Panaracer GravelKing ZX Tubeless Tire
Description
A slick center strip, a band of small diamond-shaped treads, and 2 rows of angled shoulder blocks make up the tread on the GravelKing ZX from Panaracer. It's a semi-slick built for rides that link tarmac, hardpack, and loose gravel without warning. Upright, you're rolling on the smooth center. Lean into a corner and the tire hands off to the transition treads and then the shoulder blocks, which bite into loose surfaces through turns and descents. It's a tubeless-ready folding tire with an aramid bead, made in Panaracer's own factory in Japan.
What makes that handoff work is the profile. The slick center is raised by roughly 2mm, the shoulder knobs stand at about the same height, and the transition zone sits just below that line, so the top of the tread forms one continuous curve from edge to edge. The shoulder blocks are stepped as well, short near the middle and growing in height toward the outside. On the bike, that means no sudden drop-off as the tire rolls from the slick strip onto the knobs, which is the spot where many semi-slick designs feel abrupt on mixed surfaces.
If you've been swapping between a road-leaning tire and a knobby depending on the weekend's route, the GravelKing ZX is designed so one set can stay on the wheels. Setup is straightforward. The BeadLock bead is shaped for both hooked and hookless rims, and in most cases it seats with a standard floor pump. One thing to know before mounting: the tire is directional, and the shoulder blocks can look like they're pointing the wrong way relative to the rotation arrow. They aren't. Follow the arrow on the sidewall and the tread will work as intended.... Read More
Features
- 3-zone semi-slick tread with slick center, diamond transition treads, and angled shoulder blocks
- Raised center strip matched to shoulder knob height for a continuous tread profile
- Stepped shoulder blocks for cornering and descending grip on loose surfaces
- Directional tread, mount according to the sidewall rotation arrow
- TuffTex 120 TPI casing with bead-to-bead puncture protection
- ZSG Gravel single compound for consistent performance across temperatures
- BeadLock tubeless-ready bead
- Compatible with hooked and hookless rims
- Seats with a standard floor pump in most cases
- Folding aramid bead
- 700c (622 ISO)
- Designed for gravel, dirt, and rough pavement
- Black tread with black or brown sidewalls
- Made in Japan
- 560 grams (700x45mm), 640 grams (700x50mm)