Cyclocross - Another tire question...

So, I'm looking for a 'cross tire, preferably some good knobby action, but for mostly pavement.

Actually, what ended up happening was that my Surly Cross Check has become my winter steed. Here in CO I've found that studs are overkill, that I'm mostly dealing with slush, packed snow and dry snow and NOT ice. Knobbies are great.

I'm at an impasse because I think a softer tread is better on the packed snow, but the harder tread will wear longer on the drier days where I'm just riding pavement the majority of the way.

Preferably I could find something that's 35mm wide, but I'm open to wider. 35 is as small as I would want to go. Oh yeah, 700c of course...

35 fits under my SKS Fenders better, but 45 can make do...45 is widest I want to try.

Whadda y'all think?

edited to add: the Ritchey ExcaVader is intriguing....too soft?

So, I'm looking for a 'cross tire, preferably some good knobby action, but for mostly pavement.

Actually, what ended up happening was that my Surly Cross Check has become my winter steed. Here in CO I've found that studs are overkill, that I'm mostly dealing with slush, packed snow and dry snow and NOT ice. Knobbies are great.

I'm at an impasse because I think a softer tread is better on the packed snow, but the harder tread will wear longer on the drier days where I'm just riding pavement the majority of the way.

Preferably I could find something that's 35mm wide, but I'm open to wider. 35 is as small as I would want to go. Oh yeah, 700c of course...

35 fits under my SKS Fenders better, but 45 can make do...45 is widest I want to try.

Whadda y'all think?

edited to add: the Ritchey ExcaVader is intriguing....too soft?

Uh oh. Sounds like an argument for 2 sets of wheels. I just bought a pair of beater wheels from bicycle wheel warehouse for less than $100 shipped to the Springs. Two new good tires will cost near that. Just a thought.

I don't believe there is a perfect all purpose tire for Colorado winters - some snow, some ice, some dry days, some mud days...

Uh oh. Sounds like an argument for 2 sets of wheels. I just bought a pair of beater wheels from bicycle wheel warehouse for less than $100 shipped to the Springs. Two new good tires will cost near that. Just a thought.

I don't believe there is a perfect all purpose tire for Colorado winters - some snow, some ice, some dry days, some mud days...

Oh, don't give me that :mad:

Seriously...I'm not gonna do it. Last winter I did it all on Panaracer Urban Max tires in a 700cx32. They worked, but weren't ideal, obviously. Where were they not great? Snowiness. I rode my MTB a few days and they destroyed the snow with their knobbies.

I have another 'cross/roadie built up and that's my fair weather bike for group rides, 'cross races and sunny commuting.

My X-check will be a purpose built SS for incliment road conditions only. Knobbies will take care of it. We don't get enough ice for me to worry about it. Dry snow is pretty cake, too. Mud, nah, I don't see it. Packed snow and slushiness is what I get most.

I'm thinking of the Ritchey Speedmax, actually, for the asphalt-ability. Seems like a harder compount than the ExcaVader, which will wear longer but still give me purchase in the crapola.

Anyone have any other ideaS?

i love the speedmax for all sorts of weather conditions. they're fast on the pavement and grippy and predictable in dirt. i've had great success with them in snow/ice by running low psi. i've also run one in the rear and a conti twister in the front. that was a pretty sweet setup for looser dirt riding...

currently i'm running some 38c wtb interwolf or some crap i got for super cheap at co cyclist. they're ok, but sort of slow and not that great in the dirt, even at low psi. i might try reversing the rear tread direction. they also have been more flat prone than the ritchey's. once i get my rear wheel rebuilt, i'm going to swap them back out for my 32c speedmax.

i love the speedmax for all sorts of weather conditions. they're fast on the pavement and grippy and predictable in dirt. i've had great success with them in snow/ice by running low psi. i've also run one in the rear and a conti twister in the front. that was a pretty sweet setup for looser dirt riding...

currently i'm running some 38c wtb interwolf or some crap i got for super cheap at co cyclist. they're ok, but sort of slow and not that great in the dirt, even at low psi. i might try reversing the rear tread direction. they also have been more flat prone than the ritchey's. once i get my rear wheel rebuilt, i'm going to swap them back out for my 32c speedmax.

Good to hear...think I'll pop for 'em. I have $45 cred at Performance and that should just about cover the price.

Last question, though...I've run 32s on my Open Pros, but I kinda wanna get the 35 in the Speedmax...is that too much for a 19mm rim?

Last question, though...I've run 32s on my Open Pros, but I kinda wanna get the 35 in the Speedmax...is that too much for a 19mm rim?

Nope, Open pros will run 35's with no problem. I run them all the time on mine.

Right on...should have 'em at the end of the week!