Panaracer GravelKing X1 TLR tyre

£54.99 The brand's first new tread pattern for gravel riding since 2017

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This is a new tyre in Panaracer's gravel range, which was overhauled in 2024 to help celebrate the GravelKing's 10th anniversary. Off-road riding has evolved dramatically since the inception of this line of tyres, and the new X1 is claimed to be the fastest GravelKing yet, thanks to a new bead profile and casing.

I've been impressed by the GravelKing X1 in testing, finding it to be very fast-rolling with good puncture resistance. It loses points, however, for a lack of outright cornering grip when really pushing hard, plus I struggled with a challenging initial tubeless installation (the TLR in the tyre's name stands for tubeless-ready).

A distinctive tread pattern

According to Panaracer, the X1 is the speediest GravelKing ever made – even faster than the GravelKing Slick. The brand say riders now need something more aggressive and “stickier in the edge”, with modern courses featuring quick turns and more off-camber terrain. To me, the central tread pattern looks a bit like a repeating Transformers logo, while the side knobs are taller for improved cornering. Apparently, the tyre is designed to roll fast but also to be able to clear mud quickly in wet conditions.

Panaracer's gravel tyres continue to be manufactured in Japan and feature the brand's proprietary ZSG (Zero Slip Grip) compound. This material is also found on their top-tier road tyres, such as the Agilest TLR, but here the recipe has been tweaked for off-road riding. Panaracer claim it has “remarkable resistance to temperature and weather fluctuations” and so helps provide consistent performance through hot summer days and subzero winter rides.

The BeadLock bead has been designed to fit on a broader range of rims. Panaracer also say it makes for easy tubeless installation, claiming the tyre will “often” seat with just a track pump – more on this later.