User submitted reviews
Review by AnonymousDecent tireby AnonymousCompetitive RacerPDX2 of 2 customers found this review helpful.Bought a set for the Festive 500. Our route was a 500km ride on mostly tarmac and limited gravel. I was looking for something that rolled fast. These felt great and gripped well in all conditions they were put through. the only drawback was the front punctured at 11 miles into a pre-ride. It did seal after about 30 seconds of a sealant shower. During the second day, after about 350 miles of wear, the front punctured again spewing a geyser of sealant that wouldn't seal. Bacon strip to the rescue to get me home. At the same time, I noticed that rear tire was low on pressure as it had punctured, but sealed.
Good tires, but only if your using on debris clean roads. Buy the + rated tire if you want a better chance of avoiding punctures
Reviewed 1/1/2023Was this review useful to you? Yes, review by Anonymous was helpful/No, review by Anonymous was not helpfulThank you for your feedback.
Bought a set for the Festive 500. Our route was a 500km ride on mostly tarmac and limited gravel. I was looking for something that rolled fast. These felt great and gripped well in all conditions they were put through. the only drawback was the front punctured at 11 miles into a pre-ride. It did seal after about 30 seconds of a sealant shower. During the second day, after about 350 miles of wear, the front punctured again spewing a geyser of sealant that wouldn't seal. Bacon strip to the rescue to get me home. At the same time, I noticed that rear tire was low on pressure as it had punctured, but sealed.
Good tires, but only if your using on debris clean roads. Buy the + rated tire if you want a better chance of avoiding punctures
Review by JohnExcellent winter tiresby JohnNortheast USAUsing on the road in Northeast through the winter. Excellent grip and durability.
Reviewed 12/31/2022Was this review useful to you? Yes, review by John was helpful/No, review by John was not helpfulThank you for your feedback.
Using on the road in Northeast through the winter. Excellent grip and durability.
Review by Jay EffVery good tire- rim or discby Jay EffEast coastOnly about 55 miles in this tire so far. Very good first impressions. Used for mixed terrain routes on my road bike. Supple, fast, and no punctures. Good control through the gravel and loose substrate. Fit inside my rim breaks.
Reviewed 5/2/2022Was this review useful to you? Yes, review by Jay Eff was helpful/No, review by Jay Eff was not helpfulThank you for your feedback.
Only about 55 miles in this tire so far. Very good first impressions. Used for mixed terrain routes on my road bike. Supple, fast, and no punctures. Good control through the gravel and loose substrate. Fit inside my rim breaks.
Review by AnonymousAll good so farby AnonymousCycling Enthusiast1 of 1 customers found this review helpful.First time trying these on a road bike, in 28c. So far after around 500 miles of riding, I'm happy with the performance and durability. It works well on paved roads, rolls well, and are quite OK on some rougher surfaces as well. They look pretty good too!
Reviewed 2/25/2019Was this review useful to you? Yes, review by Anonymous was helpful/No, review by Anonymous was not helpfulThank you for your feedback.
First time trying these on a road bike, in 28c. So far after around 500 miles of riding, I'm happy with the performance and durability. It works well on paved roads, rolls well, and are quite OK on some rougher surfaces as well. They look pretty good too!
Review by kj2169Perfect when running tubelessby kj2169Cycling EnthusiastChicago4 of 4 customers found this review helpful.I have these in the 32mm, and I've really enjoyed the nice ride on our post-apocalyptic roads here in Chicago as well as on gravel (crushed limestone). I have had one pinch-flat after hitting a massive pothole that would have crippled any tire running a tube.
I now have them set up tubeless on a pair of HED Ardennes Plus, and they are fantastic. They mounted quite easily, and they've held air nicely (used Stan's sealant with Stan's valves). I couldn't find much information on running these (the non-SK Gravel Kings) tubeless, but I've now put 850 miles on them tubeless, and they've been nothing but great.
Reviewed 9/6/2017Was this review useful to you? Yes, review by kj2169 was helpful/No, review by kj2169 was not helpfulThank you for your feedback.
I have these in the 32mm, and I've really enjoyed the nice ride on our post-apocalyptic roads here in Chicago as well as on gravel (crushed limestone). I have had one pinch-flat after hitting a massive pothole that would have crippled any tire running a tube.
I now have them set up tubeless on a pair of HED Ardennes Plus, and they are fantastic. They mounted quite easily, and they've held air nicely (used Stan's sealant with Stan's valves). I couldn't find much information on running these (the non-SK Gravel Kings) tubeless, but I've now put 850 miles on them tubeless, and they've been nothing but great.
Review by ClayNot a King for Portland Winter Commutingby ClayDaily CommuterPortland, OR4 of 5 customers found this review helpful.I decided to try the Gravel Kings after using Conti 4 Season, Panaracer Pasella, and a couple of others. Initially I loved them. They have a nice feel and I felt confident descending the hill from work on wet roads. I made the mistake of saying I haven't had a flat yet. Well, then there was the harsher than normal winter here in Portland and the city of Portland doing a piss poor job of keeping the streetspaths clean. I had 3 flats in a week. The tire is littered with cuts. It may be a Gravel King but not a Portland winter commuting King. That said, I will probably get another set for spring and summer commutingriding because I do love the way they ride.
Reviewed 4/1/2017WesternBikeworks.com CommentsThanks for the review Clay, the roads this winter in Portland were harsh on most tires. Was this review useful to you? Yes, review by Clay was helpful/No, review by Clay was not helpfulThank you for your feedback.
I decided to try the Gravel Kings after using Conti 4 Season, Panaracer Pasella, and a couple of others. Initially I loved them. They have a nice feel and I felt confident descending the hill from work on wet roads. I made the mistake of saying I haven't had a flat yet. Well, then there was the harsher than normal winter here in Portland and the city of Portland doing a piss poor job of keeping the streetspaths clean. I had 3 flats in a week. The tire is littered with cuts. It may be a Gravel King but not a Portland winter commuting King. That said, I will probably get another set for spring and summer commutingriding because I do love the way they ride.
Review by AdamSmooth riding on rugged roadsby AdamPortland OR1 of 2 customers found this review helpful.With a 127 TPI casing the Gravel King is a supple ride. Just a little wider so you can run a lower pressure and quite puncture resistant.
Reviewed 2/3/2017Was this review useful to you? Yes, review by Adam was helpful/No, review by Adam was not helpfulThank you for your feedback.
With a 127 TPI casing the Gravel King is a supple ride. Just a little wider so you can run a lower pressure and quite puncture resistant.
Review by AnonymousGravel Kings are king of the road!by AnonymousCompetitive RacerChicago, IL4 of 4 customers found this review helpful.These Gravel King tires are awesome. They ride more like a 23 mm tire as they are smooth and steady. I used them for training leading up to a recent gravelroad race as well as used them in the race. They took a good beating and they performed extremely well being puncture resistant after hitting a number of pot holes, gravel and rocks. Very pleased with their performance as well as the Western Bike Works price.
Reviewed 5/11/2015Was this review useful to you? Yes, review by Anonymous was helpful/No, review by Anonymous was not helpfulThank you for your feedback.
These Gravel King tires are awesome. They ride more like a 23 mm tire as they are smooth and steady. I used them for training leading up to a recent gravelroad race as well as used them in the race. They took a good beating and they performed extremely well being puncture resistant after hitting a number of pot holes, gravel and rocks. Very pleased with their performance as well as the Western Bike Works price.
Review by BBrownLike these tires. Handle great in wet conditions. One punchure within 400 miles. Small thorn.by BBrownCycling EnthusiastBattle Ground, WA3 of 4 customers found this review helpful.Use on my commuter. Like the handling of these tires. With 400 miles shows light wear in the rear from like new. I have had one puncture due to a small thorn.
Reviewed 4/23/2015Was this review useful to you? Yes, review by BBrown was helpful/No, review by BBrown was not helpfulThank you for your feedback.
Use on my commuter. Like the handling of these tires. With 400 miles shows light wear in the rear from like new. I have had one puncture due to a small thorn.
Review by gravelgrinderPleasantly surprised in the toughness..by gravelgrinderCycling EnthusiastN. Virginia8 of 8 customers found this review helpful.I did a 200 mile ride on the C&O trail from Cumberland MD to Washington DC. The tires held up very nicely. I was carrying about 30 pounds of gear in my bags. I have tried other tires in the past and I always had flats. Even with the Gatorskins.
I would buy them again, and I now have a pair on my wife's bike.
Reviewed 10/20/2014Was this review useful to you? Yes, review by gravelgrinder was helpful/No, review by gravelgrinder was not helpfulThank you for your feedback.
I did a 200 mile ride on the C&O trail from Cumberland MD to Washington DC. The tires held up very nicely. I was carrying about 30 pounds of gear in my bags. I have tried other tires in the past and I always had flats. Even with the Gatorskins.
I would buy them again, and I now have a pair on my wife's bike.
Review by medlerFast, smooth and reliable. by medlerPortland These tires have been a great addition to my Kona Libre. They roll fast, and although void of tread, at low pressure still work great on smooth gravel. Set up tubeless in a snap, got a screw through one the next day, patched the tire in two spots and it has been good ever since.
Reviewed 6/28/2019Was this review useful to you? Yes, review by medler was helpful/No, review by medler was not helpfulThank you for your feedback.
These tires have been a great addition to my Kona Libre. They roll fast, and although void of tread, at low pressure still work great on smooth gravel. Set up tubeless in a snap, got a screw through one the next day, patched the tire in two spots and it has been good ever since.
Review by TeresaGreat sturdy tireby TeresaMedford, ORLove this tire!
Reviewed 2/4/2019Was this review useful to you? Yes, review by Teresa was helpful/No, review by Teresa was not helpfulThank you for your feedback.
Love this tire!
Review by Mark12Fast tire. by Mark12Downers Grove, ILThis tire grips very well on the limestone trails around Naperville and DuPage County in IL and better then those knobby tires. On pavement, they are almost as fast as road tires. They wear well and dont flat often.
Reviewed 9/2/2018Was this review useful to you? Yes, review by Mark12 was helpful/No, review by Mark12 was not helpfulThank you for your feedback.
This tire grips very well on the limestone trails around Naperville and DuPage County in IL and better then those knobby tires. On pavement, they are almost as fast as road tires. They wear well and dont flat often.
Review by Mark12Love these tires!by Mark12Downers Grove, IL1 of 1 customers found this review helpful.I have many miles of limestone trails within five to ten miles from home. These tires are perfect. They are light and fast on the pavement getting to the limestone trails and once there are very sure footed on the gravel. A great improvement on my gravel bike!
Reviewed 7/12/2018Was this review useful to you? Yes, review by Mark12 was helpful/No, review by Mark12 was not helpfulThank you for your feedback.
I have many miles of limestone trails within five to ten miles from home. These tires are perfect. They are light and fast on the pavement getting to the limestone trails and once there are very sure footed on the gravel. A great improvement on my gravel bike!
Review by AnonymousGreat tireby Anonymousminneapolis1 of 2 customers found this review helpful.Fast rolling, puncture resistant (so far)
Relatively easy to set up tubeless.
They wouldnt seat on my rims without a compressor, and wouldnt hold air without sealant, but thats not a problem for me.
On the road at 55-60psi theyre very comfortable.
Reviewed 5/10/2018Was this review useful to you? Yes, review by Anonymous was helpful/No, review by Anonymous was not helpfulThank you for your feedback.
Fast rolling, puncture resistant (so far)
Relatively easy to set up tubeless.
They wouldnt seat on my rims without a compressor, and wouldnt hold air without sealant, but thats not a problem for me.
On the road at 55-60psi theyre very comfortable.
Review by AnonymousNot as good as Compass, but a good option for half the price.by Anonymous4 of 5 customers found this review helpful.I got the 700x38 version with tanwalls. My first impression is that they ride harsh in comparison to the Compass tires in the same size. I dropped both front and rear by 5 psi (running 3540 & I weigh around 170) and they felt much better. I did pick up a piece of glass on my last ride. These have a tougher casing than the Compass tires, but a significantly thinner tread, hence the lighter weight. These would also be a better tubeless option than the Compass. But these arent as comfortable as the Compass and they dont have the same feel. Still a great option for a do it all tire.
Reviewed 3/26/2018Was this review useful to you? Yes, review by Anonymous was helpful/No, review by Anonymous was not helpfulThank you for your feedback.
I got the 700x38 version with tanwalls. My first impression is that they ride harsh in comparison to the Compass tires in the same size. I dropped both front and rear by 5 psi (running 3540 & I weigh around 170) and they felt much better. I did pick up a piece of glass on my last ride. These have a tougher casing than the Compass tires, but a significantly thinner tread, hence the lighter weight. These would also be a better tubeless option than the Compass. But these arent as comfortable as the Compass and they dont have the same feel. Still a great option for a do it all tire.
Review by Rut RiderGoes wherever I want to goby Rut RiderPortland, OR2 of 2 customers found this review helpful.I have these on two of my bikes and they are my favorite all around tire. I can turn an ordinary road ride to a trip through Forest Park without doubting my decision to do so. Ive ridden these through miles of gravel road and they grip exceedingly well and out many many road miles and they roll like any ordinary road tire. Ive never slipped in the rain and Ive only had one flat since Ive owned them. Its not a cross tire, but for those back road explorations you cant go wrong.
Reviewed 2/5/2018Was this review useful to you? Yes, review by Rut Rider was helpful/No, review by Rut Rider was not helpfulThank you for your feedback.
I have these on two of my bikes and they are my favorite all around tire. I can turn an ordinary road ride to a trip through Forest Park without doubting my decision to do so. Ive ridden these through miles of gravel road and they grip exceedingly well and out many many road miles and they roll like any ordinary road tire. Ive never slipped in the rain and Ive only had one flat since Ive owned them. Its not a cross tire, but for those back road explorations you cant go wrong.
Review by jojoSupple ride but no puncture protectionby jojoCycling EnthusiastMinneapolis MN2 of 3 customers found this review helpful.I tried this tire as a fall, winter tire in 25 and 28, and had expected some durability, but lots of flats so i gave up on it. May be good on grave, and rides nicely with a supple ride, but not worth the hassle for me. Back to vreds senso extremes and vittoria paves again. Also like the conti 4 seasons. Those are all great that i have had good luck with. May try Schwalbe One as well next.
Reviewed 4/23/2017Was this review useful to you? Yes, review by jojo was helpful/No, review by jojo was not helpfulThank you for your feedback.
I tried this tire as a fall, winter tire in 25 and 28, and had expected some durability, but lots of flats so i gave up on it. May be good on grave, and rides nicely with a supple ride, but not worth the hassle for me. Back to vreds senso extremes and vittoria paves again. Also like the conti 4 seasons. Those are all great that i have had good luck with. May try Schwalbe One as well next.
Review by LoneriderFast tires! Great on gravel, dirt and road. by LoneriderCycling EnthusiastLafayette, COCornering on loose gravel or dirt get's a little sketchy at speed not much tread on tires but crushes on the straight aways! Worked great at the Old Man Winter Rally in Lyons Colorado.
Reviewed 3/16/2017Was this review useful to you? Yes, review by Lonerider was helpful/No, review by Lonerider was not helpfulThank you for your feedback.
Cornering on loose gravel or dirt get's a little sketchy at speed not much tread on tires but crushes on the straight aways! Worked great at the Old Man Winter Rally in Lyons Colorado.
Review by ddave12000Great Tiresby ddave12000Cycling EnthusiastChicago1 of 1 customers found this review helpful.I put these on my CX bike for some winter training and gravel rides. So far, I'm very pleased with them. They look great, seem sturdy, and I feel confident riding on most terrain with these.
Reviewed 2/16/2017Was this review useful to you? Yes, review by ddave12000 was helpful/No, review by ddave12000 was not helpfulThank you for your feedback.
I put these on my CX bike for some winter training and gravel rides. So far, I'm very pleased with them. They look great, seem sturdy, and I feel confident riding on most terrain with these.