How to Select Cyclocross Bike Tire Tread

Video Transcript

"MICKEY DENONCOURT: You see two basic types of tires being used for cyclecross races. The most prevalent type that you see used is a sort of a chevron tread like you have on this Hutchinson clincher tire. It's got this sort of herringbones that provide breaking and climbing traction and this lateral knobs for cornering and all that sort of good stuff. The advantage of a tire like this is in looser conditions. You get a little bit more traction because there's this sort of these paddle-style knobs. You've got good cornering knobs so the bike corners well. You can really push it hard in the corners, and it breaks pretty well because it has this big chevron bars here that are going to keep you breaking. You also see a lot of file tread tires which, you know, it's a little bit simpler, more minimalist of a design. The little sort of file like sharp little files stuff here gets you your traction going in a straight line and breaking. Obviously, you can't break as hard with this because they'll just break away. There's not a lot to just keep going there, just a bunch of little working edges that do get your traction. And then your side knobs are lower and smaller. This is a tubular tire so it's designed really to deform more against the ground. You have more contact area with this style of tire, so it rolls faster. It also works a little bit better sometimes in mud or grass because it doesn't get clogged up like a tire with heavier tread. But with this--probably the best place to start for most people, especially if you're a new rider who often breaks too sharply and in the wrong places, a tire with more tread like this clincher tire here is going to be optimal. You don't want your tread to be too close together. I personally think on this bike, things are a little bit too close together on this tire, because the tires are so small and the contact patch is really so tiny. Smaller, wider-spaced knobs are actually going to get you better traction. Something that looks like it's covered in knobs. Knobs does not equal traction. It really has more to do with the tread compound and stuff like that."