Off-road tyre options for road bikes?

LimitedGarry

Ey. So I've ridden a bit over 700km on a second hand road bike I bought not long ago. And as the season is coming to it's full swing, I'm riding more often and longer routes. While I'm really enjoying the bike, I've found myself bummed a few times about a nice gravel road leading in the general direction of where I'm heading.
So I began wondering about possibly getting some more heavy duty tyres.

I've checked the clearances and the fork and brakes would take a 28mm tyre no problem. There's about 32mm clearance on the fork and even more on the brakes. The rear, however, would be a problem. The chainstays on the bike are extremely short. I have a 25mm tyre and there's only about 3mm (more than 2, less than 4) of clearance between it and the seattube. Am I right in assuming that a 28mm tyre won't fit, or is it something worth testing?

Are there any options for me that would be off-road worthy? I'm not really looking for a more comfortable or grippier ride, just something that is okay to take on dirt roads and will survive some easy gravel. Something that won't get ruined after 500km of such riding.

dj58

Panaracer gravelking are available in 26c and 28c and may be a possibility.
http://road.cc/content/review/135369-pa ... king-tyres

LimitedGarry

Judging by feedback online, more or less what I'm looking for. Regrettably, none of the local online shops have it. Panaracer (the brand itself) is offered in only a handful of shops and it's all just MTB tyres.

trekvet

Oh, no it isn't; see here https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/tyres/700-x ... e-700-622/ AND have a look at these, as they have plenty rubber in the centre: https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/tyres/700-x ... e-700-622/

cooldad

I don't think he's in the UK.

trekvet

Oh, well never mind. I was going to suggest he get a couple of their inner tubes too (I wouldn't use any other :-) ): https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/inner-tubes ... -to-25630/

reformedfatty

Provided you are using fairly tough tyres at appropriate pressures, 23 or 25 mm tyres should be fine. Certainly I've done a few 10k gravel rides on basic vittoria tyres without issue. Also done short sections that were genuinely rocky ie rocks the size of half bricks on them.

roger_merriman

Might be worth getting some of the gravel tyres or at least trainer type tyres, my commute is mostly on gravelly tracks, and I did find road tyres got cut up and punctured particularly on wet days.

But yes it's perfectly do able I did for years.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

There's not a lot of obvious options in the Schwalbe range in the smaller widths under 30c, but the best option looks to be the Marathon Greenguard, which is ~750g per tyre and rolls pretty decently for a touring tyre.

http://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com ... athon-2015

LimitedGarry

Well, yesterday I went on an exploration ride and after several kilometres of climbing, the road ended and for a couple of kilometres I rode over rocks, sand, gravel and roots. No problem at all. However, I have to note that descending on slick 25mm tyres with rim brakes on terrain where a bad line means instant OTB and putting too much pressure on the brakes will lock up the wheel, is quite a painful experience (not saying it's not fun).
Anyways, upon later inspection tyres did not seem significantly beat up in any way. So I'll just keep riding as is and see how they hold up (continental Ultra Sport 2).