Are you ready for cyclocross season? Matching the tires to the terrain is a must for the best performance, but choosing the right ones can be confusing. "Pro", "Team Edition", what do these labels actually mean and how do they affect the performance of your race tires?
Let's take a look at the Challenge line, one of the most popular brands of cyclocross tires, and how they differentiate their models.
Tubeless cyclocross tires
Challenge has heavily invested in bringing tubeless tire technology to cyclocross. Tubeless tires are paired with a matching tubeless rim and are run with a liquid sealant to make them airtight. HTLR stands for "handmade, tubeless ready" and the HTLR models are designed to meet the UCI/USAC tire width limit rules, should those affect you. If you're a mountain biker coming to cyclocross for the first time who is already using tubeless on your MTB, you'll feel very comfortable with these:
Challenge Team Edition HTLR tubeless
If you've previously used tubulars but are racing on tubeless for the first time, the Team Edition HTLR will offer the closest performance. The Team Edition HTLR is the newest addition to the Challenge tubeless line, and thus far they are offered in the Grifo and Limus tread patterns, with more likely on the way. They are easily identified by their distinctive red sidewalls and look very visually different from other makes and models, so you can't hide that you're running some of the best tubeless tires available! These tires use a sealed, Corespun cotton casing with a higher TPI compared to the Pro line, for the fastest, most supple tubeless tires possible.
Challenge Pro HTLR tubeless
The Pro HTLR tubeless line is a great choice for enthusiast amateurs. Compared to the Team Edition line, they use a slightly lower (although still quite high) TPI, and the casing is SuperPoly instead of the top-end Corespun cotton. These have black tread and brown sidewalls for riders interested in a "classic" look. Since they're available in the Grifo, Limus, Baby Limus, and Limus tread patterns, you can get a Pro HTLR tire suitable for dry, wet, mud, and everything in between.
Challenge Race Vulcanized tubeless
The Race is a vulcanized tubeless tire line built on lower TPI nylon casing. They are a fine choice for riders who are new to cyclocross and still figuring out their preferred tread and wheel choices, and good for training since they are more economical. They'll be less supple and have more rolling resistance compared to the Pro or Team Edition tubeless tires. Depending on the rim used, these might not meet the tire width rules in place at national-caliber events, so keep that in mind. If you aren't racing at the elite level, these rules likely don't apply to you.
Tubular cyclocross tires
Tubular cyclocross tires, in which the tire is glued (or taped) to a matching tubular rim still dominate at elite level races, with almost all pro teams and athletes using tubulars. While they require more setup and are more time consuming to work with compared to tubeless, no one can dispute they are the top performer, which is why riders who get paid to race use them.
Challenge offers three tiers in their tubular line, "Pro", "Team Edition", and "Ultra", all of which in the 33mm size meet the aforementioned UCI/USAC max tire width rules.
Challenge Team Edition Tubulars
If you want some of the best tubulars available for cyclocross, the Team Edition line will be your choice. Compared to the Pro, they use a slightly higher TPI casing, so they're more supple, and the casing is sealed Corespun cotton instead of SuperPoly. If you're a high-volume racer who races regularly, especially in wet/muddy events, you'll appreciate that sealed casing, which better resists damage from moisture and pressure washing.
Challenge Pro Tubulars
The Challenge Pro tubular line is one the longest-running styles in the cyclocross market. They use the classic combo of black tread with brown sidewalls that is instantly recognized by cyclocross riders. As with the tubeless models, the "Pro" tubulars use a high TPI SuperPoly casing. If you don't pressure wash your bike (many West coast racers ride in entirely dry conditions all season) there might be no reason to pay for the more expensive Team Edition tubulars, since the sealed casing won't matter to you.
Challenge Ultra Tubulars
The Ultra is a rarely-seen version, offered only on some models, that uses a sealed silk casing. In general, this type of tire is handed out to sponsored athletes and not something people who pay for their own tires would typically buy or ride. They are much more expensive than the Pro or Team Edition line, so unless you're Richie Rich, you'll be skipping the Ultra line. Stick to the Pro or Team Edition models.
What about tube-type clincher tires?
For the purpose of this article, please note that I've ignored clincher tires intended for use with an inner tube, although Challenge still manufactures them. In 2024 there's no reason to run a clincher tire with a tube inside given the huge selection of high quality tubular and tubeless options now available on the market. Clincher tires with inner tubes are easily punctured during cyclocross races and are the worst performing option, and should be avoided if possible.