Comments on: CX Tire Review: Challenge Team Edition Red H-TLR Tires & 38mm Grifo Tubular

By: Thomas

Thomas — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 13:50:33 +0000

The major ones are definitely out.

Appart from openmolds, Czech brand Remerx still has some in its catalog. Mine were Ambrosio but they aren’t listed anymore. I found shops who still have XTR M9000 tubular wheels in stock.

But yes, they are slowly but surely going the way of the dodo. The good thing with disc brake rims is they aren’t consumable like rim brake ones so they can last virtually forever.

By: Jordan Villella

Jordan Villella — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 12:57:35 +0000

In reply to Andrew. Once you get the tires on, they are MUCH easier to get off. The Challenge tubless tire lever tool makes this a whole lot easier too!

By: Jordan Villella

Jordan Villella — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 12:54:40 +0000

In reply to Thomas. Do you know of any companies currently producing MTB tubular rims? I thought the major ones pulled out (Shimano, Vittoria, DT Swiss), and only some open molds are left. I'd love to hear more! Thanks!

By: Thomas

Thomas — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 11:49:54 +0000

“I understand this decision, as there are no super wide rims to glue a wider base tape onto.”

That is actually not true. There are 29″ MTB Tubular rims. Yes, they are quite rare as are the MTB tubulars but they do exist. I used a set once for cyclocross and had the opposite issue, the bed was a bit too flat for 33mm tubulars. It still worked great as it was the mud wheelset that would see the lowest pressure. With 3 layers of glue both on rim and tubular tire the tubular never had enough pressure to be able to regain a completely round shape, in some way maybe my 33mm FMB’s wouldn’t have been exactly UCI compliant when tested with calipers but they were never tested.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 16:07:46 +0000

Thanks for the review! Glad to hear that you thought favorably of the Team Edition Grifos – especially since I ordered a pair last week! The biggest question in my mind has been whether to run them with inserts (Tubolight) or not… On one hand, I find that with these super-supple tires it provides some additional security if you decide to run them low pressure (especially on a low-depth tread like the grifo, where this might be more likely)……BUT it might make the tires impossible to get on/off 😛

Thoughts anyone?

By: Ashok Captain

Ashok Captain — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 11:51:38 +0000

Great review. Thank you for taking the time and effort of dialling in different pressures. All tyre reviews should be so thorough. Cheers.

By: Jordan Villella

Jordan Villella — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 20:10:56 +0000

In reply to Paul Bayne. Any tread that you're specifically interested in?

By: Paul Bayne

Paul Bayne — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 01:57:04 +0000

Please review the Dugast wide tubulars. They are available in many widths and with wider base tape.

By: nooner

nooner — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 14:17:52 +0000

After a two year absence we now have Cross racing back in socal. For help mounting those suckers maybe try liquid dishsoap around both beads. You can also get bead lube specific products from auto supply stores Fight the urge to muscle it on with an oversize tire lever like the Pedros DH lever or you might warp and distort the casing and get a wobble. The new Park Tool TL-6.3 work well. These new Challenge tires look great, let us know how you get on with them Jordan.