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CushCore lightens up with XC & Gravel/CX versions to protect light weight tires & rims

cushcore xc tire insert cut out profile tire
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Expanding on their ‘tire suspension system’, CushCore is eyeing some lighter weight bikes in the future. Naturally, for a lighter weight wheel and tire, CushCore has developed a lighter weight tire insert designed to offer a smoother ride with more traction, better cornering, and increased tire and rim protection.

CushCore lightens up with XC & Gravel/CX versions to protect light weight tires & rims

Using the same idea as previous CushCore designs, the XC and Gravel inserts sit inside the rim channel inside the tire and divide the tire volume in half. The upper half turns into a ‘tuneable air pocket’ while the lower half functions as a damper, supports the sidewall, and protects the rim and tire in impacts.

CushCore lightens up with XC & Gravel/CX versions to protect light weight tires & rims CushCore lightens up with XC & Gravel/CX versions to protect light weight tires & rims

CushCore lightens up with XC & Gravel/CX versions to protect light weight tires & rimsThe new XC insert removes a lot of material on the rim-side, and is meant for tire widths from 1.8-2.4″, and inner rim widths of 22-32mm. To be offered in 27.5 and 29″ versions, claimed weights will be 140g and 150g respectively. CushCore points out that this won’t offer quite the same performance of their Pro tire insert (2.1-2.6″), but it also cuts out 100g per rim. XC inserts will sell for $149 a set with 29″ shipping now, and 27.5″ shipping soon.

CushCore lightens up with XC & Gravel/CX versions to protect light weight tires & rims

CushCore was also showing a Gravel/CX insert that is meant for 19-26mm inner width rims and 33-46mm tires. Designed for 700c rims, the insert has a claimed weight of 110g, and will sell for the same $149 per set. The same goes for their Plus insert which covers 2.6-3.0″ tires on 32-45mm inner width rims. As you would expect, the weight on these is increased at 290/330g for 27.5/29″. Both are coming soon.

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Hamjam
Hamjam
4 years ago

How hard is it to put in a tube after a major flat? I guess you have to put your $75 insert in your shirt pocket? Or is this for racers where that wouldn’t matter?

Marek
Marek
4 years ago
Reply to  Hamjam

Well if you use tyre plugs, you usually don’t have to. If you have bigger gash in your tyre, tube will not probably save you either. Since Im running Cush Core on some of my bikes, I don´t carry tube anymore, just Sahmurai kit.

BTW it is not that difficult to remove/install Cush Core if you know how 🙂

therealgreenplease
4 years ago

I’m really interested to try CushCore on two of my bikes: my gravel/cx bike and the Trek Stache 29+ bike I recently bought. In the case of my cx bike it would be nice to not have to worry so much about rim strikes (aluminum rims). The real killer application though could be on 29+ where it’s so important to get your pressure just right because there’s this continuum between “bounce” and “squirm” and trying to find the happy medium between the two is literally a 1 psi window. If cushcore could get rid of the squirm at lower pressures that would be ideal. The traction of 29+ XR4 tires is already insane if I could run lower pressure without the squirm it would be like glue.

someguyontheinternet
someguyontheinternet
4 years ago

I tried their inserts with lightweight tires at low pressures and the squirm is still there. The only difference is you don’t have to worry about the tire de-beading. The unnerving sensation is still present though.

Sam Whittingham
4 years ago

Cushcore is an absolute gamechanger! Run them as low as you want, removes the squirm as well as beach ball bounce. Better cornering support and zero flats so far. Thought it would feel slow or dead but totally the opposite. Such a huge improvement, especially on a hardtail.

Jon Maule
Jon Maule
4 years ago

I don’t know too many cx or xc racers who’d willingly add 110 – 150g per wheel (adding in the difficulties associated with changing tires/installing a tube). also, that price… eeeeek!

Marek
Marek
4 years ago
Reply to  Jon Maule

I don´t know many XC racers who carry tube anymore 😀

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