http://www.tufonorthamerica.com/ what are your thoughts on it?

Looks nice. I'm willing to try it. I'm going to get another wheelset sometime next year and was looking for a more aggressive tread for those days that the tufo lps aren't t3h shiznit.

http://www.tufonorthamerica.com/ what are your thoughts on it?

I remember you saying something about the new Tufos but I hadn't seen them. I wonder where we can get them for less than $90 a pop. I think I'll need to get a couple for next season.

Of course I have my annual "routine" maintenance buying list made out and it's just south of a grand. New Tufos might be a tough sell.

I've had good luck with Tufos so far. I've only ruined one and I think with a little ingenuity I could fix it. I use the cheaper T30s because I was told that they hold up better and after racing on them a while, I can't dispute it. I find them to roll well. My only complaint is their performance on wet grass. The Tufo tread doesn't have much of a cornering knob. I'm sure if we were to view these tires in the flesh they wouldn't look as aggresive as the picture and they'd look some where between a Michelin Mud II and the traditional Tufo. As far as price, I'll have to wait until they go grey market.

Separately, my CX budget for next year will have to include another bike if I want to join you in the Master As. I'm thinking about having a Curtlo built to match the dimensions of my Sachs.

http://www.tufonorthamerica.com/ what are your thoughts on it?Very nice looking... Wonder how it rides?

Anyone?

M

I'm picking up a pair next week for the Illinois State race, I'll post a report on how they ride when I get back :) . I've been using Tufo cross tires for about 10 years and never had a problem (or a puncture for that matter), so I expect these to be great, though the soft tread compound makes me think they will be for race day only.

Boy, I've owned about 6 of the "Rhinocross" Tufos over the years (the cheaper, fatter ones) and every last one punctured before it wore out, maybe I'm just a doofus and a flat magnet. I'm using the green Vittoria el tigre right now and they seem to be ok so far, I did have one of the valves bust and found out it was the cheap, non replaceable kind and had to send the tire out to Tirealert to get a new tube sewn in. They seem to clear mud pretty well, but they are not exactly tractor tires when it is sloppy. Sometimes I think the "mud clearing" is over rated if the tire doesn't get traction, you end up with a clean, but spinning tire.

Both my challenges flatted this year, I also sent them in for new tubes, they are a great tire but delicate.

I also have a couple of the Conti cross attacks, one flatted so far, they are a pretty narrow tire with a fine tread, kind of the traditional old style tire, not sure the best conditions for these.

I could own a new frame for what I have invested in flatting tubulars over the last 6 years, maybe $500 worth at retail, ouch.

Boy, I've owned about 6 of the "Rhinocross" Tufos over the years (the cheaper, fatter ones) and every last one punctured before it wore out, maybe I'm just a doofus and a flat magnet. I'm using the green Vittoria el tigre right now and they seem to be ok so far, I did have one of the valves bust and found out it was the cheap, non replaceable kind and had to send the tire out to Tirealert to get a new tube sewn in. They seem to clear mud pretty well, but they are not exactly tractor tires when it is sloppy. Sometimes I think the "mud clearing" is over rated if the tire doesn't get traction, you end up with a clean, but spinning tire.

Both my challenges flatted this year, I also sent them in for new tubes, they are a great tire but delicate.

I also have a couple of the Conti cross attacks, one flatted so far, they are a pretty narrow tire with a fine tread, kind of the traditional old style tire, not sure the best conditions for these.

I could own a new frame for what I have invested in flatting tubulars over the last 6 years, maybe $500 worth at retail, ouch.Two words: Tufo goop. Fixed my slow leak on my T34s. Now I can finish wearing off the tread!

I've GOT a pair of T-28 28c tires that are brand new, but I don't wanna install them 'cause I use this bike as an all-round mtn bike and need that fat-arse tire to cushion my rims. I've just bought a semi-used pair of Escapes to replace my rear rim that's got a divot in it from a baby-head rock. No flats. (knocking on wood!) Yet.

Ask ATPJunkie about flatting spendy tires...

M

I got the new Tufo Flexus' and although I haven't mounted them I am impressed. They are light - feeling significantly lighter than the Tufo Elite - and they are by far the most supple Tufo I have ever seen. They are more supple in the hand than a challenge and much more supple than a Tufo Elite. The tread looks great. It has great edging knobs and a good balance of aggressive center knobs for traction and space to permit self cleaning - and the rubber feels much more tacky than any other cross tire than I have ever seen. I think these may be the ticket for muddy and/or icy courses! They are expensive - hence the motto "Flexus for Festivus!"

John

one of the American Reps and a guy who's actually been to the factory. he says absolutely great tires but not suited for alot of American Courses. sidewalls are really supple (like Grifos) which is good for euro style courses. if you ride on rockier terrain these supple sidewalls are prone to tear. for nasty, more MTB esque courses he still recommends the T-Pros

one of the American Reps and a guy who's actually been to the factory. he says absolutely great tires but not suited for alot of American Courses. sidewalls are really supple (like Grifos) which is good for euro style courses. if you ride on rockier terrain these supple sidewalls are prone to tear. for nasty, more MTB esque courses he still recommends the T-Pros

I could certainly see that would be true. The courses in the NC series are very grassy, fast and - ?euro - except that this year we have had such a mild and dry fall (not one single wet or really cold race so far) that traction has not been a problem.

John

through a brand new, expensive tub on it's 4th ride. did that to a Grifo last season. 45 bucks down the drain. can't imagine a $90 tire doing the same

Tufonorthamerica.com has discussion forums. I left a message there with some of my ideas about tires and what could be tires to improve our racing. If you have some ideas of your own, why not share them? Beats waiting for the market to come up with the same, or something remotely similar. For years the Tufo's haven't been the most grippy of mud tires anymore, maybe this Flexus will turn that around.

I saw some teams at the Pijnacker WC with these as spare wheels. The bownish color made them look very old and cheap. It didn't get to be a mud fest, just really slow rolling tacky gras and a few metres of goop, so no-one ran them as far as I know.

Tufonorthamerica is a pretty powerful Tufo customer, bug them with your ideas! IMO riders are better at tire design than tire manufacturers. Look at the Maxxis MTB (and cross?) tires designed "by" riders. Unique and good. Tires are expensive, better be perfect right away. So companies get very conservative, because they have an idea of what will work, but less so what people out there really want. Tell'em what you want. For clean Euro courses, I've pleaded for super-wide (<35mm) Diamonds. Those would have rocked in Pijnacker, were out of 53, maybe 3 or 4 were on Tufo's. with Dugast prices coming down, Tufo better stay on top of things.

Tufo is a brilliant company (quality-wise), but has a way of introducing products 3-5 years too late. I suggested them to make an MTB Tubular Clincher, and they said "no". Years later, all at once it was there, in all it's (IMO) imperfection.

a friend of mine runs the new Flexus on his rig. These rubbers are incredibly wide (which i like, the bigger the better IMHO) - they measure 34 mm at the carcass and 31 mm at the knobs. According to him the Flexus are very light, i think he said sth. around 330 g/tire (dunno whether it's a claimed or confirmed weight)