Review – Panaracer Gravel King SK TLC Tubeless Gravel Tyres

Review Panaracer Gravel King SK TLC Tubeless Gravel Tyres
I have always been a bit of a tyre geek. Tread pattern, width, pressure and grip—they are all things that make a massive difference to the performance of a set of wheels and ultimately to the performance of your bike.

At the Dirty Reiver 200km Gravel Race, the chat about tyres was abnormally strong: the challenging mix of terrain meant that there was a diverse mix of rubber on display. I admit that the chat (and some pre-race course riding) got to me, and I made a last minute switch from a set of Schwalbe G-One tyres to these Panaracer Gravel King SK Tubeless Tyres. Damn, it was a good decision.

Mounting

The Panaracer Gravel King Tyres are available in a wide spectrum of widths, and a few different tread patterns. I tested the 38/40c Gravel King SK TLC version, mounted up on a set of Campagnolo Zonda C17 Disc Wheels.

The tyres mounted up easily using a Lezyne Digital Pressure Overdrive Pump (it has a charger chamber, so acts like a compressor). I used Orange Seal tubeless sealant.

Performance

Out on the gravel trails of Northumberland, as well as back on the chalk downs of the Isle of Wight, the Panaracer Gravel King SK Tyres have performed superbly. 

The tread pattern rolls fast on hardpack trails and tarmac, but then when you hit the rough stuff they also provide an impressive amount of grip in both dusty and wet conditions. 

The 38/40c tyre size is a big upgrade over a 35c tyre for harder terrain. The added volume soaks up bumps and allows you to ride confidently over rocky sections without the fear of a pinch-flat.

The weight and strength of the Gravel King tyres is notably more than the G-One tyres. This added robustness means they are far more resilient to cuts and abrasions out on the trails. I would frequently flint slash the G-One tyres, but these I have yet to cut *fingers crossed*. 

Overall

To sum up, the Panaracer Gravel King SK TLC Tyres are a phenomenally capable option. 

They provide grip and traction without feeling draggy on hard-pack trails. They are resilient to punctures, and they are lasting well. They do also come in super cool tan coloured sidewall versions... 

>> The best range of Panaracer Gravel King SK and SK+ Tyres is at Tweeks Cycles <<

Panaracer Gravel King Tyres Review
I mounted up the Panaracer Gravel King Tyres using a Lezyne Overdrive pump and Orange Seal Sealant



Panaracer Gravel King Tyres Review
The tread pattern, weight and performance of the Gravel Kings has impressed

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Comments

  1. Unknown13 May 2017 at 22:56

    Interesting review Tim, thanks. I've just been choosing a new pair of tubeless gravel tyres for my CX bike to ride the South Downs Way (100 miles mainly off-road). I'm currently running 35mm Schwalbe G-Ones. I've found them to be fantastic commuting tyres, allowing off road detours to avoid traffic. For more adventurous off road riding I wanted some wider tyres and the tread on the rear tyre was well worn.

    I considered upsizing to the 38mm version of the Schwalbe G-One. The Panaracer Gravelking SK 40mm, as you've reviewed, was a contender since they supposedly size up to nearer 42mm width. Another rated option is the Vee Rubber Rail Tyre in 40mm, but difficult to find a retailer. Finally I discovered the WTB Riddler which comes in either 37mm or a massive 45mm width. Which is the tyre I've chosen due to the large size to soak up bumps and more aggressive side tread pattern for traction. Just hope I measured the amount of space available correctly and it fits into the frame.

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