ejls2

Hi all,

I am a complete cross novice and am doing my first race in a few weeks time. I have been out on a borrowed bike with a friend though and loved it so am thinking of building myself up a bike if I catch the bug after my first race!

The only component I'm not so sure of is the tyres. I've found lots of threads extolling the virtues of a particular tyre but I'm interested in the range of tyres that people keep to deal with particular conditions. I do a lot of MTB'ing and I have sets of Racing Ralphs, Fire XC Pros and Trailrakers. These will cover me for everything from dry, hardpack to axle-deep mud.

Do people have similar "fast"/"intermediate"/"mud-bath" condition tyres for cross or do most people stick with an intermediate throughout the season? If the former, could someone please recommend some, preferably folding, 700c clinchers in each category? I am based in the UK so I will probably face everything from very dry ground to grass to ridiculous mud! I can't go tubeless as I would be sharing the wheelset with my winter bike.

I've heard very good things about Michelin Muds (though I have been told they are areally an intermediate tyre???) and Conti Cyclocross Speeds (fast). Any further info would be great!

Finally, what sort of diameter should I be looking at? Is 35 a good benchmark for everything or should you run thinner tyres for certain conditions (mud?)

Many thanks in advance!

Ed

iluvfreebeer

If you want to know about cross tires, post this in the cross forum. I'm sure they will help.

ejls2

Okay, either I was a muppet and posted in the wrong forum and you (or someone else) has very kindly move my thread or we're talking at "cross" purposes (Sorry!).

If the former - many apologies.

If the latter - In the UK it would be fairly normal to refer to cyclocross as cross or 'cross. I had assumed that the convention was the same the world over but I imagine there could be some confusion with XC?

I have found this article https://velonews.com/article/85539/ch...r-every-course (linked from anther thread) which helps but any more info or advice wouldbe great.

Cheers,

Ed

Lithuania

Generally new racers stick to a single tread for the their first season. The following year they will have an understanding of all the different courses and general terrain, their handling ability, and their strengths and weaknesses. All those factors will help the racer look at additional treads for the following year.

Since you are familiar with the racing ralph for mountain biking I suggest you get those for cross as well. They are very good all purpose racing tires. Same thing with the mich mud2s. They are not a mud only tire. A third option is the challenge grifo which along with the racing ralph also comes in tubular form as well as clincher so should you want to make the leap to tubies the following year you would have some additional comfort in being used to the tread pattern.

nitropowered

All tubulars except #7
#1 Reynolds DV46 Cross w/ Challenge Fango 32's (well waiting for tires)
#2 Alchemy ELF/Kinlin TB25 front/ Kysrium ES Rear w/ Challenge Grifo XS 32 (white)
#3 Same wheels as #2 w/ Challenge Fango 34's
#4 DT Swiss 240s/Kinlin TB25 front / Ksyrium ES Rear w/ Vittoria XG 290tpi 32's
#5 Same as #4 w/ Same as #4
#6 Campy Record hubs/Kinlin TB-25 32h w/ Vittoria XG 210tpi 34's
#7 Campy Record Hubs/Velocity Deep-V w/ Michelin Mud2 front/ Jet rear (clinchers)

ejls2

Thank you very much! Stickign to one intermediate for the season (or as much as possible given the UK's weather!) sounds like a very sensible idea!

I'll have a look at the Mud2s, the ralphs and the grifos and see what I can find out. Good point re upgrading to tubs but I think it may be a while before I'm good enough to warrant them!

Cheers,

Ed

jfmckenna

If you have the money then yes having 3 different tires is a nice luxury. That is the one good thing about clinchers is that they are easy to change out. I only run tubulars now and I have two wheelsets. My pit wheels have Grifos and my main set have a custom tire made from an FMB caseing and a Fango tread.

If you are only going to have one set of tires I'd go for a mud tire. Reason being is that a mud tire is still ok in dry conditions and of course is ideal in the mud. Where as a dry tire like a Speedmax will be horrible in wet conditions. A lot of pro/cat1 guys I know rave about the Mich muds. I never used them but they get great reviews.

Oh and as far as the size goes, you need to look into the manufacturer but most will put a 32 tread on a 34 tire. So if you get a 34 then you will loose some of the traction on the sidewall since it's simply a bigger tire with the same tread as a 32. Make sense? So I'd go for the 32's in most cases.

Lithuania

FYI those FMB Fangos (as well as grifo and sprint) are offered directly by FMB now with no need for customization.

Lithuania

All 3 of those tires will serve you fine in all conditions. Dry or Muddy you will be good with them.

Lithuania

i envy your quantity of tubs. I am trying to start up a collection but I keep getting rerailed because I need them for SS and geared drive trains.

Cynikal 

^I would use the same wheels for SS or geared. Just use the spacer system, problem solved.

Unless you have an ENO like me and are stuck with clinchers on the rear.