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IB14: Clement Adding More Gravel Tire Sizes

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2015 Clement Strada XPLOR gravel road bike tire

Among gravel chasers, Clement’s tires seem to be popular as both OEM spec and aftermarket options. No, they’re not tubeless yet, but the tread patterns and sizes match up perfectly with the unpaved roads they’re used on. These new ones are a ways off, but come April 2015, the X’PLOR MSO will get a 36c width to slot between the existing 32 and 40. It’s a dirt road style tire that’s good for loose conditions.

The Strada LGG has tamer tread suited more for cracked blacktop and has a current size run of 23, 25 and 28 widths. It’ll add a 32 to the top end of its size range. Pic of this one after the break…

2015-Clement-Strada-LGG-touring-bike-tire

ClementCycling.com

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John
10 years ago

I don’t think knobs do anything for traction on gravel. You’re better off with a smooth tread unless you’re planning on riding in mud.

Dolan Halbrook
10 years ago

Man, if only they could make a tubeless-specific version of the PDX and/or MXP.

Hoshie99
Hoshie99
10 years ago

Yep, those both make sense. A little tread on some dirt roads and 35/36 is right where you want to be, 32 a little too small, 40 is a little monstrous. I have Challenge Gravel Grinders (35s) on my cross bike right now and had fun riding some fire roads and not too technical single track with sandy sections. No problemo, pure fun.

And 28s are just the thing for decaying blacktop with some tame dirt sections but I can see some commuter / adventure rides where some might like an option 32 with light or no tread.

I don’t know the cost structure of a new tire width so hard to say if this is profitable. That aside, it is nice to see a variety of tire options as they make a big difference in handling and performance and getting maximum versatility for your frame should it support different tire sizes.

I think this is a potential advantage of disc brakes on road frames that is not as clear as it could be for consumers.

j

ifbikes
ifbikes
10 years ago

I have set up the LAS, MXP, and PDX tubeless on my I9 ultralight rim without any trouble. The bead does have little ridges that will leak sealant at first, but once they fill in its fine. I’ve only burped it once turning very sharply on an uphill, this out of an entire season of CX racing and gravel riding. I’ve run them as low as 25 psi, I think you could run lower but I didn’t want to risk rim damage. On the wide ultralight rim the 33 mm tires measure closer to 36 which is sweet for most conditions. I did cut one sidewall that sealant or a patch couldn’t fix, but with a retail price of $50 you can afford for the tires to be a little more disposable than most $$60-90 true tubeless tires. Plus lots of tread patterns mean I can swap tires on one wheelset instead of the multiple pair of tubular wheels I use to have to bring to races. I’m a big fan of clement.

Reality Check
Reality Check
10 years ago

Tubeless please!

bsimon
bsimon
10 years ago

Ditto on the tubeless. I’m running an X’PLOR MSO 32 tubeless on the rear right now, but it needs a lot of air to mitigate sideroll in the corners.

As far as knobs vs. smooth tread, in my experience there is not one kind of ‘gravel’. In July I did 49 miles on a crushed limestone trail with smooth tread that worked great. But I benefited from the knobs on the gravel roads & trail I rode on Saturday. Had the forecast rain shown up, knobs would have been more critical.

Dude
Dude
10 years ago

The PDXs set up tubeless nicely on regular rims. I’ve raced them in the mid 20s and they hook up well without issues. They did burp in hard corners around 21 psi but that’s almost too low to be racing anyways. 2-3psi more and no problems.

Sam
Sam
10 years ago

I use their LAS tires for gravel racing. Lots of width (35mm on stans 340s), fast rolling and lighter than these gravel specific monster tires that aren’t suitable for racing.

wheelz
wheelz
10 years ago

Tubeless would make these perfect!

CDG
CDG
10 years ago

Agree with the others…the PDX and MXP tires actually work quite well tubeless. I’ve set them up with Stan’s Iron Cross rims fairly easily, and haven’t had an issue.

Roy
Roy
10 years ago

without road tubeless beads and casing this is a waste of space. We have had access to TR/TC mtb tires for years, why the delay? Did the skinny tire developers somehow think there was no advantage? Love the tread patterns Clement does, but unlike the Dude, have had no luck setting them up safely on at least 3 different rims including Shimano Road Tubeless. Seems when I hit lower pressures off they blow.

CXisfun
CXisfun
10 years ago

I had issues like Roy. I’ve set up countless MTB tires tubeless over the last 10 years, it’s nothing new to me. But I had two different Clement tires unseat/blow off at lower pressure. No thanks.

No matter, tubular is the way to go anyway!

shreddie
shreddie
10 years ago

Just raced (CX) on a set of PDX tires set up tubeless on ENVE XC rims this weekend. The setup was a nightmare. I had no confidence in the tires holding air or staying on the rims, as I’d had issues setting them up, and issues with them holding air at various pressures. I wound up having to start the race with 50psi in my front tire, and 45 minutes later, I was down to 35psi. This just isn’t going to work for me long-term – it’s either time for new tires that I can run tubeless with confidence, or to invest in some latex tubes and have an old-fashioned setup… I think it’ll be new tires.

don
don
10 years ago

With the others, not much luck tubeless, but tried hard. On 340 and grail rims they are just too loose. I run clement tubulars for cx and they are the bomb. Perhaps not as supple as dugast or challenge but go on straight and don’t flat.

On the clement clinchers they just need a tighter fit to the rim.

I run happy mediums now and they work excellent tubeless. I’d switch back to Clement if they fit tighter as they are much lighter.

don

Chris
Chris
10 years ago

I’m running MXP’s on Ultegra 6700 wheels, using Stan’s rubber rim strips to build up the bead. I’ve bottomed the tire on the rim a few times and rolled it pretty good a few times on off-camber corners. No issues, even when I got grass stuck between the rim and the bead. I was running about 28 psi, but I’m 180+ pounds. I used to have troubles until I got those rim strips. They market them for their Alpha rims, but they fit the Ultegra wheels perfectly.

Robert
Robert
10 years ago

Anyone who thinks a 40mm tire is too big for gravel has obviously never ridden the chunky stuff they put down in Iowa. I wish Clement would release a version of the MSO bigger than 40mm. How about a 43-45mm, or just call it a 29X1.75″ MTB tire?

mack_turtle
mack_turtle
10 years ago

I would ride Clement tires, but they refuse to make a tubeless-ready tire. why!? not worth my time. I want to ride gravel roads and singletrack on my cross bike, but not with tubes. inevitable pinch flats.

mack_turtle
mack_turtle
10 years ago

http://clementcycling.com/faq
“Q: Can I use the tires tubeless?

A: Clement clincher tires are designed to be used with an inner tube. Liquid sealant may cause the inside of the tire to deteriorate. Clement tubular tires are designed to be used with liquid sealant.”

Lame, Clement. Lame. sure, you might be able to make their tires work tubeless, but I don’t think it’s worth the risk.

Dolan Halbrook
10 years ago

FWIW, I’ve done four races this season on Vittoria XGs/Alpha 340s @ ~28 PSI with zero burp issues, in case you’re looking for a tubeless cross tire that seems to work reliably. I’d rather be running Clement PDXs or MXPs (the Vittorias are pretty mediocre in all other aspects) but I’ve just heard too many horror stories about Clements set up tubeless, including witnessing my team mate who burped his on the last lap of last weekend’s race and had to pump up his tire to finish.

gabbia
gabbia
10 years ago

(deleted)

Daniel
Daniel
10 years ago

I set up PDX’s tubeless on a set of ksyrium elite rims. I’ve raced them hard and trained on them over the past two months with very favorable results, and not a single burp. Only draw back back is the narrow mavic rim, so the tire rolls (but the bead holds strong) on hard corners below 30 psi. I’m fine running this pressure along with the assurance of no pinch flatting and small punctures being taken care of by sealant. I feel like people who complain about the tubeless setup being a nightmare haven’t put enough time into prepping their rims. The bead has to be tight to the rim, as in it should be hard to get on the wheel initially. If this isn’t the case ad some tape! I used almost 6 layers of tape to build up the channel in my rims, and because of this I have an awesome tubeless setup that handles way better then it would with tubes and I was able to use a set of wheels I already had. And about the tape adding weight don’t even bother. The setup still weighs less than it did with tubes, and the increased performance cancels any weight argument.

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