The Most Loved Gravel Bike Tire? Specialized Pathfinder Pro

[@marksandoval5361]

I ride the 700x47 PP on i30mm rims at 26 psi for my 160 pound weight. I like how comfortable it is. I really notice the cushion this tire gives. I also like how fast and quiet this tire rolls on pavement while still hooking up very well on rough gravel or single track. You could almost use the PP as a rear tire on an XC bike.

[@davidross8233]

Can’t wait for the 2.6 inch version

[@oldguyandabike]

@@davidross8233 🫣

[@basengelblik5199]

Jesus 2.6 😂 ... 2.35 60mm is fine for me.

[@alanhill7965]

The S-Works version is a fast and supple and lasted me 8 months without punctures just wore them out

[@sccxvelo]

Start at CX uci legal width at 33mm. The 5mm size jump is 38 all road/fast gravel tire. Then 42 when 45 was big. Now 47 has taken the big tire place with 42 the fast gravel tire it seems like. 38mm now seems left behind size or mixed surface training or come stock on new bikes so still good for non elite CX races.

[@84imreplica]

I have this tire (650b 47mm) on my gravel bike and love them. Okay on gravel/mild trails and fast on the pavement.

[@robinsonsadventures2174]

Have 42s super tyres! I recommend them over the competition only problem I found with them is slippery mud but other than that they are bang on

[@petersouthernboy6327]

That’s my go-to tire. Inexpensive at $55, too !

[@markk527]

Thanks. Great video. The size 47 is because the Specialized Diverge only supports up to 47mm tires. I'm not a big fan of the Pathfinder and Pathfinder Pro, they might be good in dry conditions, but that's the exception here. That's why I've switched to the Giant Crosscut AT 2, and I'm really happy with them. They feel pretty much the same as the pathfinder, with the difference that they can handle a bit of mud with an ease.

[@oldguyandabike]

Yeah...mud is just not my issue here where I ride. If it is wet and muddy, you don't ride off road as it has a very high clay content. gg

[@herminio001]

I like WTB Biway which is similar to the Pathfinder Pro but found a cheaper tire that has similar characteristics which is the Panaracer Gravelking SS +.

[@impaledface7694]

Great review.

[@MTBryanH]

The 38mm PP measures at 41mm on my 25mm internal rim Hunts. I recently went to the Schwalbe G One RS and it feels faster, spins up faster and is much more compliant. The PP seems stiff. But I've never flatted on the PP. I might try the S-Works version someday to see if I like them better.

[@oldguyandabike]

Well looking at that G One RS, that tire would kill me out here on my 'gravel roads but it sure looks fast. gg

[@MTBryanH]

@oldguyandabike Yes good point. And I was thinking that after my comment. It completely depends on the local terrain. My area is fairly flat so I'm doing road miles at speed and mild rollers. And the Gravel isn't super chunky. From an old guy: I enjoy your channel. Cheers...

[@RodimusPrime]

My S-Works Pathfinder 42c on 25mm internal rims actually measures at 47c

[@oldguyandabike]

@@RodimusPrime I wonder if the SWorks casing is thinner and more able to stretch? gg

[@RodimusPrime]

@oldguyandabike even my non sworks pathfinders in 38c on 25mm inner width wheels measure at 40c.

[@shirtlessGraveler305]

I have the S works 45C on my diverge and I really like them. They mount up very good. I wish they came out with a 47C version but after contacting specialized, they said there’s no plans.

[@hansschotterradler3772]

I ride the new Gravelking X1-R in 700c x 45. They inflate to 48mm on my rims with 24 mm inner rim width and weigh only 495 g according to my scale. Comfy and fast tires.

[@oldguyandabike]

@@hansschotterradler3772 nice. Have they updated their casings?

[@hansschotterradler3772]

@oldguyandabike yep, they updated the casing this year. The previous GK was ~10 years old.

[@gregmorrison7320]

Wish they made these in a 50mm, I would run one on the rear (currently run the 47) but tbh I didn't like them on the front, found on fast downhills while trying to stay on line on the crown of the road that the bike would drift down towards the edge of the road which was a problem on sweeping corners. Now run a 50mm Thunderburt up front which is much better and so comfortable I can ride puppy paws almost everywhere.

[@oldguyandabike]

That Thunderburt looks like a killer tire! gg

[@michiganstate149]

You didn't touch much on the reason most of us run it: they rarely flat. Best overall gravel tire out there IMO.

[@bonbonflippers4298]

This. They're so damn puncture proof and lasts so long that I have never gotten a flat with them.

[@oldguyandabike]

Funny you say that. I did not mention it on the video but I cut the rear tire on the last ride a block away from the truck. It was a chunk of sharp glass that was about 5 carats! But that would have cut ANY performance tire out there so really, it was just bad luck. However, your comments are good to hear. I rarely cut tires out here as the rocks are pretty rounded, not sharp. gg

[@DS1150]

I was hoping for this but I had an initial puncture after only a week riding on a bridleway. I then had a further 2 punctures in 20 mins riding on the South Downs here in the UK.

[@oldguyandabike]

@@DS1150 Punctures are weird. You can pop any tire under the right circumstances and brands have to balance out weight. cost, ride quality, etc, so it all has its limits. I will say that it seems the UK gets more than its share of punctures, based on my YT video watching. Must be all the rain over there. gg

[@OutThere42]

Specialized Pathfinder Pro -120tpi 32mm 380g 38mm 480g 42mm 540g Pathfinder Sworks 42mm 435g

[@oldguyandabike]

wow...100g. No wonder it stretches more. gg

[@mellissanash7517]

Did you know, the S-Work version of the 42mm measures out to 45mm on a i24mm rim(friends bike). I'd like to see a review of the Vittoria Terreno Dry and Zero models, which come in 45mm, 47mm, 50mm and 53mm in the gravel version(2.1 and 2.25 in the xc race model).

[@oldguyandabike]

Does it? I cannot recall how fat the 42 was that I tried but it was over 42 for sure. As far as Vittoria, I don't know anyone there. I wish I had more connections to more companies but the days of working with a larger outfit are long gone and I am just a tiny channel with a checkbook. gg

[@mellissanash7517]

understandable. Yeah the 42mm s-work model my friends rides on measures out to 45mm on her bike. She says the non s-works is closer to 42mm. Sometime bike shops and retailers do have deals on tires like the vittoria for $35 and under. Even just testing it out the Terreno Dry as a front tire would be interesting.

[@kevinlewis390]

They used to, used to, be the tire of choice for US gravel pros, I think this gave them a lot of their notoriety. Never tried them, as I've only relied on two tires Conti Terra Speeds and Challenge Strada Bianca. What I can say is I think part of the reason a lot of pros liked them is because it sucks to be following anyone using that tire, it throws rocks worse than any other tire, to the point I can instantly tell every time I end up behind someone running them.

[@oldguyandabike]

@@kevinlewis390 hah! Interesting. I can see those little knobs doing that. In the Jeep world the BFG KO2 AT was ‘that tire’. gg

[@tomahoks]

I found tyres for 13.90€ 2.1" on sale, so as poor as I am, I bought two.

[@jmoore3854]

I have a Crux Expert with 42mm S-Work Pathfinder Pro and a diverge pro with Pathfinder pro 42 tires. Looking for a wider tire with a little more tread for the diverge so it can do chunkier trails. The specs say the Diverge can take up to a 47 tire. The existing tires measure 44mm at 30 psi and have 9mm of clearance on each side to the chain stay. I think it will take a 50mm tire with clearance for mud but not sure. I was looking at the 47mm Pathfinder pro but the slick center might slide in wet conditions and looking for more volume. What tire would you recommend. Has anyone tried the 50mm tire width on the Diverge?

[@oldguyandabike]

I can't see the PF as being a mud tire. But I have not been in wet soils with it. The 50mm WTB Resolute would be one to look at as it seems to run small (just barely a 50) and the more open tread should be good in wetter soils. gg

[@JoeCincotta307]

Have you spent any time on the Pirelli Cinturato Garvel H ? I have been through many tires and they have become my absolute favorite in 700x45.

[@oldguyandabike]

Very briefly, They were 40s and on the first ride I was impressed with the speed on the road....then I killed one on some unknown, very sharp, thing. Grannygear was sad. And Pirelli never sent a replacement, so that was that. gg

[@bobtilton3024]

I run 42 S-Works Pathfinders on my Crux. Overall great tire and never feel the need to run a second wheelset in either more slick or more knobby direction. Plus I'm lazy. I do notice the PFs need to run more than 29 PSI to avoid that odd transition sensation from file to smooth tread when cornering. Also, ran these at Mammoth Tuff and figured a knobbier tire would be better for next year. Would you run the PFs at Mammoth?

[@oldguyandabike]

@@bobtilton3024 I thought about that. The Tuff. Hmmmm. I think the 50mm Resolutes would be my first choice. They are the best tires in sand/pumice I have used. But the 47mm Pros would not be terrible. gg

[@oldguyandabike]

@@bobtilton3024 also I think I am going to try the 42mm Pathfinders again after I run through the other tires I have to try. gg

[@bobtilton3024]

@@oldguyandabike Yes. I'm torn between more knobby or volume... or both! It got real cat litter on the 72 mile route which was super discouraging.

[@oldguyandabike]

@@bobtilton3024 Yeah...I did the 40=ish one and had signed up for the 70...got talked out of it...but I heard the 40 miler had the worst kitty litter of all the routes. Not sure, but it was pretty epically deep. Never did walk though. Old MTB skills die hard. David Turner (Turner Bikes) was there and did the 70 and said that his 2.1s were dogs on the smoother parts and all the road segments. There is a price to pay for higher volume and weight. gg

[@bobtilton3024]

@@oldguyandabike Agreed. I believe this is the reason the Pathfinders are so successful... a perfect balance of weight, knobs, slick, etc.

[@rug212]

I’ve been thinking about these Pathfinders. Also thinking about the Gravel Kings Semi Slicks. Have you any thoughts on those?

[@oldguyandabike]

No, sorry. Never tried anything but the SKs from Panaracer. And those tires rode rather poorly...dead feeling ride from those. gg

[@rug212]

@ good to know. Thank you

[@racittaj]

That looks like updated T5 compound version vs old gripton version. What is the weight?

[@oldguyandabike]

@@racittaj 580/583g

[@larryt.atcycleitalia5786]

On the package do they say where these are made and/or who actually makes them? I ask because I won't buy anything with Kim Il Sinyard's company name on it, but might buy 'em from the actual manufacturer. Lion Tyre is Vittoria from the days of yore while Challenge also does contract manufacturing for various brands...though the Big-S could have a tread pattern design exclusive? Hutchinson's another contract manufacturer - they made Pirelli-branded tires for awhile. Looking at the roads you're riding (and as someone who lived in SoCal for years) I wonder how a simple slick tire would work? Doesn't look like there's much for a knob to dig into, so why haul 'em around, especially if they're squirmy on paved road curves? Have you tried any slicks?

[@oldguyandabike]

Never tried a true slick. The dirt road in this video is one of the smoothest dirt climbs I know of. My local dirt roads look like they were carpet bombed compared to this with ruts that require side knobs to live through and more. But I think you are right that getting a lot of rubber on the dirt, if it is smooth enough, will provide a surprising level of traction. At least, up to a point. Remember when Cannondale released the Slate with those Pacenti/Panaracer 650bx42 slicks? That press ride saw a few journalists losing some skin on So Cal fire roads. But then, there are journalists that ride and there are riders that are journalists. If you know what I mean. gg

[@larryt.atcycleitalia5786]

@@oldguyandabike "..with ruts that require side knobs to live through and more" is what I wonder about. Unless the surface is soft enough for those knobs to dig into, they're just window-dressing. I'm an old-fart who used to swear-by the old Panaracer Dart and Smoke..until I rode on something with far less knobs and more supple carcass. Slicks were the next experiment and I found on hard-pack/sandy gravel, etc. they worked just fine, with far better grip on pavement, so why was I dragging those heavier, noisier knobs around? So far I've never missed 'em...unless I hit some mud...then they just slip/slide so I avoid that like the plague!

[@ivanyhtang]

Great review! How do you rate these against the Pirelli Cinturato H or M tires? Cheers

[@oldguyandabike]

Yeah...no time on the Ms and a brief time on the Hs, but that was not enough to know. I am getting back on the 45mm RCs though and will revisit them as I think that tread pattern is an interesting hybrid. gg

[@ivanyhtang]

@oldguyandabike to my understanding, the RCs rolling resistance is very similar to the Ms and quite a bit worse relative to the Hs. I run the 45 Ms and the off-road grip is fantastic but is a touch slow on road. Curious how much slower it actually is or feels compared to tires with a slick centerline. Cheers

[@oldguyandabike]

@ that is what kept me away from the M. Looked pretty awful for pavement and a bit overdone for smooth dirt. gg

[@shawnlocke207]

Between the 42 and 47, which one do you like better? I have 50mm stock tires now I want to upgrade to PPs but can’t decide between the two sizes.

[@oldguyandabike]

Good question. I have some 42s in storage and I think I will circle back and try those again. I really do not need the 47s on a regular basis...but maybe the penalty is not that high in real life? I'll find out. gg

[@shawnlocke207]

@ thanks for your reply. I’d really be interested to hear what you think about the differences.

[@tonyg3091]

Heavy AF but tough as nails.

[@tobiasgrietens7018]

Good tyre but mtb tyres are faster and more comfortable. I’d only use it if I couldn’t fit 50mm tyres,

[@jondenman9069]

I would watch your channel if you ditched the sunglasses. I have Tifosi glasses. I don't wear them all the time. Makes a really impersonal video.

[@oldguyandabike]

@@jondenman9069 interesting

[@stevekelly6544]

I don’t care for the pathfinder pro, didn’t like the way they felt, ride quality is not good imo- let a lot of unwanted chatter and feedback through the bike. The Teravail Washburn, which is nearly identical is a much better option for a supple ride quality….