We get a lot of questions about choosing the right tires for the Athens to Savannah Ride. For every one of you who reaches out, we imagine there are plenty more who don't, but still have questions. A 4-day event is a big time commitment and significant expense, and we want everyone to have the best possible experience. Since that starts with preparation, our resident expert and cycling coach, Dana Walton has some tips to help you plan your ride.
Tires & Air Pressure: A Guide Athens to Savannah Gravel
Gravel tires are available in a wide variety of treads. You can buy specific tires for specific conditions, such as mud tires that have knobs designed to provide additional traction and push globs of mud from the center to the outside of the tire. There are also mostly slick tires with a little tread on the outside which are great for hard pack, fast-rolling dry gravel roads.
Personally, I do not swap out tires according to the weather and opt for an all arounder/mixed condition tire which has a tightly spaced center tread for lower rolling resistance on hard packed roads yet pronounced enough to dig into softer surfaces.
At the 2023 Athens to Savannah Gravel Ride, I used 38mm Panaracer Gravel King SK and was happy with that selection. On the second day, we had morning rain which resulted in muddy conditions and Gravel King did okay there too. It would have been nice to have more knobs for the mud, but as I said, I do not like changing out tires. Plus I knew the mud would eventually end since ATHSAV has a variety of terrain.
ATHSAV Gravel reminds me of when I was teaching 6th grade science – it was a bit of everything: chemistry, biology, environmental, geology and ecology. Likewise, the gravel ride offers a smorgasbord of surfaces: chunky large gravel, small gravel, loose gravel, hard packed and sand. Therefore, you need a good all-around tire designed to handle a wide range of surfaces such as Path Finder, Maxxis Rambler, Specialized Trigger or Panaracer Gravel King SK. These tires offer a tread pattern with good grip and rolling efficiency for the pavement and hard packed roads.
They say “variety is the spice of life” and that’s one of the many factors that makes this ride great. You don’t like large gravel? Great. Keep going and it’s going to change. You like sand? Then, enjoy it while you got it because that too will change, and you’ll soon be rolling on hard packed red clay.
Tire pressure is another important factor in gravel cycling. It varies based on several factors, including your bike, your weight, the tire width, the type of terrain, and your personal comfort preferences.
General Guideline on Tire Pressure:
- Tire Width: Wider tires (e.g. 40mm or more) typically run at lower pressures compared to narrower tires.
- 35-40mm Tires: Around 30-50 psi (2.0-3.5 bar) is a good starting point.
- 40-50mm Tires: Around 25-45 psi (1.7-3.1 bar) is common.
- 50mm and Wider Tires: You might go as low as 20-40 psi (1.4-2.8 bar).
Day 3 of ATHSAV is the sandiest. For this section last year, I rode the lowest tire pressure I ever have, 25 psi, (130 lbs) and I got through the sand way better on day 3 than on day 2.
- Rider Weight: Heavier riders generally need higher pressures to avoid pinch flats and bottoming out, while lighter riders can use lower pressures for more grip and comfort.
- Terrain:
- Loose Gravel: Lower pressures help increase traction and comfort.
- Firm or Hard-Pack Gravel: Slightly higher pressures may be better to avoid excessive rolling resistance.
- Comfort vs. Performance: Lower pressures generally offer more comfort and traction, but can increase rolling resistance and the risk of pinch flats. Higher pressures improve rolling efficiency and reduce the risk of pinch flats, but can make the ride harsher.
- Bike and Rim Compatibility: Check the manufacturer’s recommendations for your bike and rims. Some rims and tires have a maximum pressure limit you should not exceed.
In general, if you’re new to gravel, start with the recommended pressures from your tire manufacturer and adjust to the specific conditions you encounter and as you gain experience. If you’re using tubeless tires, you might be able to go slightly lower on pressure without as much risk of pinch flats.
Practical Tips:
- Tubeless Tires: If you're running tubeless, you can generally run slightly lower pressures without the risk of pinch flats, which can be advantageous on rough terrain.
- Field Adjustments: Carry a mini pump or CO2 inflator to adjust tire pressure as conditions change during a ride.
Choosing the right tire and pressure often involves balancing your specific needs and preferences with the varied conditions you encounter. Your approach of using a versatile all-around tire and adjusting pressure based on the day’s conditions is a solid strategy for gravel riding.
General Information on Tire Width:
- 35 to 40mm: This is a “set it and forget it” tire size and the basic size needed once you go from riding paved terrain to unpaved terrain. A 38mm tire is the sweet spot for riders who are comfortable on rough terrain and want an efficient, quick rolling tire. I find these great for the SE Gravel race series where routes fall 50/50 or 60/40 paved/unpaved.
When you’re spending much of the day in the saddle and/or the terrain gets chunkier, you’ll want to go with the wider end of the range.
- 42 to 47mm: This is the range if you’re out for a day on loose gravel, chunky rock, sand, and single track.
For Athens to Savannah, I recommend 40-44mm for the varied terrain and occasional ruts.