While I don't have prior road-specific tubeless tire experience, this product is pretty great. Bead was fairly tight for initial installation, but subsequent removal and remounting is a breeze. Air retention between rides is pretty impressive too (Stan's Grail ZTR). Confident, snappy handling on smooth surfaces and tough on mixed surfaces, including light gravel and chip-seal - no apparent knicks from those harsher surfaces.
No opportunities to ride on wet pavement yet, so I can't vouch for that. They do feel a little softer and slower than the Gatorskins (also 700c 32mm) on my touring bike, so I would expect very good grip in the rain.
Definitely will consider in the future.
Got this due to too many flats on Bontrager GR1 tires on commuter Trek FX (glass chips on city streets). Doesn't feel as "fun" as GR1, but more reliable. Developed a small crack in center tread without a flat (maybe inner structure prevented an early puncture?).... ok for several months until I inflated tire to 60psi, the recommended max; first flat in a year/500miles. No problems with cornering or slippage. Don't underestimate how much force is needed to seat it on the rim. Overall happier with it than GR1 in urban use. Dont inflate to the max.
I ride a mix of paved and dirt roads with a few trails thrown in when the mood strikes. I like that these tires allow you to continue on when you find that some of your favorite dirt roads have gone soft from wet or recent grading. They also roll well on the pavement, and it usually takes about ten miles of road to get into the dirt roads for me. When you want a tire that allows you to take whatever road you want and adapt your ride to how you're feeling at the time, these are the tires to use. I'll use 3 per year and probably ride around 5000 miles per year and weigh around 210. In 3 years of using them, I've not yet been stranded with a major blow out.
Cassettes just aren't worth spending a ton of coin on, they shift the same, and weigh slightly less for an expensive one, why bother?
Shifts perfect, under load too, it's perfect. Whatever Shimano did with Hyperglide 2, it's incredible. Never misses, never really does anything wrong either. I always replace after 3 chains, so they get usually 15000 miles on them and even in the middle/common gears, they are still fine, but that's just my rule.
No issue. Like the 11/34 spread with my 54/40 up front, got gears on all sides that way and almost never need more.
