Purchased the 45mm 60 TPI version for a specific gravel race that was "chunky" gravel so I was concerned about durability and thus the 60 TPI/SilkShield version. I was told these would not be as fast and/or supple as some of the other Maxxis Rambler versions but compared to the tires they replaced (set of Panaracer Gravel Kings that came with the bike) they seemed to be absolutely grippier and more supple. Mounted and inflated normally and have held air about as good as anything else I have on a bike...I am running them tubeless. And FWIW, I have suffered no punctures to date.
I'm a casual rider, age 60+, riding a mix of roads and packed trails, 50-75 miles per week. These tires work well on both surfaces, rolling well on roads but having enough grip on trails. There's just enough bounce to soften short patches of large gravel or other bumpy terrain, although I wouldn't recommend them for longer stretches of that. Based on past experience, I fully expect the rear to wear out pretty quickly, but that's a tradeoff I can accept. They were a bit of a struggle to put on; although I managed without it, soapy water would probably help; also give them time to fully unfold, you may end up having to reseat one or both to get all the kinks out of the bead. My only wish is that they were about 2/3s the current price.
I purchased these tubes based on articles I've read on reducing tube/tire weight to improve bike performance and a good GCN episode on YouTube. As this is the first time I've installed TPU tubes I induced small leaks during installation. I ordered a repair kit and closely following the instructions I got a good seal and have had no problem with the tube since I go it reinstalled. I have put at least 500 miles on the new tires (Conti GP5000S TR) and tubes and have noticed significant performance improvement especially going down hill. My heavier friends no longer pass me going down hills which I attribute to the improved aerodynamics and rolling performance. These tubes definitely contribute to this improvement and I would buy them again.
I recently used Stan's Original Rim Tape to set up my existing tubeless wheel, and it definitely gets the job done. The main promise of this tape is to create a durable, airtight seal, and it feels very high-quality and tough. I have no doubt it's non-porous and will protect my rim well.
When it came to installation, it was a mixed bag. On one hand, the tape was surprisingly easy to handle and start applying to the rim.
However, the "easy" part stopped there. While I could get it on the rim without much trouble, getting it to lay perfectly flat and free of bubbles was a real challenge. It took a lot of patience and thumb pressure to work out most of the bubbles, and I'm still not 100% sure I got them all.
Overall, it's a solid product that does what it's supposed to do, but be prepared to take your time with the installation if you want that perfect, bubble-free application.
