fastest rolling CX tire on hardpack/pavement?

[yairi]

I'm thinking I'd like to stick with 'cross tires on my commuter. It will see some light trail duty this summer but mainly hardpack/dirt roads, and will mostly be running on pavement. What's the consensus on which (clincher) tire will be fastest in these conditions? I'm thinking of the Vittoria Cross EVO XN perhaps? My commute is really short so I don't need especially long life.

[flipped4bikes]

My Tricross came standard with Borough CX Pros. They feel fast. The only thing I don't like about them is that dirt and mud tends to stick to them when wet.

[jfmckenna]

I find the Richy Speedmax to be pretty fast. Thy do not have a very aggressive tread on the tops but the sides have some nice knobs for cornering.

[dewaday]

Check out Continental TravelContact. Smooth tops, with knob treads down the sides, inflate to 90psi for road riding. Not the best for loose stuff, but might be right for what you describe.

[justinb]

+1 on the Speedmax. Just don't corner hard in the rain.

[kartoffel]

I ride on Avocet Fasgrips, 700x32c.

The fastest tire on hard surfaces is a high pressure slick. To roll fast on soft surfaces too, pick a wide tires and reduce the air pressure when you go offroad. Avocet slicks are surprisingly grippy offroad when aired down to 30-35 psi. For me, cornering performance on pavement is more critical than on soft surfaces. Cars are dangerous and unpredictable, yet I can ride slicks in the dirt just fine.

Semi-slicks are great for CX racing, since you get the speed of a slick with better offroad cornering performance. The tradeoff, however, is that they corner for &%#! on pavement.

[yairi]

Semi-slicks are great for CX racing, since you get the speed of a slick with better offroad cornering performance. The tradeoff, however, is that they corner for &%#! on pavement.

Yeah, that's why I like the idea of those Vittorias I mentioned ... actually the Cross XN Pro. Full file tread, no knobs.

[Bekologist]

Continental Travelcontacts.

[yairi]

Well I did end up going with the Vittorias ... just put them on my bike yesterday (got tired of rolling with the studded Schwalbes just for the two little ice patches on the way to work).

They are indeed very fast. Not sure if they are fast enough to merit the warning label on the box - "These tires are built for low rolling resistance and SPEED" :D but definitely quick ... grippy too. They are quite a ways off from a 32c though - measured at 28mm wide! I think they should still do fine for the light trail duty I envisaged for them though. We shall see soon :)

[fogrider]

I ride on Avocet Fasgrips, 700x32c.

The fastest tire on hard surfaces is a high pressure slick. To roll fast on soft surfaces too, pick a wide tires and reduce the air pressure when you go offroad. Avocet slicks are surprisingly grippy offroad when aired down to 30-35 psi. For me, cornering performance on pavement is more critical than on soft surfaces. Cars are dangerous and unpredictable, yet I can ride slicks in the dirt just fine.

Semi-slicks are great for CX racing, since you get the speed of a slick with better offroad cornering performance. The tradeoff, however, is that they corner for &%#! on pavement.
the avocet cross tires are fast on the road and enough traction for hardpack...http://www.avocet.com/tirepages/cross_2_specs.html

[delay]

Maxxis Raze

[thatguy]

Ok, I have to say, for what you're describing, you probably don't NEED a cyclocross tire. There are dozens of choices out there designed for commuters that will make your pavement riding 100 times nicer and still allow you to ride dirt roads, trails and pretty much anything short of a mud bog. Plus they're usually cheaper. I did a quick search and universal cycles has a ton of choices. For example:
http://www.universalcycles.com/images//products/large/7555.jpg
700x40 $14ea

[JimmyMack]

rubinos are fast on the pavement, and hard packed......untill you have to turn ;P

[arcticbiker]

Yairi,

How do you like the Evo XN Pro's? What rim are you using? Clincher? I'm thinking about the same tire for similar use. Thanks!

[yairi]

Absolutely love them. Almost as fast as a road tire on pavement, still have good traction on dirt/gravel. 120tpi casing so they have a very nice ride. I do kinda wish they were a little wider, but it hasn't been an issue. I'm using the clinchers, yes, although I just bought a set of tubulars for another bike :)

[arcticbiker]

Absolutely love them. Almost as fast as a road tire on pavement, still have good traction on dirt/gravel. 120tpi casing so they have a very nice ride. I do kinda wish they were a little wider, but it hasn't been an issue. I'm using the clinchers, yes, although I just bought a set of tubulars for another bike :)

What width rim are you using? Will the tire fit a standard road rim, say a Ksyrium?
Thanks!

[yairi]

Yes, I'm using a regular width road rim. No problem. I think it would be safe to say that any CX tire would work on road rims.

[KeatonR]

Ritchey Speedmax or Bontrager Jones CX (the latter are the tires that came on my Poprad, really fast).