cyclocross tyres that roll well on road

jds_1981
jds_1981 Posts: 1,858
edited May 2013 in Road buying advice
Hi,

Currently putting together a cyclocross bike that I'll use on my morning commute to cycle out into epping forest, back into town along a canal path, with a final stretch along the road.

I'd like to get some tyres that will work as well a possible for this usage. Any suggestions?

I'd seen these http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=24615 which look good, or perhaps http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=24607 although they seem to have quite a bit of tread in the middle.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks.
FCN 9 || FCN 5

Comments

  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    You don't need a cross bike to cope with canal tow paths.
    I've used my carbon TCR and 23mm road tyres just fine.

    What is the surface like ? Grass or paved or trail ? Cobbled ?

    The tyres you've pointed out are for grip in mud and soily conditions really. Probably not the best for on road.

    If the surface is very rough but not a mud bath - have a look at these -
    http://m.bikeradar.com/gear/category/co ... lus-10686/
    I've used them for mountain bike tracks off road and not flatted. Ok they'll struggle to climb a very muddy trail but so will most.
  • jds_1981
    jds_1981 Posts: 1,858
    edited May 2013
    cougie wrote:
    You don't need a cross bike to cope with canal tow paths.
    I've used my carbon TCR and 23mm road tyres just fine.

    Think I may need to expand on requirements a bit :)

    I've used my roadbike-fixie on the canal path, wasn't much fun though*. Path (in winter at least) is mixture of sand, mud, cobblestones and some fairly horrendous speed bumps at certain points.
    http://app.strava.com/activities/37230544
    Epping forest is single track with a reputation for being very muddy
    http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/where-to ... in-london/

    *Actually was quite fun, but generally a bad idea.
    FCN 9 || FCN 5
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,243
    I think your thread should really be about tyres and not wheels.

    I find Vittoria Randonneur PRO excellent for road and off road, as 32 mm (I did the Rapha hell of the North in your neck of the woods on those)... what they don't do is soft mud... for that you need knobbly tyres, which don't do tarmac very well and puncture easily... so you have to give one way or the other.
    My money would be on the Vittoria and avoid the mud or walk on the worst sections. They do fit any rim, I have them on 20 mm wide Open PRO rims, which are designed to take much narrower tyres, like 23-28
    left the forum March 2023
  • jds_1981
    jds_1981 Posts: 1,858
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    I think your thread should really be about tyres and not wheels.

    I find Vittoria Randonneur PRO excellent for road and off road, as 32 mm (I did the Rapha hell of the North in your neck of the woods on those)... what they don't do is soft mud... for that you need knobbly tyres, which don't do tarmac very well and puncture easily... so you have to give one way or the other.
    My money would be on the Vittoria and avoid the mud or walk on the worst sections. They do fit any rim, I have them on 20 mm wide Open PRO rims, which are designed to take much narrower tyres, like 23-28

    Thanks, updated thread title. I don't really want to avoid the mud though, so may have to compromiste on the road speed more.
    Wheels I've bought are http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/WPS ... et___black
    FCN 9 || FCN 5
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,243
    jds_1981 wrote:
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    I think your thread should really be about tyres and not wheels.

    I find Vittoria Randonneur PRO excellent for road and off road, as 32 mm (I did the Rapha hell of the North in your neck of the woods on those)... what they don't do is soft mud... for that you need knobbly tyres, which don't do tarmac very well and puncture easily... so you have to give one way or the other.
    My money would be on the Vittoria and avoid the mud or walk on the worst sections. They do fit any rim, I have them on 20 mm wide Open PRO rims, which are designed to take much narrower tyres, like 23-28

    Thanks, updated thread title. I don't really want to avoid the mud though, so may have to compromiste on the road speed more.
    Wheels I've bought are http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/WPS ... et___black

    I am no expert in cyclocross tyres and someone can advise you better... only ones I had were Continental Speed King, which were dreadfully slow on tarmac and did puncture easily. The kind of off-road I do is pretty much mud free, so I have given up completely on knobblies
    left the forum March 2023
  • asprilla
    asprilla Posts: 8,440
    I use Challenge Griffo XS on my CX for road and light / dry off road.

    Good tyres.
    Mud - Genesis Vapour CCX
    Race - Fuji Norcom Straight
    Sun - Cervelo R3
    Winter / Commute - Dolan ADX
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    A semi-slick CX or hybrid tyre would be ideal - smooth centre section for the road but some side knobs give you grip/control in mud or loose conditions. Many CX race-oriented tyres are designed to be supple and flexible for grip on mud at low pressures - many have zero puncture protection and not so good for general riding. I picked up some WTB semi-slick hybrid tyres a few years ago that i use for dry path/trail use - they've traversed the flint-strewn trails of the Southdowns Way a few times, but easily roll at 40kph on the road if needed.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..

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