I am looking for suggestions for a good clincher tire that would slot in-between (traction-rolling resistance wise) a Mich Jet and a Mich Mud2. Thanks, TH

Ritchey Speedmax Pro, kevlar beaded, 32c

Vredestein Premiato

Schwalbe racing ralph or Vittoria XG

Ritchey Speedmax. Light wt. great traction without all the super tall nobbies of the mud, yet great cornering you don't get with the jets.

Kenda just came out with the small block eight in a 700 x 32 size. It rolls really quick but still has a good tread and its light. I race them on my mt. bike and I think it will make the perfect middle of the road tire. Great for dry and hard to semi mud conditions.

http://kendausa.com/bicycle/JohnTomac.html

How about a tire that is good in grassy courses with no mud and a little pavement?

A bit narrower. When the grass gets wet, wide tubulars at low pressure tend to slide over the top too much. Agressive tread like Mud (in narrow) or something else 28 or 30 mm.

This has been very helpful to a new guy, I'm glad I asked. Thank You!

Now, two quick follow-ups. I'm new to cyclocross and am trying to learn when to use one tire versus another, so.... 1.) How far can you push a Mich Jet in terms of traction in semi-loose stuff, or what would the conditions look like when you thought Jets wouldn't have enough bite. and 2.) Has anyone tried the new Maxis Raze? They look like they might have a good, flat center section for hard pack/pavement.

Thanks in advance :thumbsup: , TBone

It's tough to say. It depends on how much air pressure and how much you weigh. In cross, you have to get use to two wheel drifts because not every tire/pressure combination is going to work for all surfaces. That's why I spend a couple of laps during warmup to get the feel for the course. Also, I watch the other riders to see what line they are taking in the trickier sections. But, even with that knowledge, the course can be totally different by the time your race starts.

And it can change from the beginning to the end of the race also. that, I think is the trickiest. A line that was fast on lap one might be bogged down, slow and sketchy by lap 8 or 9.

I am looking for suggestions for a good clincher tire that would slot in-between (traction-rolling resistance wise) a Mich Jet and a Mich Mud2. Thanks, TH

I've had great luck with the Maxxis Larsens Mimo- the golf spike-like tread is rounded and has a ramped leading edge so they don't get slowed down by grass and roll well through everything. They clear mud really well and don't pack up so if you do end up running into some mud they work there, too.

The michelins are great, but the muds are a little slow in the grass. I'm pretty slow myself so I need all the help I can get.

I'm running a Jet on back and a Mud2 on front... I like the combo- the Mud2 holds in wet grass, turf, the usual stuff in Wisconsin.

We just had a long hot dry windy spell, and I went around a familar off-camber turn, hit dry dead grass, slid in to dirt, and went down like I hit ice! Trying the turn several times, I could HEAR the Mud2 knobbies rolling away from contact... they are very flexy... perfect for me in wet grass and wet and glop... not the tool for dry.

I didn't get a chance to swap to jet-jet... but that's what's in my bag. I think I'll pick up one Ritchey speedmax or....

What do you guys run on dry dirt?

'Meat