Chandne

I'll soon be getting an alloy 1x11 Specialized Crux EX X1 that will basically serve as my winter road bike. I may hit some gravel roads with it (and will next year) but I can would like to switch tires and wheels, especially since the stock Axis 2.2 Disc wheels are almost 2,100 grams. I'd like some information on wheels and tires, since I am pretty new (okay this is my first CC bike) to using CC bike for road riding. I already have my Roubaix for normal road riding. This one will see snowier/slushier riding. Since it is disc, I guess I can consider carbon wheels like these:

CX30CL Carbon Cyclocross Tubeless Ready Clinchers - DISC ? NEXT Cycling

Those are around $1,100. I don't want to go over that price and would prefer to keep it lower so am keeping an eye out on good deals on disc wheels- alloy or carbon though alloys are more affordable. Tubeless-ready is preferable too. I'm 175 lbs now so not too light. I currently ride on Pacenti SL23 (decent rims) with DT 240s hubs and CK Ray spokes on my Roubaix (24x28). One option is to build up alloy disc clinchers but if I can find a good pre-built set on sale, it may be cheaper. I'd like to run 33-38 tires on the new wheels. Keep in mind that I may ask some uninformed questions since I have not ridden much in the winter. We get roads that do retain some snow/slush/sand on the sides and I'd like to not let that stop me from riding. I want to toss on some fenders and go.

Any advice or leads on a wheelset (1,400 - 1,600 grams) and tires will be appreciated. I don't want to run road tires like the Durano Plus on this bike but a semi-slick type tire may be good...fast (ish) on the road yet can handle wet/slushy roads and some gravel/dirt. I'll try the stock Specialized Tracer Sport, 60TPI, wire bead, 700x33mm tire but they seems like pure dirt tires and may be quite sluggish on the road.

The primary concern is to switch out the wheels over the next few weeks. There are a decent amount of tire choices, even in tubeless. Thanks for any information that can help educate me a bit and/or lead me to some good deals.

Ajkollme

I don't have much input on the wheelset, I have never bought a disc cyclocross set before. My first reaction, though, was that for a 175lb rider planning on some off-road riding, 1400-1600 grams seemed awfully light weight.

For tires, you will need to consider what types of road conditions you will be riding on. If you will hit any packed snow or black ice, then a semi-slick tire likely won't be sufficient. I ride through the winter in New England on conti top contact winter II tires. They are fast but maintain grip reasonably well over packed snow/ice, and allow me to ride with confidence. They are made with a very soft rubber, though, and would likely get torn up off road.

Chandne

So far, I have always gone with hand built wheels and have never had problems. For the mountain bike, I use Chris Kings with Stan's Arch rims (about the lightest I'd go) and they have held up well. I am a smoother rider (and have been as high as 188) but I'll fly off 2-foot drops smoothly and go through fast rocky descents at speed while picking lines. I would not do any real rough stuff with this bike...just gravel roads. That is why I was hoping to stay light- maybe a 28x28 if hand built with a DT 29er light rim or something like the C2s. I see your concern though, and need to look at rim options, in case I go hand built.

Chandne

After some thought, I agree- 1,400 - 1,500 may be a bit too light. 1,550-1,700 grams is more realistic for a durable wheel that feels good.

Ajkollme

If it were me I would just use the stock wheelset you have. Winter cycling is different than summer cycling- with the extra clothing layers, wider tires, and muck on the road you are never going to feel like you are flying the same way you do on your summer bike. To invest $1000 on a set of wheels that will be ridden only on wet, salty roads only with winter tires seems a bit of a waste.

Consider your winter rides training for your summer rides. You'll feel really fast when you get back onto your other bike for the first time.

Chandne

Excellent point, Ajkollme. I plan on doing some long rides in the spring too- up near the ski resorts where things can get a bit slushy in areas till early summer. Same thing applies I guess. I'll think about this some.

Gladius

Except for today I think snow specific tires are overkill, if you're down in the front range area, and would wear out on the gravel pretty quickly.
I'm definitely looking at some new tires as well, but primarily because I need wider tires than came stock on my Boone.

The tires that have been suggested to me are:
[TABLE]
[TR]
[TD]Continental Winter Top contact[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Continental Cyclocross Speed[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Continental Cyclo X-King Tire
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]I'm currently running the Bontrager CX-3[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Chandne

Thanks Gladius. I'll look at the Contis you mention. I think this week is Fat Bike week, and then it will (hopefully) back to a normal winter.

PaulRivers

I live in Minnesota, I wrote a thread on choosing between different studded tires:

Guide For Winter Bike Tires - Studded Tires and Fat Bikes
https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/...fat-bikes.html

Different people have different levels of risk - I won't ride in the winter without studded tires, studded tires give you grip on ice (doesn't do anything for snow). You might be interested in the 45nrth Xerces:
45NRTH | Unparalleled Cold Weather Performance

It's the slimmest lightest studded tires I know of. 2 rows of studs, if you fully inflate the tire they don't touch the ground unless you start to turn or slip, if you inflate the tire at lower psi then they always come into contact with the ground.

Their other winter tire is the Gravdal, a 38c studded tire, but it's studs are always in contact with the ground:
45NRTH | Unparalleled Cold Weather Performance

I use Schwalbe Marathon Winters but I live in Minnesota where (other than this fantastic winter) the roads have constant ice on them all winter long. They have 4 rows of studs, but are otherwise a skinny fastish rolling tire (2 rows in contact with the ground at high pressure, 4 at low pressure).

If you thought you would never ever run into ice the Continental Winter Top contact would be fine, I'm just not willing to risk it myself.

Chandne

45NRTH certainly is coming up with some cool stuff. I just picked up some mitts and flat pedals for my new fat bike. Their boots are expensive but am looking at them since nobody carries Lake around Denver, it seems. I live west of Denver behind the first row of foothills and we get a lot more snow on these roads too. I am not sure about ice, though I assume some collects on the sides since some areas don't melt. This is the first winter I will be truly riding so will look into these tires. I'll convert the stock ones to tubeless in the meantime.