Tires for tarmac and sand

[Ytse]

Gang, the area I live in has some pretty crappy tarmac roads and loads of sandy "off-roads" (all pancake flat, think 1m/1km elevation). What do you think are the best tires for such conditions? Am I right to think that tire pattern does not matter here, what is important is width and width only?

[pdlpsher1]

Conti TerraSpeed 35mm if your bike could fit 35mm tires. I assume you’re not asking for a true gravel tire for deep sand. The TerraSpeed will handle sand as long as it’s not deep sand. TerraTrail is also an option as it has bigger knobs, but slower rolling on tarmac.


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[wetpaint]

Pathfinder Pro. I have them in 47mm and they are somehow amazing in sand, and fast on pavement with solid center strip.

[Uberflo]

Schwalbe G One Overland

[Ytse]

Conti TerraSpeed 35mm if your bike could fit 35mm tires. I assume you’re not asking for a true gravel tire for deep sand. The TerraSpeed will handle sand as long as it’s not deep sand. TerraTrail is also an option as it has bigger knobs, but slower rolling on tarmac.


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It's an S-Works Crux with 48mm clearance. So plenty of room for a 35mm, probably even will look skinny. Right now I run Maxxis Velocitas, WAM 42mm. I wonder if there are better options.

[pdlpsher1]

Well there isn’t a tire that does well on both tarmac and sand. Those are pretty big extremes.


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[pushpush]

Well there isn’t a tire that does well on both tarmac and sand. Those are pretty big extremes.


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Especially if it is sand-on-top-of-tarmac. That is an exciting combination.

[pdlpsher1]

Well there isn’t a tire that does well on both tarmac and sand. Those are pretty big extremes.


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Especially if it is sand-on-top-of-tarmac. That is an exciting combination.

Indeed. I once crashed on a hard-packed-dirt surface with a very light coat of sand on top of it. The sand acted like roller bearings and my front tire just slid out without warning.

I'm unsure what the OP meant by "sandy "off-roads"".

There's never a perfect gravel tire for all road conditions. My personal gravel tire philosophy is to use the lowest RR tire possible and just go slow when the road conditions get challenging. I'd rather be faster on the flats and climbs, than be faster on descents but slower on flats/climbs. I don't race so downhills don't matter to me.

[pushpush]

Some mixed and challenging surfaces are better served with the right tire pressures (ahem..... low psi tubeless ftw!) than the right tire. Knobs and tread have a place, but sometimes you just want as much contact patch as possible.