I have been getting a lot of flats and I am getting a bit sick of it. I use my cross bike as a almost daily commuter and non technical trail bike. I am running Michelin Jets on Mavic Speed City wheels at about 50 psi. My commute is about eight miles of pavement and between 2 and 10 miles of dirt roads and trails depending on what I feel like doing. The dirt has sections of cobbles, gravel, and inbedded stones and of course perfect single track too. I have been averaging a flat a week. I don't want to up the pressure unless I have to becuse of the harsh ride in the rocks ,but I'm sick of flats. Suggestions appreciated.

When I ride on my Ritchey speedmaxes I run them at 60 on the road and trails. No fl*ts to date....

I think you may want to switch tires. For spring training, I run the Mich Iridis or something like that. They are 35'c, wire beaded and weigh well over a pound each. They are touring tires and I have never, ever flatted. $9 each. I don't race on em, but for commuting, they are perfect.

I checked the tube... pinchflat. OK, I was going fast down a steep firelane with many cobbles, but the tire was at 50. I am 160 lbs so maybe 170 with my work clothes in a big seat bag. I run my tubed 2.35 tires on my mtb at 30 all the time with no problems in super technical terrain. Should I try going the stans route with richey speed max tires? I HATE PINCHFLATS! But, I like good performance. I tried Vitoria world tour tires 28c too stiff and crappy performance in the dirt. Gave them to my daughter for her fix. My route goes up and down a super steep graveled fire road( I have seen more than one mtb in 22/34 not make it up) I use Maxxis Wormdrive 42c for trail riding in the summer, but they stink on the road( to square a profile to handle well on the steep pavement) I have more dead tubes than you can shake a stick at. Suggestions?

Pinch flats usually mean too low of pressure, that is for sure. If you like those tires, I'd just crank it up to 55-60ish psi and try to keep the weight off the saddle so much through the rough (assuming you are flatting in the rear). I weigh 168, would run about that much pressure. Also make sure when you are inflating your tire w/ a fresh tube that you aren't piching the tire between the bead of the tire and the rim.

For comparison, on my mtb w/ tubes, I usually run around 32 psi and that is pushing it. I have to use a lot of finesse to not pinch, using a fairly large volume 2.0 tire.

Personally, I like that tire but I'd use it for a race specific purpose only. Too short of a life before those little ribbed knobs wear down. I'd also choose a more bomber wearing tire for commuting, a la touring tire. Maybe the new hybrid specialized tire that is coming on some of their new cross bikes. Probably has an armadillo liner too, to save from the glass/thorn cuts. Good luck.

I'll check out the specialized tires. I ride alot and am a pretty competent technical rider, I am riding those sections light. Yeah, it's the rear tire. I agree that the Jet's are a bit light for my use, but sure like the way they handle.

get a pint of the Stans sealant
a little bit in the tubes helps prevent slow leaks and seals up thorn punctures.

doesn't do a think for pinch flats. I run about 50psi on the road with my CX bike
not the ideal tires though... if you aren't ridding it off road, find a tire made for the abuse you're giving it.

I'll check out the specialized tires. I ride alot and am a pretty competent technical rider, I am riding those sections light. Yeah, it's the rear tire. I agree that the Jet's are a bit light for my use, but sure like the way they handle.

I put a lot of miles on in similar conditions. The michelin Sprints are by far the worst tire I've used for getting flats. Both pinch flats and punctures.

They ride very supple, but I was getting tiny shards of gravel piercing the casing. I've never had that problem on other tires on my cross bike or mtb.

I found that I had to run them 10 to 15 PSI higher to avoid pinch flats with pretty much cancelled out the ride quality.

I've had pretty good luck with flats with the Nokian Ravagozzi and Ravagozzi S., and the Vittoria Cross XG Pros.

The Ravagozzi S. is a good tire on pavement and smooth trail, but it's really narrow, so not much cushion there.

The vittorias are wearing pretty quick, so I try to only use them for racing.

For commuting and mixed pavement/dirt rides, I'm a firm believer in not spending much on tires. What's the point of wearing the knobs off of a $70 set of tires in two weeks?

I've been running the Ritchey Speedmax wire bead version. I've been pretty happy with those and I got them for like $9 a tire.

maybe im just a freak about pinch flats, but i have no idea how you guys ride with pressure so low. i am a bigger guy, i know, but i cant stand vampire teeth. i will run closer to the max pressure and deal with a bit of frame chatter just to avoid them. granted, i dont race or anything, but i do offroad a lot. i keep my tire pressure up.

Low pressure is a little bit like suspension. It helps with traction on the steep and /or loose, softens the ride in the rough and I think is just as fast. What I do is keep the pressure just high enough so that the tires don't squirm in corners and won't hit the rim in rocks(pinch flat). The Jet's I have been riding for a few weeks are at 52psi and they still pinch flatted, but they don't squirm. I have used other cross tires with 40 in front and 42-45 in back with good results. I am in search of a tire with these characteristics, fast on the road, good straight line traction in the dirt, supple and durrable. The Jet's are good at the first three. I'll check out the Richey Speedmax tires. Perhaps with Stans? Thanks for the tire suggestions and keep'm coming.

Low pressure is a little bit like suspension. It helps with traction on the steep and /or loose, softens the ride in the rough and I think is just as fast. What I do is keep the pressure just high enough so that the tires don't squirm in corners and won't hit the rim in rocks(pinch flat). The Jet's I have been riding for a few weeks are at 52psi and they still pinch flatted, but they don't squirm. I have used other cross tires with 40 in front and 42-45 in back with good results. I am in search of a tire with these characteristics, fast on the road, good straight line traction in the dirt, supple and durrable. The Jet's are good at the first three. I'll check out the Richey Speedmax tires. Perhaps with Stans? Thanks for the tire suggestions and keep'm coming.
I have run the cheap ritchey trail mix tires without a problem, run good on the road and also pretty good on gravel roads or trails, they will get a little clogged up in mud sometimes though, I used the 35c size, still not especially big, also available in 38 and 42c sizes. I have heard that the speedmaxes are pretty good also.
I would run the trailmixes at 70-80psi if it was just a road ride for speed, and 50-60psi off road or on gravel, but you could probably runem a little lower, that that. I'm about #170

is how supple their sidewalls are for a clincher. this allows the tire to conform to the surface and get good traction. The downside? makes them more prone to pinch flatting. it is easier to compress the tire to the point of fang bites.
the solution, run much higher pressure. as another rider (larger one) stated, he pushes it to near max to avoid it. This is fine but at my size (larger yet) I have to inflate the tire so much it loses much of its performance. Besides chatter, the tires don't hook up as well, tend to slide out etc...
this is why I went to tubs. lower psi, no pinch, better traction

Fat and supple.

Schwalbe Racing Ralph in 35mm. Look like a michelin mud but lighter. A more compact knob design on the centre make them smooth and quiet on the road. I use them everywhere and maybe only the stickiest mud/clay packs up the tread. Same width as Challenge Grifo tubies looking at them.

If you're commuting, the potholes, rocks, curbs are death to low pressure CX tires. Forget about it. Cross racers on less variable courses can affort to drop the PSI.