This tire is essentially a clincher version of the Vittoria Corsa Pro TLR. I used the TLR version and found it very smooth on the road. But I got tired of the mess and maintenance of tubeless. So this spring I went back to clincher tires. When Vittoria released this tire I was all in. I have paired with Vittoria latex tubes. The ride is amazing. The ride feels faster and smoother than the Corsa Pro TLR. I know that's subjective, so take it for what it's worth, but for me it is the best combination I have come across. For you old schoolers, it reminds me of how tubulars felt on the road.
I ride a gravel bike mostly on paved streets in the hilly parts of Portland. I tried several saddles (dozens over the years) and a friend suggested I take a look at the Brooks Cambium saddles. I got a C-17, and for my anatomy, it's a big flat area that accommodates my sitz bones just fine, but it just wasn't comfortable. I finally found a description of what makes the C15 different ' it's made for people riding in a more forward position (45'). Though I don't race or ride in a crouch, this saddle fits me well: it doesn't put my weight on my hamstrings. The weight rests to the inside of my hamstrings' attachment, so riding is far more comfortable, and my riding posture isn't tweaked by the saddle design. And the carved portion actually prevents pressure on those nerves. Finally!
Knock on wood, but I haven't had a puncture (that didn't seal) in the 2,500 miles I've ridden on my road and gravel bikes over the past three months. To get an idea of longevity, I sucked the sealant back out of the tires through the valve stem using my injector after two months. I had to top it off, but nearly 2/3 of what I'd initially put in was still liquid. I'd call that a win for both sealing and enduring, which is exactly what this stuff is supposed to do. Win, win.
I bought these tires because Panaracer decided to quit making their Small Knobs in 43mm. The Continentals say 45mm, but they look to be the same width as the SK 43s. I've only had them on the bike for two months but so far so good. They were a little pricier than the Panaracers and I gave them 4 stars just because I haven't had them long enough to know how durable they are. Grip is good, slightly more aggressive than the SKs, but still low profile enough to roll well when on pavement.
