I’ve been testing Panaracer’s all-new GravelKing X1 and X1R tires since spring, find out why they’re now my favorite mid-price, mixed-surface all-rounders

Panaracer launched its first GravelKing tire ten years ago, before gravel was really a thing in most riders' minds. Since then Panaracer has added more and more GravelKing variants to keep pace with the explosion and diversification of drop bar off-road riding and maintain its presence in the best gravel tire ratings. The new X1, X1R, and X1+ are totally new tires though and a summer of riding in all conditions on solo and tandem bikes has proved they’re excellent performers at a good price.

Design and build

The new GravelKings are based on new 120tpi casings which Panaracer calls TuffTex. There are different variants for each tire but details are a bit vague beyond that. The lightest X1R tires use a ‘more supple’ version (I’m guessing that means without protection), X1 tires use a bead-to-bead puncture protection layer, while the X1+ uses a ‘double strength’ TuffTex+ casing. All the versions are sold in 35, 40, and 45mm, but insider intel suggests you’ll have to wait for a 50mm version next year. They’re available in brown or black wall but the X1R tires are more of a cream wall so you can’t mix R and standard or + casings without it looking a bit odd. The same carcass types are used to revamp the existing GravelKing SK, Semi Slick, and Slick designs too, but the X1 is an all-new moulding.

The center tread is continual across the crown so it seems like the gaps are inset into the rubber, rather than it being knobs raised up from the base. The diagonal intermediate and shoulder blocks are more widely spaced and conventional in design. The tires are made in Japan and the tread itself looks a lot like Japanese lettering from some angles. However, Panaracer ‘Global Go To Guy’ Jeff Zell assured us it was functional rather than phonetic in any Asian way when he sneaked us a peak at the new tires back at the Core show in spring.

Performance

The supple casing feel is obvious as soon as you pull the tires out of their recycled cardboard packaging. The feel and color reminded me a lot of the legendarily fluid rolling Rene Herse tires, which isn’t that surprising as Panaracer actually manufactures those too. The ‘BeadLock TLR’ edges are a snug fit onto the Hope, Zipp, and Reserve rims I tested them on throughout the summer. They always went on without too much persuasion and then pumped up easily with just a track pump though and they’re hooked and hookless rim compatible. A couple of punctures on the R’s when racing at Gralloch and a low-pressure-related burp getting giddy at the Dirty Reiver concerned me at first. Their low weight also worried me in terms of durability, but they’ve been as good as gold ever since. I’ve properly hammered the 45C X1s bikepacking in Wales and even on my gravel tandem too so they’ve certainly seen plenty of rock-to-rim action.

What’s stood out throughout testing though is how fast and supple they always feel. While I’m often underwhelmed with how 45c tires feel in terms of extra smoothness even at low pressures, the X1s still felt really good, keeping vibrations low and the vibe high even after long rocky days off-road. The X1R is particularly floated and light – both physically and psychologically – too. That properly put a spring and a sprint in the step of my Santa Cruz Stigmata long-term test bike when I fitted them and made me reset my standards for smoothness even against handmade ‘open tub’ designs from Challenge.

Despite the easy rolling speed of the inverted tread being close to a full slick, there’s still enough working edge in the design to brake and drive pretty hard in most conditions. The supple nature of the carcass means they don’t block as easily as I expected in the mud either and it also improves grip via more consistent ground connection. As you’d expect the more open outer tread gives more bite, but as the knobs are pretty small it’s definitely a predictable slider rather than an on/off snapper. Once you’re used to that though it opens up all sorts of amusing sideways misbehavior through fast and loose turns, particularly on a bike as progressive and stable as the Stig.

The new Zero Slip Grip Gravel rubber formulation has proved an impressive balance of traction and durability too, with no ripping, tearing, or obvious rub down even with hundreds of km on the test clock. That boosts already good value pricing too, although it’s worth noting the R and + versions are around 20 percent more expensive than the ‘basic’ X1

Verdict

A lot tougher than you’d expect for their very light, responsive weight and a lot more trustworthy in terms of traction than you’d expect for their fast-rolling speed. And all with a beautifully buoyant and floated ride feel, particularly in the X1R version.

Secure and predictable right through the pressure range and relatively easy to fit on hooked or hookless rims too. Add good durability even in heavy use to an already decent price and the X1 trio and their other TuffTex friends have already become firm favourites for dirty drop bar action.

Tech specs: Panaracer GravelKing X1 and X1R

• Price: X1 $64.99, £54.99, €63.99 X1 R and + $79.99, £64.99, €74.99
• Sizes: 700 x 35, 40, and 45c
• Options: X1, X1R and X1+
• Weight: X1-R 40c 464g, X1 TLR 45c