the beaten path. There are no cuts or slices out of the rubber, and the wear rate is similarly impressive.

Conclusion

Don't let the gravel tag put you off, these are excellent tyres for British winter cycling with poor road surfaces caked in mud, water and grit. And of course, if you do want to venture off the beaten path or even have any eye on some gravel riding or racing, they are more than capable. Don't discount them as gravel-only tyres because they're so much more than that.

Verdict

Really good UK winter tyres for poor riding conditions; capable of going off-road too