Whatsize rims for 700x423/28/2023 ![]() ![]() With their generous 25mm internal width, the 38’s measure out to 38.75mm. And, the Bontrager Aeolus Pro 3V’s will likely be the chosen wheelset as well. Without question, the Pathfinder Pro’s are going to be my tire of choice heading into SBT GRVL 2019. Just a second off my PR on this 1-mile gravel/dirt affair. I was a mere 1 second off my best time, and I wasn’t even pushing hard. What you see below is a mile of mixed gravel (smooth and rocky) with a couple of little punchy climbs mixed in. And, rolling gravel with mixed climbs are great - with excellent efficiency on fast sections. Short, steep, rocky, anaerobic climbs can be powered through with excellent traction. I’ve been able to push these tires hard on gravel and really love how they hook up on climbs, flats and descents.Īs with all tires, you can get the rear tire to let loose on climbs, but a little balance goes a long way and I’ve been surprised at the terrain these can tackle. That fast-rolling center is awesome on pavement and those tear-shaped side knobs make for excellent dirt performance. Mixed road/dirt rides are just what the Pathfinder is made for. Very confident on all variety of dirt and gravel. The angulation you can achieve with the Pathfinders is off-the-charts as I’ve enjoyed every curvy downhill I’ve encountered. climb above turns into a whale of a downhill with twisty, turny corners that, with the Pathfinder 700×38’s, felt like a playground. What’s flat-out amazing about these tires on the road is the sheer grip they offer when cornering at speed. Atop the Alpine Loop, the 38’s did quite well. What’s awesome about their on-road performance is the sheer comfort and ability to dart onto any gravel or dirt road you may encounter. As an added bonus on the road, hitting the shoulder, if needed, is no big deal. Again, this is to be expected and shouldn’t be a big deal, but just be aware. Other comparison tests between both the 650b and 700c versions showed that they are consistently about 5% slower on extended climbs as compared to fast-rolling road tires. The climb up American Fork Canyon was a touch slower than my typical 1:05 time. I’d say there is a 5-8% efficiency loss as compared to fast-rolling 28mm tires, which added about 6-8 minutes to my average time. road climb, the 700×38’s yielded slightly to faster, narrower tires. Depending on the terrain, I raised and lowered the pressure accordingly. Out on the road, both tire sizes perform very well with that wide, fast-rolling center channel at 35-40 psi. Regardless of tire size, my pro tip is to keep an eye on that direction arrow before mounting these up. I resorted to a tire lever), should the need arise. Removal, however, is pretty difficult (e.g. The 650b’s are a little more stubborn on the Roval CLX 32 650b’s, but can still be installed without tools. Mounting was a breeze and seating them up with the Blackburn Chamber Tubeless Pump was quick-and-easy. ![]() Installation of the 700×38 Pathfinders was entirely tool and curse-free with my thumbs doing all the work. Both were set up exclusively tubeless, using Bontrager sealant. I’ve had the 700c’s mounted up to the Bontrager Aeolus Pro 3V wheels while the 650b’s were mounted on the Roval CLX 32 650b wheels. But, would the 700×38 or 650×47 become the best go-to rubber? That gets a little murky, but it’s fair to say both are great options heading into 100 miles of blissful Colorado gravel. With a trip to the Midwest in June and SBT GRVL in August, the search for the perfect all-road tire pointed squarely to the Pathfinder Pro. When released, the new Pathfinder Pro tires had my summer plans written all over them. Endurant Casing and BlackBelt flat protection.2Bliss casing makes for easy tubeless install.Specialized Pathfinder Pro Tires 700×38 & 650×47 Features: And, after extensive testing of both the 700x38c and 650x47c versions, these tires are great for anything you can throw at them. Fast-rolling and grippy on gravel, dirt and pavement - that’s what the new Specialized Pathfinder tires are targeting.
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