Cyclocross - Clincher tires for cross

I'm new this year to cross and i'll be runing a clincher wheelset this season. The bike i'm building is a Soma Doublecross with Ultegra 9 speed. I plan on commuting on this bike everyday. My options are to buy a set of smooth-centered cross tires (designed for on and off road) or buy really cheap cross tires that will wear out quickly from riding them on pavement or buy nice cross tires plus a set of more road specific tires and switch them when needed.

Tubular wheelset --- Next year
Second Wheelset --- No $$$

Anyone have any experience with commuting your racing bike that can shed light on tires?
Brands, Models, Widths road and off road?

I either commute on old worn out cross tires or on road tires. I have a road set that I can easily just swap out. Old cross tires work really well as they kind of take on that shape you described being smooth on the top but spiked on the sides. I try to stay off of the pavement as much as possible on my new cross tires.

I have Ritchey Speedmax tires that have held up surprisingly well on the pavement.

I had planned to use road tires on the road, and the cross tires off road only, but I'm too lazy to keep changing tires.

The Speedmax's were pretty cheap (wire bead), too. Save your money for the nice tubular tires next year, and take good care of those.

Second the Ritchey Speedmax. Here in Norcal, were the dirt is hard and dry, they hook up supprisingly well due to the side bit knobbies. The fast rolling center is great too. Inexpensive. Sometimes, the folding kevlars can be purchased for $25, and that will make for a better race day tire.

I'll third the Speedmax. Cheap, work well off road other than bad mud and do fine on the road except they get sketchy on fast corners because of the side knobs.

You might be surprised at how cheaply you can buy tubular wheels for race day. I've got two sets bought for under $150 each shipped. The market for conventional sewup wheelsets just isn't there.

Ron

i dont get it. you are looking for just one set of clinchers to race on and commute on? do you not want to change your tires or something?? as others have said the speedmax's are great and super cheap, like <$25 for a set on ebay, but they are not ideal for commuting or racing. actually, they pretty much suck for racing unless its bone dry and fast, which it usually isn't unless you are in colorado. on the road, you could just get a set of road clinchers for just as cheap -- for example, hutchinson flash's. for racing, you will really get the most performance out of a good knobby like the michelin mud. dont ride these on the pavement. these are for racing only (or off road only). a good solution would be to get a set of speedmax's and a set of muds. leave the sm's on for commuting/training...and then you have the option of running combinations of tires, such as a mud on the front, sm in the rear.

I agree with xccx. There's no way that you'll find a dual purpose 'cross tire that'll work well on the road and in the dirt. If you live in Portland, your races are going to be really greasy. I'd look for something like the Maxxis Larsen MiMo. Nice, evenly-spaced knobs with enough space between them so they don't clog. Good cornering and good grip. And they feel really nice. They'll wear out pretty quickly on pavement, though.

Personally, I have two wheelsets for my rig: A set of Campy Protons with Tufo Prestige tubular-clinchers and a set of Zondas with Michelin Pro Race.

I've decided that what I really want is a nice set of cross racing tires and a set of wide tires that will work well for comuting but also be able to take off road.

Unless you run into bad mud where you live - the Speedmax will do both well. You might want a set of mud tires for those other days.

Ron