700x40 tire recommendations for road & light gravel use

I'm looking for replacement tires for my old low-end Giant cross-hybrid that's seeing mostly mellow road use with occasional gravel paths mixed in.

Current tires are Giant P-RX2 700x40, they've worked fine.

Any recommendations for a similar tire that's readily available and not outrageously priced? I know nothing about this type of tires.

I run tubes, some form of puncture protection is desirable, weight is not super important.

Not the cheapest $70 @ MEC (I don’t think anything is cheap these days!) but everyone in my gravel circle runs Panaracer Gravelking SKs. They only come in 38 or 43 but are plenty fast on the road. I’ve used some of the WTB more knobby options but I don’t find the sidewalls all that great.

I liked Maxxis Ramblers for that kind of use. Not the most durable knob shape compared to a Gravelking SK but if you run the same front and rear you can shift them as required to keep the fresh one on the front. Fairly light too, easy tubeless setup like you might expect with Maxxis. I see you mentioned tubeless and weight aren’t important but still I went tubeless on that bike (it was used for commuting) because of flat prevention.

Those Panaracers are nice too - as far as I know the Gravel Kings are still made in Japan and they’re quite possibly more consistent quality than Maxxis.

gravelking slick or ss

Panaracer gravel kings, or if you want to spice it up, these:https://www.renehersecycles.com/product-category/components/tires/700c/

Vittoria Terreno and Michelin Power Gravel are popular options with my road+gravel riding friends.

Thank you all, that gives me some idea of what to look for.

I also vote gravelkings. I have the sk and I don’t feel at a disadvantage on the road. Though I do ride solo.

Posted by: Sethimus

gravelking slick or ss

This^

If mainly road with light gravel thrown in the ss is fantastic as the centre runs smooth on roads and you can turn the bike on the side nobs to get bite cornering on gravel. 

I have the sk on right now and it is noticeably slower on roads and I don't need the extra tread on gravel 95% of the time. The side treads are identical, it's only the centre that is different so really you are just getting better climbing and braking traction on steep gravel with the sk.

Posted by: RAHrider

Posted by: Sethimus

gravelking slick or ss

This^

If mainly road with light gravel thrown in the ss is fantastic as the centre runs smooth on roads and you can turn the bike on the side nobs to get bite cornering on gravel. 

I have the sk on right now and it is noticeably slower on roads and I don't need the extra tread on gravel 95% of the time. The side treads are identical, it's only the centre that is different so really you are just getting better climbing and braking traction on steep gravel with the sk.

yep, and you don’t have the annoying noise of the sk when it picks up fine sand and throws it against the downtube

I was primarily running the GravelKing SK last year.  Over the winter, I was primarily running about 70% paved with the rest on a very established dirt multiuser trail.  Decided to run Spec-Pathfinder Pro and like them for this use.  As backroads dry out, I'll probably switch back to the SK as that is where I will spend most of my time.

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/pathfinder-pro-2bliss-ready/p/157870?color=237517-157870

I also have started running my gravel bike with Tubolight inserts and really like them.  Ran into a badly sliced tire a month ago and rode on the insert for about a mile to get to good pickup location.

Cheers, Mike

Any thoughts on the Gravelking standard vs "Plus+"? The Plus is supposed to have extra puncture protection.

I think the SS will probably be good enough for my intended use. On the other hand I don't care too much about rolling resistance so might go for the SK.

id chose the lightest supplest version i can get my hands on

The Schwalbe Marathon Mondial also has a decent tread pattern for light gravel, and it's bombproof.