The Pathfinders natural habitat, delivering road tyre-like zip with added grip. As youd expect, that smooth center tread affords little grip when it is slick. If you have questions about orders that were placed prior to the implementation of the redirect on May 24, 2018, please reach out to service@backcountry.com, | This premium version of Specializeds gravel tyre, released in March, retains the companys BlackBelt puncture protection layer that has earned it a reputation for durability at some of the most gruelling gravel events, including Unbound Gravel, where it played a supporting role in multiple victories. Pretty much any tire will slip in the back if more weight is being applied to the front when going uphill. Its a highly versatile tire that offers fast rolling exceptional grip in the dirt and a lot of fun. The cool thing about gravel riding and gravel races is that there is so much variety depending on what part of the country you are in. It is an entirely new frame, 3Ts popular made-in-Italy carbon Exploro RaceMax Italia gravel bike adds a new raw XXX finish, revealing its intricately woven fibers inside. Meanwhile the tyre balloons out to an actual 44.7 mm on a 25 mm internal width rim.. Then, once youre close to having the entire on, pump up the tube more so that you get a little pressure on the tire. Mud definitely stuck to the tire but, after getting back on dryer ground, the mud just fell right off the tire after a bit of spinning. According to Specialized, the S-Works version of the Pathfinder is even faster than the Pathfinder Pro ( read our review) that we tested a while back. Whats that, Skippy? On loose-over-hardpacked conditions, the Pathfinders have a tendency to kick out from the rear when cornering aggressively. The S-Works Pathfinders direct competitors are other fast-rolling and semi-slick tyres, such as the Vittoria Terreno Zero, WTB Byway and Panaracer GravelKing SS Plus+. My only wish is that they were a little lighter, closer to the Gravelking SK 38mm (which is actually a 40 on the same rims). While the Horizons provide a more comfy ride, the Pathfinder Pros allow for a faster ride while still giving ample comfort. (Note: I used to ride a hybrid cruiser/BMX bike with dirt bike tires when I was a kid but that was a really, really long time ago!). Do you really mean 375? Learn how your comment data is processed. The Roubaix Pro is one of my favourite fat slicks, offering minimal compromise in speed and excellent durability; I got more than 7,000km out of a pair before a puncture. Interviews The $60. Ones a 75km(ish) gravel loop on mostly unpaved roads into the hills north east of Melbourne. Im looking forward to trying the 70042. With sealant they held the same air pressure for over a week. I felt a little bit of slide here and there but thats mostly due to the soft ground giving way. Take to the dirt with Specialized's go-to gravel tire. |, Specialized S-Works Pathfinder 2Bliss Ready gravel tyre, 5/4/3/7/54372a9965720eca00cf7a20dc14ccb997c38c28_Specialized_S_Works_Pathfinder_2Bliss___02.JPG, A race-ready gravel tyre; supple; fast-rolling; built to withstand the roughest gravel roads, The transition from the smooth centre line to the treaded edge doesnt inspire confidence while cornering, Quantitative data from Bicycle Rolling Resistance, 441g (700c x 42mm) as tested (435g claimed), Blackbelt anti-flat layer under the tread / Grid Race sidewall protection. One thing that stood out was how cornering feels. In our gravel gradient, Id view the Specialized Pathfinder as a decent Grade 3 or Grade 4 tyre that performs at its peak on Grade 2. Bit different. Mounted up very easily. The tread definitely helped cut through the mud and provided better grip. This value will give the best indication of real-life puncture resistance. Do not exceed a tire pressure of 5 bar/72.5 psi for hookless rims. Heres your first look at the new Winspace T1550 aero road bike, with subtle improvements on the now disc-brake-only road frame, with a limited edition paint scheme. The Pathfinder S-Works comes with the same tread pattern (with lower knobs) and the same casing with BlackBelt anti-puncture layer under the tread. This means the grip data is only directly useful for comparing tires on hard surfaces where the rubber compound creates the grip. 100 days return policy | They had a calming effect on the ride quality of my test bike, likely reducing suspension losses. View cart for details. Despite being the heaviest gravel tire in our group test, the Pathfinder really cleans up in the lab: third-lowest rolling resistance, good snakebite resistance and top marks for puncture protection. It finally worked and the beads popped right into place. A couple of weekends ago, I attempted a gravel ride but it got cut short due to an incident I had with my back tire. Highly Recommended. The Pathfinder is perfect for the first more road-ish loop, but could it handle the diversity of terrain of the latter? However, rather than just buying another Pathfinder Pro tire, I figure it might time to switch things up. The Continental Grand Prix 5000 road tires I got were like that. Since its introduction in 2019, the original Pathfinder Pro has proven itself to be one of the top gravel tyres for riders who prioritise speed and durability. Photo: Chris Stenberg. Great for gravel and casual riding. It would be a stretch to say that the Specialized Pathfinder is the perfect tire for every appellation of gravel, but it is versatile enough to be trouble-free on almost any off-pavement adventure. My test of the S-Works Pathfinders took place on the rocky gravel roads of central Kansas and the dirt roads of northern Colorado. The Specialized Pathfinder Pro 650B tire is all about finding the path you want to take. Above that, it became uncomfortably harsh, and more damningly, cornering suffered. Even made the mistake of leaving the bottle of sealant open and toppled it over spilling a good amount on the floor. In fact, they say its for rides when youre rolling on road and off in roughly equal parts.. At 38mm wide, its right in that sweet spot in terms of comfort while still retaining the speed and control youd expect from a skinnier tire. Thats probably a little high but I figure this would give me a decent baseline to gauge on road rides. When rolling over wet rocks and roots, the tyres can struggle for purchase, but on the whole, the Pathfinder behaves better through this kind of terrain than expected. One thing I noticed is that, while the max clearance for my bike is 40mm, the Pathfinder Pro darn near maxes the clearance out. If youre going from a slick road tire or even a semi-slick like the WTB Horizon, the feeling of the Pathfinder Pros will put you off at first. We want to know what you think - We can't wait to hear your opinion! Gravel. I do not live in the Midwest. I could probably have gone with a 40mm tire but, man, it would have been pretty tight. Ive eaten pavement due to muddy tires slipping on a turn so knowing that the Pathfinder Pros can sort of clean themselves does add more confidence when riding. Je dispose de plus amples informations dans la, Afin de faire vos achats chez nous, vous devez, Voil ce que disent de nous 5.871 clients, S'abonner la newsletter & recevoir un bon d'achat de 5, all the goodies you would've otherwise found at. That leaves you the task of finding a pretty narrow window between the Pathfinder being fast-rolling but sketchy, and slow-rolling but grippy. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Putting it as charitably as possible, it certainly makes you feel alive. Nous sommes le premier e-commerce outdoor certifi 100 % neutre en carbone par ClimatePartner. Pour en savoir plus sur notre utilisation de vos informations, veuillez consulter notre Politique relative la vie prive et notre Politique en matire de cookies. Some bloke with wheels stopped to say hello as he went past? While the max for my bike is 40mm, I kept my options open for any tire between 38mm and 40mm. The grip is there, but its un-nerving to feel that little bit of movement. While the Volummy is sort of a semi-slick tire, the Venture has no solid centerline whatsoever, which meant that the Pathfinder Pro would likely be faster on pavement. Announcements 38mm is about as high as I can go on a 29" rim. Here, you'll find all the goodies you would've otherwise found at orig, including the best outdoor gear, expert advice and the most impeccable service - all within the E.U. The 38mm measured true to size. Free delivery from 50 | The smooth center ridge seems significantly raised from the shoulder tread. Last Name *. The rest of the tread on the Pathfinder Pro is pretty similar to the Venture, but the Venture doesnt have a solid center line. First Name *. All items in stock. The Pathfinders relative suppleness and volume makes it fairly handy in rocky terrain it is a pretty useful bulldozer, and it feels solid enough I have never found cause for concern when it came to sidewall tears. There will also be many surfaces where the total grip will be a combination of the tread compound grip and the grip provided by the knobs. Those who dont mind its cornering performance will also benefit from its supple casing and impressive durability. Articles 3T Exploro RaceMax Italia XXX Reveals Next Level Raw Carbon Weave Gravel Bike Porn, Patent Patrol: SRAMs Self-Charging Auto-Shifting Rear Derailleur. I almost got that one. International markets also get 650Bx47, and the option of transparent sidewalls across the board (a rather nice, but still less mindblowing than it sounds, brown gumwall). RATING: * Les prix barrs correspondent aux prix de lancement de la saison en cours. RRP: AU$75/US$45/42. On wider rims (and as the tyre wears in) this becomes less of a problem but nonetheless, worth being aware of. Options and actual weights are: The Pathfinder is tubeless ready and retails for $45 each. You can do this in a variety of ways: Hi! Un compte client vous offre de nombreux avantages: Jusqu' 40% de rduction sur les vtements, "Je trouve les meilleurs et les derniers produits de plein air pour vous! For my purposes, I found the sweet-spot to be around 45psi (on-road) and 38-40psi (off-road) slightly higher than Id usually run for a tyre of this size. The Terra:A wet weather CX tyre, available in 70033 and 70038. Add to that a slick centerline, a bit smaller width, some tread on the outer areas, and you end up with a tire that provides better rolling resistance on pavement while still giving you plenty of grip on mixed terrains. When I first started riding (way before #putagravelonit was a thing), my boss in Iowa told me that to make a gravel tire, you just rode a set of CX tires until the center tread wore down smooth. ugh. Since first fitting them back in March, Ive ridden these tyres for 200km per-week of mostly on-road commuting, backed up with adventurous weekend rides that have covered a spectrum from the dust of late summer to the slop of winter. Run the tyre too soft, on the other hand, and it can feel downright wallowy, sacrificing much of its zippiness. And appropriately, the Pathfinder has runs on the board in what is certainly the Midwests biggest gravel race, and arguably the worlds: Colin Strickland rode the 70042 variant of the Pathfinder to victory in this years Dirty Kanza. But looking at the tire lugs visible on your pictures, it seems that in some instances, the tires were mounted backwards (rear tire on 700c, front tire on 29"). There are LOTS of choices out there now for 700c gravel tires, the most popular being around 38mm or so. Heck, I dont even have a road slick tire setup anymore. My mixed terrain rides, in Melbournes leafy east, range from paved roads and paths to dirt roads, to fire-track, to single-track. For reference, the Pathfinder Pro in the same size has a claimed weight of 540g. Top Five Gravel Tires: 2019 - Riding Gravel. I opted to invest in a 650b wheelset with WTB Horizon 47 tires which Ive been riding for a number of months now. Price range. 120 TPI casing offers a supple ride without sacrificing durability. While that should result in long wear life, I wonder what that does to the tires feel transitioning from straight to turning? Held air overnight with NO sealant. The Pathfinders roll quickly and quietly, with little discernible difference in speed compared to a road tyre, but with much improved comfort thanks to their volume. I wish we could just adopt existing industry standard language from motorcycle tires, and just call it a 60/40 (street/dirt), or 80/20, or 50/50, etc. I weigh in at about 72kg, and considered 50psi the absolute upper limit for this tyre to function well. It retains the tread pattern, 2Bliss Ready compatibility, and natural casing that have made Seems pretty straightforward. Enter the Pathfinder. The latest tire in Specializeds adventure lineup is the Pathfinder, and its designed to bridge the gap between their very fast rolling, minimally treaded Sawtooth and the knobbier (for a gravel tire) Tracer. As the gravel trend emerged, I figured this was a good opportunity to smooth out my ride and add some comfort. The gravel wasnt fine but it wasnt super rough either. On one area of the levee, I rode down to the bottom in order to cross under a bridge. But I think maybe a different tire will suit my needs better. A 47mm wide tire with very little tread is only going to help you so much. Im always switching them out, and have opted for the black versions on my bike. 700x38c Tan Sidewalls. Also, since Im running with tubes the Pathfinder Pros definitely wont be quite as supple as that of a tubeless setup. Theyre neither as fast nor as light, but they are better options for riders seeking a set-and-forget tyre that performs well across a wide range of gravel surfaces. 38.3 on a 20 internal rim and 38.5 on a 21 internal rim. Our very own Tabby Llama-Berry, Service Manager at our St. Paul Highland Park store, decided to put the tires to the test. GRIPTON rubber compound is grippy and rolls fast. I have a set of WTB Horizon's on a 650b wheel set and really like riding on those. Review: Bontrager R3 Hard-Case Lite TLR Road Tire, Multiple Wheelsets and Tires on a Gravel/Road Bike. All rolling resistance tests are performed on our rolling resistance test machine. That is, until I read a review about another tire option. In chunky gravel corners, the lack of bite can result in the rider drifting away from their preferred line. That's a minor issue but you seem to roughly concur with a difference being there on this tire. However, I will say that I still had to stay seated when going up gravel hills, otherwise the back tire slips. Now, I have no experience installing them as tubeless but, based on other reviews, it seems getting them installed on a tubeless wheel is a piece of cake (which Ill talk about in a bit). This video is a brief overview of the Specialized Pathfinder Gravel Tire. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. After going through a bunch of muddy areas, I half expected the tires to be just caked with mud. Cons. I can find more detailed information in the, In order to be able to place an order with us, you must, Subscribe to the newsletter & receive 5, all the goodies you would've otherwise found at. But as I kept reviewing and reading reviews and comments about other gravel tire choices more options emerged. It's not the lightest, or the fastest, or even . Looks pretty much like Donnelly/Clement Strada USH. Sandy clay: C+. Theyre plush and allow for a very comfortable ride. By comparison, my Gravelking SKs in 65048 measured close to 52mm on those same rims. Specialized Bicycle Components Tires Tubeless Compatible Rims and Tires Tubeless Compatible Rims and Tires Road bike rims and tires *Note that only the newer version of the Alpinist and Rapide wheels are tubeless compatible. Overall, it was a successful ride and taught me a lot about what the Pathfinder Pro was capable of compared to the WTB Horizon. Other than that, I largely have been riding on my 650b wheels. The Specialized S-Works Pathfinders combination of low weight, ride quality and flat protection make it a category leader for fast-rolling gravel race tyres. The main improvement over the Pathfinder Pro is found in the weight department, as we found the Pathfinder Pro to be quite a heavy tire for its size. Very happy with these tires. I've had the Pathfinder Pro's for a good year now and they've served their purpose. On some tires with weakly bonded casing wires, the sharp needle can split the casing wires resulting in a lower score. I currently have gravel king ss 38mm on . The primary goal was to find a tire that would work well on rides that were primarily on asphalt. Specialized S-Works Pathfinder 2Bliss Tire Excel Sports | Shop Online From Boulder Colorado Gravel Tires Tubeless Specialized S-Works Pathfinder 2Bliss Tire $69.99 Tanwall 700x42mm Out of stock ETA: Jan 30 Excel Sports Part # 719635 Specialized Part # 00022-4451 UPC/EAN# 888818800995 Request Stock Alert Description Features Description What I really gained with the Pathfinder Pros is versatility. But thats not the total story. Si nous sommes dehors en train de faire un tour, vous trouverez ici toute heure en ligne les rponses vos questions! The Pathfinder is the winningest tire in gravel, with victories at the biggest gravel races in the world, including multiple Unbound 200 wins. In fact, Ill probably run closer to 70 psi in the back. There was little to no slip when going up and down big gravel hills as well. We prefer the 42mm size, but you can always size down to the 37mm for a faster ride. I pretty much plan on riding all road-only rides with the Pathfinder Pro. Looks perfect for where I ride. Spesh says 480g. Theyll be available in three sizes, each in black or tan sidewalls. At the moment, the sound and feel of them are a little odd. Not its finest moment. When I transferred them after a month of riding to a DT Swiss P1800 wheelset, they stubbornly refused to inflate even with an Air Tool Blast canister, so I think its fair to say that your results may vary. The Pathfinder excels at the less gnarly end of the spectrum, rolling quickly and handling fast turns with aplomb. On this type of surface, the Pathfinder is more or less as useful as a slick, but with the added bonus that the tread picks up slop and holds onto it. Looks like only the 700x38mm version is available now. However, I would select a tyre with a more open and aggressive tread pattern, such as the WTB Resolute, for muddy conditions and for gravel events that include singletrack segments, such as Grinduro. Quick, look nonplussed! The brand's new Pathfinder. The weight reduction will give a performance boost, and we would prefer the S-Works version over the Pro version any day for the slight price increase. Parts However, I recalled a neat little trick to getting these kind of tires on easier. The Venture looks to be a solid choice and, who knows, maybe in the future I might look at this tire again. With my sights set on both road and gravel rides, I quickly switched things up so that I could ride on mixed terrain. Well, as of 25.05.2018, Backcountry is no longer available outside the U.S. due to GDPR regulations. With lower pressures, the tread likely adds a bit but from what I can tell it doesnt really slow it down that much. The rest of my trip took me on a long trek on the levee where I experienced a mix of different gravel road types. 700C vs 650B Wheels: Which One is Faster? Reviews However, one common criticism lobbied against it is that it sits at the heavier end of the spectrum for a 700c x 42mm gravel tyre . Pendant ce temps, nous prparons nos rponses! Here, you'll find all the goodies you would've otherwise found at orig, including the best outdoor gear, expert advice and the most impeccable service - all within the E.U. We could tell there was a bit of extra rolling resistance due to the increased contact patch, but it wasnt slow by any means. I think if I had to choose just one between all these I'd probably get the WTB Venture. $170 in Encino. Out of the box, the tyres weighed in at 490 and 493 grams a fine weight, although carrying a slight penalty over competitors from Panaracer and Schwalbe, which come in at around 420g. The last tire I looked at was the Specialized Pathfinder Pro 2Bliss Ready tire. This RED 2022 NISSAN PATHFINDER is part of our AUTOMOBILE vehicles. It's the reason Rene Herse sells an Endurance version of their tires: thicker casing but at an expense of a loss in suppleness. I dial mine down quite a bit when I'm riding gravel routes. My XTR rims have a 40 psi max spec. Im thinking that 60/65 psi should do alright. The hope is that the Pathfinders will have more grip on these kind of climbs. The other part is that the tread would allow for better traction on heavier terrain than even the WTB Horizons. The Trigger:For asphalt, hard-pack, and gravel paths, available in 70033 tubulars, and 70038 and 70047 clincher. And test them she did, riding them in a variety of terrain, including one very epic adventure. In the back, I would be concerned going with a 40mm tire with the same amount of tread. Nice. Georgia Astle grew up chasing, Mondraker has boosted fork travel of the Chrono Hardtail to bring a Downcountry version to market; the Chrono DC. Basically came down to the Pathfinder Pro being the best of both worlds really. However, for rides that I know will require more asphalt and/or better tread the Pathfinder Pros will definitely be my go to tire. Once the pressure was dialled, I felt able to begin pushing the limits of traction and grip, to figure out just how far the Pathfinders claimed versatility stretched.