Cyclocross tyres

How to choose your cyclocross tyres

Tubeless-ready tyres have closed much of the gap with tubulars: you can now run them at 1.6 or 1.8 bar without pinch flats, with far easier fitting and at a much lower cost. It’s the default choice unless you race at the highest level.

Tubeless-ready or tubetype

• Tubeless-ready : the bead is reinforced, allowing the tyre to hold air without an inner tube when used with sealant. The only way to run genuinely lower pressures.
• Tubetype : fitted with an inner tube. Simpler still, but you need to run at least 2 bar to avoid pinch flats, reducing traction.
• Challenge offers its tread patterns in a Open : the same tread pattern and casing as their tubular, in a clincher tyre.

Tread pattern, as with tubulars

• Grifo, Terreno Dry, X-One AllRound : an intermediate tread, the most versatile option.
• Limus, Terreno Wet, Power Mud : tall knobs for thick mud.
• Baby Limus, Terreno Mix : between the two.
• Terreno Zero and T10 Hardpack : dry, hard ground and fast courses.
• Vittoria identifies its Terreno range with a number — T10 for hard ground, T30 for fine, loose ground, T80 for very soft ground.

Tyre width and frame clearance

33 mm is the UCI limit and the most common width. 31, 32 and 35 mm options are available for leisure riding and light gravel. Check your frame’s tyre clearance: at 35 mm, accumulated mud can stop the wheel turning in a narrow frame, a bigger drawback than losing a millimetre of tyre width.

Casing and TPI

The higher the TPI is, the more supple and comfortable the casing, but the more fragile it is. The Pro and Race from Challenge and Schwalbe prioritise suppleness, while the Endurance and Sport from Vittoria prioritise durability. For winter training, the tougher version lasts an extra season.

To find out more: How to choose a cyclocross bike for your riding

See also: Cyclocross tubular tyres · Road tubeless conversion kits · Road tyres