I'm surprised I couldn't find this specific topic all over BF, given how often CrossChecks are discussed, so I guess I start a new thread.

I have a 60cm CrossCheck that I use for commuting, and my Conti CountryRide 700x37 tires are ok for some light trail riding, but not really up to a lot of the trails we have around here, hardpacked with frequent runs full of grapefruit-sized rocks, some round and some sharply broken. Also rain rutting and sand are frequent concerns.

ANYways, I'm interested in getting a 29er wheelset that will allow me to take my CC in a monstercross direction to ride this kind of trail. I'd want to go as wide as absolutely possible, and I'm thinking maybe use a Stan's kit to run tubeless for lower pressure.

Surly specs the CC at max clearance 45mm, but that's only 1.75", and to my eyeball my 37's are currently swimming in room, and I bet 45 is a conservative estimate. The real limiter appears to be the chainstays, although you could gain a little bit by slamming to the back of the horizontal dropouts. Also, the clearance at the fork seems bigger, so there's the option of a wider tire in the front with more pronounced side knobs for traction and handling, and a slightly skinnier, rounder, smoother tire in the back to maximize clearance utilization.

So how about it? Who's successfully put the widest tires on a CrossCheck? And let's see some pics (especially closeups of the tightest clearances)