Panaracer GravelKing Slick TLC

 Panaracer has 'beefed-up' these tires, somewhat.  The latest (Jan. 2024) set of 35c GravelKing TLC tires, weighed 341/343 grams. These latest vintage tires weigh more than an earlier set of 38c tires from 5-6 years, prior.  They have always been a great tire for me, used on Tarmac/Gravel routes.  

These are the most puncture prone tires I have ever ridden. They offer no protection fro flints. my summer tire, Conti GP 5000 S, offer significantly more protection. Your reviews are superficial and don't cover the miles needed for an honest review of this critical factor. Less reviews in more depth please.

Wow: I must have been very unlucky with mine - my 38 mm (with tubes) pair of these were re-named "Panaracer Puncturekings" after I had repeated and multiple punctures in each wheel on my usual roads....I really wanted them to work - they looked so cool! - so I bought the Panaracer Flataway tyre liners: (apparently kevlar, but looks like cotton wool, and seemed to protect like it too...)eventually a thorn that would have been laughed off / not even noticed by a Schwalbe Marathon ripped a gaping hole in the tread - so I gave up with them after less than 250 miles.
They are lovely looking tyres, really light and quick, grippy in the dry, and comfy at the range of pressures I tried, but seriously, all I had to do was use a sharp tone of voice near them and they would puncture.

For fitting tricky tyres I resort to a "Kool Stop Tire Bead Jack" and find it works great. A tricky tyre will still require a decent amount of force but there will be far, far fewer swear words involved! It's a bit bulky for most people to choose to carry on a ride, although if you like to pack the kitchen sink when cycling you could. But normally tyres loosen up after a few hundred miles, so unless you're very unlucky with punctures, if you need to change the tyre mid ride hopefully it might be a bit easier than the initial fitting.

Would be interested to know how these compare to something like the Rene Herse Bon Jon Pass - superficially very similar (I believe RH tyres are manufactured by Panaracer) but one is twice the price of the other!

On the very opposite end of the spectrum, I had these on my old Specialized Allez in a 25mm width (no room for 28s on that bike, shocking I know!). Don't think I lost anything in outright speed to the GP4000s I had on before it, but gained loads in overall security (no punctures, slashes or sidewall cuts, like for like to the GP4000s, in very similar conditions). If you're riding in all kinds of conditions and seasons it's nice insurance.

I have the 38s (with tubes) on my Fairlight Faran "do everything" bike. Nice to ride on the road, but I am still slightly scarred by the one time I took them on a short gravel section. Punctured twice in 5km (due to hedge cuttings) and spent over an hour changing the tubes because they were so hard to get on and off.  

I've got the 38mm (40) of these on my gravel bike, they transformed it into a four seasons bike that I use more than any other. I've found they're good on dry even gravel, thewy make it more fun to ride, but on anything that's more rugged or if it's a bit wet then they start to struggle, but on the road they're lovely, if you're not trying to go as fast as humanly possible then they're great. I've been lucky and not had any punctures on them in about 12 months, but I'm fairly careful with watching what I ride over.

All the Gravelkings I've used have been tough to fit. Well, that was until I discovered Schwalbe tyre levers and the right technique for trapping the bead in whilst the final section is levered in to place. Loved the SKs in particular, and almost went with these (in 28mm) as my general road tyre but were only available in tanwall at the time. 

I've got the 32mm versions, and use it as my 'winter road' tyres. No issues at all. They were slightly difficult to put on, and wouldn't hold air at first. However, I put more sealant in than you normally would, and it worked. Now in hibernation until October, when I'll get them out again.

Great tyres, puncture magnets. My 38mm versions (tubed) were puncturing a couple of times each month after only 2000k or so. The semi-slick versions have been better so far, and I don't notice much difference in rolling resistance.

I've been using the 32mm versions on Hunt wheels and also found them difficult to fit. I've recently got a second set (after 2 years and 10,000km) and had an easier time fitting them. I think the bead is very grippy with its rubber coating and doesn't move around the rim. This time I made sure the bead was pushed right to the center of the rim to give as much slack as possible. Then to get the last bit onto the rim I worked the slack from the rest of the tire round to the unhooked bit which allowed it to go over the edge. Gardening gloves were a great help with this bit!

My go to touring tyre. Great wear and fast rolliung. Switched to mavic wheels and tough to mount but hold tubless well

I've been running the 32s, with tubes, on my commuter for years and love them. Very low numbers of punctures. Loads of grip in the dry and wet, and they do seem pretty quick. I run them about 70psi, and plenty comfy for the shitty roads round my way. I did slice one open once in a biblical downpour, when the road was about 2 inches deep with water. But otherwise, I'd recommend for sure.