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CX tires on the street...

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Old 06-17-09 | 09:43 AM
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CX tires on the street...

For anyone who is running cyclocross tires on the street - how long are they lasting?

I am thinking of throwing some on my SS that i use to commute to soften the ride and prevent wheel damage as i cruise through some pretty rough streets.

Also, i think CX tires look awesome on a bike.

Any longevity reports?
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Old 06-17-09 | 09:45 AM
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Also, any tire recommendations?
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Old 06-17-09 | 09:51 AM
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From: H2O town (MA)

Bikes: 2002 Jamis Quest, 2007 IRO Rob Roy

I've been using cross tires in the winter - tread pattern similar to these:

(if I saw them I would have gotten them for the reflective sidewalls)

No problems with wear after 2seasons of use. A season is about 6 months here in Boston.

I like having slightly skinnier and slicker tires for summer use - it's noticeably faster, and still a nice ride on 28Cs.

This winter I'm springing for studs and look forward to using them - the CX tires just don't handle the way I want in snow.
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Old 06-17-09 | 10:11 AM
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I have Kenda Small Block Eights (35 mm) that are coming up on 3000 miles. The tread pattern is almost completely worn off the centreline of the rear tire, but the front has plenty of wear left. I'll keep running them until I start to see cords on the rear or start getting punctures (got the first puncture for either tire on the rear a couple weeks ago--a sharp stone was the culprit that time). I don't expect they'll make it to 4000 miles.

The 35s are a bit iffy on fender clearance so I'll go to 32s or maybe even 28s depending on what's in stock and reasonably priced when I finally get around to tire shopping.
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Old 06-17-09 | 11:04 AM
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I've been rolling 700x30c (28.5mm) Kenda Kwicks since I got my 'cross bike in May 2008. Only one flat to speak of. Tires still have plenty of tread. I've had them at 50 psi (I'm 150 lbs.) on the streets to soak up road chatter. They're rated at 60-85 psi. Nashbar usually has these tires for cheap.

I will never make my cyclocross bike wear slicks! It's like trying to make your son wear a dress. It doesn't make sense. Wait for a daughter (or road bike). Not that I have anything against road bikes. I've had my share.
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Old 06-17-09 | 02:44 PM
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If your cyclo-cross bike is going to the ball, make it wear a dress.
Fat slicks are fast, comfortable and efficient and look real purdy when the light is just so......
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Old 06-17-09 | 03:00 PM
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Originally Posted by mijome07
I will never make my cyclocross bike wear slicks! It's like trying to make your son wear a dress. It doesn't make sense. Wait for a daughter (or road bike). Not that I have anything against road bikes. I've had my share.
More like a cross-country runner wearing track shoes. If you're not riding off road, why use knobbies?

Okay, I use knobbies and ride exclusively on the road, but only because they're stock and haven't worn out yet.
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Old 06-17-09 | 03:18 PM
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From: minnesota

Bikes: 197x Peugeot u08 fixed gear conversion w/ 2-color rattlecan paint job, giant rincon (currently inoperable due to a jacked-up non-replaceable derailleur hanger)

my bike came with WTB Interwolfs (Interwolves?). they're 700x38 and they're pretty nice. I've ridden them for 2 seasons and they've still got a bit of tread at the center... nashbar has them for like $10 right now.
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Old 06-17-09 | 09:37 PM
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Running Vittoria XNs.

The middle the the file tread has burned off after a few hundred km , but they ride pretty good as semi-slicks. Which was kind of what I had in mind anyways.
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Old 06-17-09 | 10:01 PM
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I just can't ride cross tires for the commute. They are just too slow. I had a set of Kenda Cross Supremes on my cross bike. I changed them out for the cheapest and fattest hybrid tires I had one hand, Kenda Nimbus 700c X 38. Even with a much heavier tire they are a lot faster on pavement, and just as sure footed on the dirt roads of my commute. The Kenda Small block 8's were better, but I am just going to stick to fat hybrid tires instead.
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Old 06-17-09 | 10:22 PM
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From: nashville, tn

Bikes: Commuters: Fuji Delray road, Fuji Discovery mtb...Touring: Softride Traveler...Road: C-dale SR300

Originally Posted by redxj
I just can't ride cross tires for the commute. They are just too slow. I had a set of Kenda Cross Supremes on my cross bike. I changed them out for the cheapest and fattest hybrid tires I had one hand, Kenda Nimbus 700c X 38. Even with a much heavier tire they are a lot faster on pavement, and just as sure footed on the dirt roads of my commute. The Kenda Small block 8's were better, but I am just going to stick to fat hybrid tires instead.
When I got my Motobecane Fantom CX it came w/Kenda Kick 30mm cross. I flatted in 2 weeks. Got SMPs 28mm and have had one flat and one slow leak in over 8000 commuter/utility miles. When I got the slow leak I bought a new 28mm SMP and have over 1000 commuiter miles w/no probs at all. They have their limits, they're heavy, etc., but I'll never get another brand unless they're discontinued for some reason. They're the most flat resistant pneumatic, hands down.
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Old 06-18-09 | 09:26 AM
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From: Las Cruces, NM

Bikes: 2007 Surly Cross Check, 199? Novara Alpine

I ran the Ritchey speedmax tires for a while, but they offer so much less traction on wet and dry pavement than a slick, as well as being slower, that I switched back to the slick. I love the speedmax, though. I have put lots of good offroad miles on them. The road eats them up, though. They are looking pretty rough after the couple hundred miles they spent on pavement.

ps. extra thought. My cx tires cost 25% more than my slicks. I can't justify using a more expensive tire for something it wasn't meant for anyway when a cheaper, better tire for the application is readily available.
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Old 06-18-09 | 04:12 PM
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I'm thinking about getting either 700x35 Kenda Small Block 8's or 700x32 WTB Cross Wolf's for on/off road.
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Old 06-18-09 | 04:23 PM
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Bikes: Too darn many.. latest count is 11

I ran the WTB Interwolfs that came on mine.... for 30 miles . Found them to have too much buzz on pavement.
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