Cyclocross - Is this a good tire- If not, can you suggest a tire with a little bit of cajones?

I bought a used cx bike (2005 Kona Jake) recently, and the person who used it before me put 700x23 slicks on the rims that came stock with the bike (Sun rims?).

I'm a recent mtb convert and do not like the skinny little tire setup. I use my bike to commute on the roads, but I need a tire with a little more balls to handle the gravel, uneven pavement, potholes, curbs, and tight corners I need to make while riding on those surfaces in traffic.

I'm going to use the same rims but put some beefier hybrid tires on it. Some that will mimic the mtb tires that I am used to.

I thought this (http://www.biketiresdirect.com/productdetail.asp?p=TUDSP&tn=0) diamond pattern was interesting:

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If not, I could go with this (http://www.biketiresdirect.com/productdetail.asp?p=MIMJT&tn=0).

I really wanted to run it by you guys before purchasing though.

Any suggestions are appreciated!

Will your rims and brakes take anything larger then a 700 x 28 ?

I thought this (http://www.biketiresdirect.com/productdetail.asp?p=TUDSP&tn=0) diamond pattern was interesting:

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Those are tubular tires which require tubular rims. I don't think that you have tubular rims.

If you are not going off road then a road tire will give you the best traction.

Brakes, yes. Rims- I don't know? Is there any way to tell besides just trying to cram it on there?

I have Sun MZ-14 rims. I believe that this is it: http://www.amazon.com/Alloy-MZ-14-700C-32-Hole-420-gauge/dp/B000WYCJ80.

It states the following: "700C 32-Hole 420-gauge Silver Anodized 622x18"

That is all greek to me. Can you point me to a resource that tells me how fat of a tire I can cram onto my rim? Clearance does not seem to be a problem otherwise.

Damn, I'm in more trouble than I thought. I do not have tubular rims, I think I have clincher rims.

Yes you do, as do most people. The jake comes with 700x35 tires so you should have no problem. I just have the stock 700x30 kenda kwicks that came stock on my cx bike. They seem to do the trick. Though if you don't plan on venturing off road much I'd recommend conti gatorskins which seem to be nearly bombproof.

YOu can get Panaracer Pasela's in a 32 or 35 from Gnashbar for pretty cheap. These are pretty decent tires, but get the ones WITHOUT the TourGuard belt as that seems to really make the tire sluggish.

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

What do you guys think of this (http://www.probikeoutlet.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=100&products_id=517) diamond pattern? It's the same tire as above, but is a clincher. Has anyone used something similar?

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

What do you guys think of this (http://www.probikeoutlet.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=100&products_id=517) diamond pattern? It's the same tire as above, but is a clincher. Has anyone used something similar?
a friend of mine had those on his cross bike and tried them for commuting, dirt road and light trail riding, etc. they're super nice and grippy and fast on the pavement, but wear out fast! they're really a race tire. if you're mainly going to be commuting and so forth, what about just a city/commuting/touring type tire? perhaps in a 32 or 35 size?

there are many choices worth consideration on both of these sites:
http://www.biketiresdirect.com/search_results.asp?so=p&cat=to&tn=14630154&st=1
http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/index.php?category=590

if you're mainly going to be commuting and so forth, what about just a city/commuting/touring type tire? perhaps in a 32 or 35 size?

there are many choices worth consideration on both of these sites:
http://www.biketiresdirect.com/search_results.asp?so=p&cat=to&tn=14630154&st=1
http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/index.php?category=590

+1
I am running Transworld Cities in a 32 on my major jake for almost all of my riding on that bike. http://www.biketiresdirect.com/productdetail.asp?p=MITTC Obviously, I would not race cx with it, nor would I bomb down a crazy technical descent with it. But overall, it is a great tire for riding fast on the road and still being able to ride serious off road trails.

I can climb things on that tire that have my buddies putting feet down on their mountain bikes and I am not usually far behind my mtb buddies on the descents (much of the difference is due to being on my cx bike, not the tires). Not saying it is better, just that it will hold it's own on packed sand/dirt.

Also, if you ride these types of tires, your bike handling skills will increase necessarily.