I run knobby tires for gravel roads.My other `ped that's licensed has smoother regular Cheng Shins,and I don't trust it on sharp gravel. I take the knobby- tired one. When I go the back way over to Vinton ,OH and on to the Ohio River, I have to travel a few miles of gravel roads. I feel the thicker tread of the knobbies holds the tire up a bit from getting punched constantly by the sharp limestone they use here. But gravel roads are slowly going away down here, thankfully........ Yeah, Id have turned tail and run,too! That bike is choice for the `unsafe- LOOKING vehicle' award of the month! LOL!