Cyclocross Racing - Tire recommendation for n00b

This will be my first year doing cross. I'll be riding a borrowed Jamis Nova that is 4 or 5 years old and am looking for clincher tire recommendations that will work in most (if not all) conditions reasonably well.

Thanks,

Mike

Bontrager Jones CXR

I am researching tires as well, and what I have gathered from folks in Boulder is, I should pick a tire that suits the conditions of the races I plan to do. Go to a bike shop in MD that knows something about cross and ask them what they recommend, or find a clinic and see what others are using. I have heard good reviews of the Michelin Mud 2 and Maxxis Raze tires and I may go with the Michelins just because the brand has done me well in the past.

Yeah, depends on the conditions you expect to encounter.

A set of mud tires or all-around tires would be where to start. Mud tires will work for all conditions, but they won't be ideal for most...but I doubt it would matter that much.

I've done all my racing up in New England, and I was okay will Larson MiMo's - which I think are considered all-around tires. This will be my 1st time racing cross in MD, and my buddies tell me that Mich Mud2's are the most common clinchers here.

This season, I'm going to be running Grifo's as my primary tires and will have a set with Fango's for mud. Which ever I don't use at the beginning of a race will be in the pit. I may get some file thread tires at a later time for fire/dirt road rides like D2R2 or other rando type stuff, but I don't think I'll need them for racing.

There's a clinic in Howard County at the end of the month - do you know about it? I won't be there, but I can give you some information about if you're interested. PM me.

Good luck, and I hope you enjoy your cross season!

Challenge Fangos.I think they are a better all-around tire than Grifo and grifo like tread tires

I've got a decent selection of tires but they're all all-arounders or mud tires. Anyone have a recommendation for clinchers that work well on dry, mostly grass courses?

I'm apparently tread-comprehension challenged. I've read a few good links on what type of tread you need for what type of conditions, but they tend to be very text-oriented. Apart from guessing that Michelin Mud2's are a mud tire, I'm not sure what I'm doing.

I'm still using the Locust CX's that came with my bike.

http://www.maxxis.com/Repository/Images/locust_0.jpg

This is a....file tread? Good for packed surfaces? That's what I get from reading what I've read.

Unfortunately (unless I'm wrong), very nearly every race around here (possibly excepting a few pre-crusade races in September) is going to involve mud, mud and more mud. Last year I used these and I didn't notice any problems with them, but last year I raced beginner and finished anywhere from ninth out of 10 to 109th out of 123.

My goal for this year is top 75 in the Master C's, so I could use any benefit I can get from my tires.

What's a good clincher for mud?

The above picture you posted is not a file tread. A file tread is found on Challenge Grifo XS, Vittoria XN. Essentially it is smooth with shoulder knobs. http://img1.qbp.com/6SPsvm45/prodl/TR4424.jpg

Michelin Mud2 or Challenge Fangos

Challenge GRIFO are the best all around tire. Fango are better suited for mud.

I am not a fan of file tread, diamond tread, slick, or hard pack tires. Unless you are racing on a course that is pavement and grass I would advise against them. On every course I have done there has always been loose dirt and sand which I personally feel are better suited for something knobbier.

In the end it is all personal preference though.

being a n00b myself, my races were the first races in the morning (aka grass with dew) & i used a more mud-oriented tire. tufos & file treads weren't a good idea. michelin mud's would be great to start, in my opinion.

mich mud2

I used Michelin Mud 2's all last year in the Chicago Cross Cup series and they worked out very well. They didn't do as great as I would like in the really cold events covered in mix of grass, ice, mud, snow...but I am not sure anything really would have.

This year I am switching to tubulars and with budget in mind I have selected some Vittoria something or others...medium looking tread and the tire looks real plasticy/hard - should be good for traniing and they are cheap.

For race....I would like to have a set of mostly mild tubulars. Our courses are almost all grass with some sand and an occassional small mud section that is really just grass that was wet and has been ridden on all day. Any recommendations on something that won't break my bank? Preferably something available through the big distributors.....

Challenge anyone?

The new Continental tubular range is not that expensive. But if you order from Zepnat, FMB and Dugast tyres aren't much more expensive than Challenge tyres (which I like a lot).

seriously, just get mich muds for this area. My first year racing in mabra I used them for all races in all conditions.

Another option may be challenge grifos. since they are usually the entry level tubular choice it might be nice to have some experience with the same tread on clinchers.

I used Michelin Mud 2's all last year in the Chicago Cross Cup series and they worked out very well. They didn't do as great as I would like in the really cold events covered in mix of grass, ice, mud, snow...but I am not sure anything really would have.

This year I am switching to tubulars and with budget in mind I have selected some Vittoria something or others...medium looking tread and the tire looks real plasticy/hard - should be good for traniing and they are cheap.

For race....I would like to have a set of mostly mild tubulars. Our courses are almost all grass with some sand and an occassional small mud section that is really just grass that was wet and has been ridden on all day. Any recommendations on something that won't break my bank? Preferably something available through the big distributors.....

Challenge anyone?

grifo or fangos. dont mess around with any of the other lower cost options. You can usually get these in the $70 range if you look around.

I think the Conti tubular range is lost in production limbo. They're putting the brakes on that until next season.

A set of mud tires or all-around tires would be where to start. Mud tires will work for all conditions, but they won't be ideal for most...but I doubt it would matter that much.


I agree with the mud tires as well if you are going to only have one set. The only time they will not be so ideal is on the pavement. They still do well on dry grass and dirt. But here is the thing, if it rains and gets muddy you will be perfect. The performance advantage ratio of mud tires in the mud to mud tires in dry conditions is greater than the ratio of dry tires in dry conditions to dry tires in the mud if you get my drift.