Challenge is ready for cyclocross now with TLR tubeless tires. We actually previewed the first tubeless ready Challenge gravel tires back at Sea Otter with the rollout of the Gravel Grinder in its vulcanized tubeless TLR casing. Now #CrossIsComing too with the Grifo, Limus & Chicane ready for cyclocross race season…
Challenge TLR tubeless ready cyclocross race tires
Challenge is still very much a small tire manufacture with deep ties to handmade race tire development and manufacture. But while flexible clinchers backed up by latex tubes and proper supple tubulars deliver an excellent ride, Challenge understands the benefits of going tubeless, especially when riding for fun over more rocky terrain.
In time for this cross season Challenge’s core Grifo, Limus & Chicane tread patterns get the tubeless treatment. Each tire uses the same vulcanized 120tpi superlight nylon casing with an Aramid reinforced tubeless ready bead. The three tires will be available only in 700c this season and just in a single 33mm width for each tread pattern. If the demand is there, Challenge will likely expand tubeless CX offerings for next season.
Challenge TLR tubeless ready gravel race tires
On the gravel side Challenge’s TLR tubeless offerings amount to pretty much what we saw back in April. The mostly smooth Strada Bianca with its fine herringbone grooves comes in 700x36mm in both black or brown sidewall options, and also in a fatter 650x46mm in all black.
The more aggressive Gravel Grinder which shares a center file + side knob tread design adapted from the Chicane comes in five options: 700x33mm black wall, 700x33mm brown wall, 700x38mm black, 700x42mm black & 650x46mm in black wall.
Other new tubular & clincher tire development
Just because Challenge is adopting vulcanized tubeless tech, they aren’t giving up on handmade tire development. For 2019 Challenge already has a couple of new gravel & adventure racing tubulars to offer, and are continuing to develop more tubular solutions with pro riders. Looking to gain added comfort and durability for more extreme racing like the Dirty Kanza, Challenge spent several weeks testing prototype tubulars out of Emporia this spring. So, we’ll keep an eye open for those soon.
But already ready, the popular fat road racing Strada Bianca now comes in a 36mm wide Pro-level super poly 260tpi handmade tubular with two-layer flat protection. Plus, the Gravel Grinder now also comes in a more narrow 33mm wide Pro-level super poly 260tpi handmade tubular as well, which is essentially the same as the Chicane Pro cyclocross tubular, but with an extra layer of PPS2 flat protection for improved durability.
