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Hey everyone.
I've been out on my new CX bike a total 3 times, and suffered a puncture on each. The rocket rons it came with don't like the flint ridden chiltern rides I go on and have suffered cuts to the top where the grip pattern is.
Before I sell it and get a racey 29er, can anyone recommend a cyclocross tyre with decent puncture protection?
The wheels are 17c internal diameter clinchers if that makes any difference.
If not, then an as new 2016 Cube Cross Race will shortly be in the classifieds...
Cheers!
I had the same problem (in the same area), but rather than change the tyres, I switched to slime tubes and haven't looked back. I was stopping to fix a puncture on every other ride before, but have only flatted out on the trail I think twice (in a lot of rides) in the year since I changed.
I ride in the Chilterns a fair bit on the CX. have no such issues.
i have some WTB CrossWolfs, Clement PDX and Vittoria something (the ones with the file-cut centre)
all with a mix of butyl and latex tubes.
i am on archetype rims.
I think its more about the pressures you run on this terrain and how you ride more than the tyres.
When out in locally i tend to go 35psi-ish.
racing its sub 30
road its 55ish on a 32mm road tyre
this weekend though, i am mostly going to try tubeless....
i cannot comment on how you ride - i have never met you (knowingly)
are you sure its flints and not pinch-flats?
just a few thoughts.
Flint will slice any tyre ime but WTB Nanos have done OK for me, only one cut sidewall in a lot of time on Chilterns flint. Not sliding/dragging a tyre, using too much pressure (~40 in a 40c) or ploughing through rubbly stony sections too much also helps, probably that and some luck making more difference than anything once you have a reasonably sturdy casing tyre.
Might be too much pressure, think I had about 80psi in them!
Also the ploughing through rubbly stony sections 🙂 I have been riding it like a mountain bike, apart from avoiding jumps / drops.
Going to go tubeless and try a different tyre.
Yeah, they're a bit rubbish at that : ) fun though.have been riding it like a mountain bike,
Not a CX but when I lived in the area I ran the 2-ply Larsen's on the rear and an Ardent on the front of my HT (summer obviously, winter was Mud-X's).
Before the Larsen's I split/ripped loads of different tyres.
Most CX tyres are only really suited to muddy fields rather than trails. My experience of using a CX bike over southern flinty trails for 12+ years is to use a higher volume tyre like 38-40mm with tougher sidewalls. Schwalbe Smart Sam in 40mm is good and Landcruiser even tougher - even the cheaper wire beaded ones. If you run 80psi they'll pop like a balloon, more like 40psi.
Vittoria Cross XG Pro TNT
The TNT bit is a really tough tubeless ready carcass. Very very durable on rocks.
I ride my crosser like a mountain bike, it's never seen a race course (other than Dirty Reiver!!).
This is the only nice tyre I've found that can cope. Everything else died.
If you don't mind a 500-600g tyre get a land cruiser, but they are a bit of a brick on a nice build.
Knards!
I recently bought some Conti CX Kings, cheap and have proved durable so far. Way better than the Vittoria's they replaced which were about three times the cost.
There does seem to be a lack of durable CX tyres for general riding rather racing....
Went for bigger (40c) Schwalbe Smart Sams at lower pressure (35psi). Lasted half a ride... Pinch flat on the front which also ripped a hole in the tyre. Trying Land Cruisers next!
Small Block 8 for me. Useless when it's wet, but I just take the mtb out then.
Landcruisers are a bit old & boring, but you can't deny they are tough as old boots, grip pretty well & roll smoothly. I've thrashed them (35c) in the Welsh mountains with no issues.
The new ones have a different tread pattern. More centre ridge and a bit chunkier. Not sure how they'll perform off road compared to the originals.
I'm running Panaracer Gravel King SK in 32c at the moment with much success, although they give up traction earlier than Landcruisers in mud.