The Radavist

Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…

This morning Chrome Industries announced its new Pedal and Pro Series footwear, equipped with an exclusive rubber outsole from legendary Panaracer Tires. The launch video alone is worth the mention! Check it out above and see all the models at Chrome.

You all asked and Sim Works listened. Their popular Super Yummy tires are now available in 26″ x 2.22″. This latest addition rounds out the Super Yummy line to 29er, 27.5, and 26 options, all in a 2.22″ width. The 26″ tires weigh 788g and their robust construction virtually eliminates holes or flats. They’re in stock now at Sim Works USA but will probably sell out quick, so act fast!

Panaracer’s Gravelking tires have been a crowd favorite over the years and their new SS and SS Plus+ tires look to offer up a new profile to the already plump and supple lineup. The SS tires are designed for drier gravel and dirt. Think of these as a race day tire, with a folding bead and ultra supple feel. The SS Plus+ offer bead-to-bead puncture protection. Both models come in widths 32mm and larger, are available in 700 or 650b and come in black or gumwall. The Gravelking SS is coming in June and the SS Plus+ in July. See them at your local shop and online at Panaracer.

Panaracer’s dominating gravel tire, the GravelKing is now available in a variety of colors, including these three limited-edition tires. The gold, purple, and olive GravelKings are now available for pre-ordering at your local dealer, with either black or brown sidewalls. Prices begin at $49.99.  Head to Panaracer to see the full lineup!

To spice it up for fall, Sim Works have released the Homage tire in a 700c x 43mm and 26″ x 1.95″ size run. These tires look so good in person, so if you’ve been looking for something new to roll on this fall, be sure to check them out. They’re in stock for $62 each at Sim Works USA.

ULTRADYNAMICO Rubber Corp, founded by longtime cycle pals @ultraromance and @ultratradition, launches today with an effervescently-late summer tire aptly dubbed “Rosé”.  The Rosé comes in popular 650b x 47.99mm size, with an exotic and luxurious sidewall that is tubeless-ready, without seeping away all your sealant.

Yes, Compass made a ‘cross tire, just in time for ‘cross season. As with all their tires, there’s a story behind the design process of the Steilacoom. You should really go check it out at the Bicycle Quarterly blog and see more information at Compass.

Fairweather has built their brand around designing new products with Japanese companies such as Nitto, Sugino and Panaracer. Their latest offerings include a whole array of tires in various colors and sizes, for any bike you might own. 28c road, 32c CX, 29’r, tourer, you name it, they’ve got it in both “algae” and “rust” colors. The 700c x 38c touring tires look really nice.

Right now these tires, their bags, components and frames are all in stock at Fairweather’s webshop and yes, they ship worldwide on everything.

The Panaracer CX Fire is indeed a great tire, but with a 45c measurement, it’ll be a bit too big for a traditional cross frame. That’s why SOMA responded to the demand with a 40c mixed terrain tire called the Cazadero, made by Panaracer in Japan. Head over to SOMA for the scoop. These look damn good and yes, gumwalls…

Made by Panaracer in Japan, designed by Fairweather for XC riding and in stock now at Blue Lug, these tires look incredible. My only question: who in the States will be carrying them? See more at the Blue Lug Flickr!

If you need scientific data to support tire purchasing, you need not continue reading. Just look at the pretty photos and move on. This is not a controlled test on rolling resistance, aerodynamics or puncture protection. I don’t do that kind of product review. What I do is actually use something until I feel like I can sign off on its quality, before I choose to write anything.

Let’s look at this tire’s history before we go any further. Bruce Gordon was arguably one of the first builders in the USA to support “gravel grinding”. His bikes were straight-forward, utilitarian beasts that sometimes were painted like an 80’s hotrod, or even adorned with animal print. They are wild. In fact, one of the first BG bikes I ever saw was a flat bar cross bike, with these tires and tiger stripes that was well before any 29’r hit the market. A lot of bikes back in the 80’s couldn’t even fit these tires. There weren’t exactly stock framesets that fit a 700c x 43c wheel, so these stood out from other offerings of the time.

Bruce’s Rock N Road tires are iconic, much like his bikes. Originally designed by Joe Murray, a well-known figure in the MTB community. These 43mm (1.72″) tires were designed to be high-volume, fast rolling and rip through gravel like I rip through a Frito Pie. Are they slow on the road? Of course. They have decent tread. Are they good for loose and sandy conditions? Mostly, yes. They move as fast as you pedal them.

The Rock N Road tire is one that’s at home on chip seal, paved, gravel, rock, sand and just about everything else you can throw at it on a ride. It’ll handle great at 60psi on asphalt and excel at 40psi in gravel. I had a great time ripping through the cedar-topped trails here in Austin, as well as a few gravel roads and even rocky terrain. All save for one flat (snake bite in a rock garden), I’ve yet to have any issues. Let me add however that if all you do is ride sealed roads on your rig, I would go for something else, mostly because you’ll probably wear through the tread too fast.

Puncture protection? It’s not thorn season here in Austin, so I’ve yet to tackle anything like that but I’d say they’re pretty resilient to the normal road and trail debris. Some tire liners would help and I read somewhere that people have been successful at running these on a tubeless wheel. If anyone has insight to that, share in the comments!

If you want a big, fat tire for your cross, touring or even MTB with 700c or 29’r wheels, look no further. $50 a piece is a great deal for anything coming out of the Panaracer facilities in Japan I might add! For the weight-conscious, they’re 540g each. One major note. They’re BIG and wouldn’t come close to fitting on my cross bike, so MAKE SURE YOU HAVE CLEARANCE!

Pick up a pair at Bruce Gordon’s online shop in skinwall or blackwall.