Oversized tires for cyclocross?

[Burning Pines]

Has anyone had experience using some slightly oversized tires for cross racing and been happy? There are so many larger gravel tires now, and since I haven’t raced cross seriously in years, a 33-34mm tire seems ridiculously narrow. My only hesitation is that a lot of gravel tires trend towards limiting rolling resistance at the expense of cornering and especially drive/braking traction. I only anticipate doing 3-5 races this year but at least some will be in the slop.. I think my bike can comfortably clear 42mm tires and mud. I’d like to use this tire for winter dirt road rides as well.

Oh, and it has to set up tubeless well, for sure.

Tires I am considering:
- Compass Steilacoom- seems pretty perfect, but there are so many mixed results running compass tires tubeless. I’d get the standard casing.
- WTB resolute. Gets great reviews, still concerned about mud performance, also if it will blow up to larger than the advertised 42?
- WTB cross boss, supposedly a smaller version of the resolute? I might consider using this on the rear and the resolute in the front.

Any other recommendations? Or am I being ridiculous and should just get some PDXs and learn to love narrow tires off road again?

[Bruce K]

I would suggest reading the rules and looking at what category/race you will be participating in.

If it is a UCI race/category you will be limited by the rules.

BK

[fignon's barber]

I believe the rule is 38mm max for cross.

[sfghbiker]

you and I are in the same situation. I was looking for a high volume tire for primarily gravel but may use for non UCI cross events.
I was thinking about the WTB resolute, riddler or the graveling SK
For UCI events and smoother dryer courses I'll probably just run my smaller UCI compliant tubulars
I think it really depends on the cross scene where you race. In northern CA at most of the races I've been to no one seems to care about tire size (especially in the beer league section where I run).

[Burning Pines]

I would suggest reading the rules and looking at what category/race you will be participating in.

If it is a UCI race/category you will be limited by the rules.

BK

I’ll be doing OBRA races. No tire limits, especially not for cat 4 or singlespeed!

[Gummee]

I believe the rule is 38mm max for cross.

33mm

If you're racing UCI they have a jig that the refs use to check your tires before every race.

...but... if you aren't racing UCI, pretty much anything goes. I raced my 29er in a few mud races last season and no one batted an eye. I wasn't anywhere near the front, so I was pretty much anonymous.

M

[Burning Pines]

I think I’m going to order the Steilacooms. Want to try the resolute at some point but concerned about mud clearance in the rear. Hope I don’t shred 130 dollars worth of tires right off the bat...

[Andy sti]

I think we can assume that any question here is from a rider not doing a UCI registered race.

You can use any size tire you want. You can use a mountain bike or a fat bike if you want. This applies to almost all cross races in the USA. In some USAC elite races (obviously Nats) you may need to abide by the UCI rules but if you are racing that category you would know that.

[weisan]

I think I’m going to order the Steilacooms. Want to try the resolute at some point but concerned about mud clearance in the rear. Hope I don’t shred 130 dollars worth of tires right off the bat...

Try gravel king sk 43. Middle in the road. Wide enough. Fast enough.

[doomridesout]

There's a new Gravel King mud tread of some kind too.

[weisan]

There's a new Gravel King mud tread of some kind too.

learn something new
https://www.competitivecyclist.com/panaracer-gravelking-mud-tire-clincher?skid=PAN0009-BK-S700CXS35MM&CMP_SKU=PAN0009&MER=0406&CSPID=0914&mr:trackingCode=98ACC1E5-A439-E711-80F4-0050569428E8&mr:referralID=NA&mr:device=c&mr:adType=plaonline&mr:ad=185088750688&mr:keyword=&mr:match=&mr:tid=pla-397128509711&mr:ploc=9028249&mr:iloc=&mr:store=&mr:filter=397128509711&CMP_ID=PLA_GOc014&CSPID=0914&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=PLA&k_clickid=e680f8c1-e03c-4dd9-8081-a8e6192424a4&gclid=Cj0KCQjwn4ncBRCaARIsAFD5-gVks0YYb4t2GsY6zmjCseHGaQiMVJ5SVHNiITAg7knMEYVm6oq GYmEaAharEALw_wcB

[Burning Pines]

I used the gravel king muds last year in two races and they were alright but I’m hoping for even more volume. Not adverse to ordering again if the compass doesn’t work out! Great value for the money like everything Panaracer.

The sks would probably be dope for dry courses but i want something good when it rains. Sk rear with something else in the front might be good.