I installed this tire on the rear wheel with a Cinturato Gravel M up front. This rear tire rolls really well while still providing good grip on the type of terrain I ride on (e.g. mix of pavement, hardpack, and loose over hard). On loose gravel, I had found my old tire (Bontrager Team GR1) would easily spin out on acceleration from a stop, while on the same gravel this tire digs in and grips. Longer rides including on pavement are still comfortable and low noise, too, so this tire perfectly fits what I need.
I ran a set in 2023 for two years, no problems, good performance for the longevity.
I bought a 2023 model in 2024, and not only were they much harder to mount, one of them was harder than the other. To give an idea I needed a tool to get the first side of the tire mounted, a job that is normally for hands. It took a solid half hour and some skin to get the things on.
If they last as long I might forget and get a new pair, otherwise I'm liable to try something that fits better.
These tubes are very light but durable. I've used them for years and gone thousands of miles without a flat. Of course, they won't protect you from a nail or a piece of glass, but in my experience, they don't fail from ordinary wear and tear. They weigh 75 grams, which is not as light at the Continental Supersonic at 50 grams, but they aren't as fragile either. They also come in shorter stem lengths for those of us who aren't using deep dish wheels. I also like the threaded option which locks the stem in place but seems to be missing from many newer tubes. All and all, these tubes are a great compromise between light weight and durability.
One final piece of advise: Most modern tubes come with a removable core. Some manufacturers leave them loose from the factory. That means they can come out when you unscrew the inflator. This is especially disconcerting when it happens on the bike path and you've just used your last CO2 cartridge. Continental is pretty good about tightening the core at the factory, but I always tighten them as soon as my order arrives. That way, I have no surprises when I'm out on a ride changing a flat.
I bought these to give a little more width and a more knobby pattern for racy use. They fully satisfied. For context, this bike had 38mm Tarravail Washburns on it before as it was primarily being ridden in an 'allroad' configuration (plenty of dirt but no gnarl and some pavement). My other gravel setup is at the other extreme with Mezcal Race 2.25" for the all dirt, lots of gnarl rides. For a fully dirt race, splitting the difference with a bit more mm and some better grip seemed in order. I was quite happy with the balance of a quick tire and yet still adequate comfort and grip. Easy to mount for me. No sealant seepage. No punctures (so far)
