Clement Strada USH

RoverAl wrote:

So including these I now own 10 sets of tires, I think I have a tire problem. Anyone else have a collection? Hopefully I will be happy with these and wear them out for a change unlike the 9 other sets with little mileage on them.

DADZSUN wrote: S-One would be too narrow I think.

Clement Strada Ush 32 60 tpi psi range 40-60 

My preferred psi @50 lower or higher psi not used in this report. Unless otherwise noted.

New tires are fun especially when you get better performance, and here is my very  first ride impression after getting all aired up and ready to go. When I started out all my attention was on the tires are they this or are they that, will they slip slide or whatever. Firm and swift is what came to mind.

 Once I got into the rhythm of my ride, I focused on handling and other qualities. I've found it usually takes a hundred miles or so on new rubber to let them settle in.

So my first thoughts are they felt firm on pavement @50psi. After a few miles I noticed an increase in speed over some other 32c tires I used. When I transitioned to the packed shell limestone road they gripped well  going up a slightly rough small uphill and were very stable on the hardpacked but scrabbley dirt sections. Hitting pavement again about 10 miles in and they just took off and I was able to comfortably maintain speed with occasional bursts. Finishing up the last section on gravel shell limestone dirt road and they performed better than expected. Control, speed, cornering were excellent. No side to side deflection. 

I am a recreational/fitness rider so I wasn't pushing these to the limits like a younger faster rider would. But I like going fast too. Ending that first ride I rode faster, than all other tires I have used. Better avg speed,time and minutes. I ride this same route regularly so results are pretty balanced with wind, temp etc. I had loose warm clothes on that day. 

 The next day I was more aero and it showed with record times.

After another 23 mile  mixed 14 paved 9 limestone/shell fitness run I was able to shave about 8 minutes off my previous best time held by my Schwalbe g ones. I was pushing a little but I am very happy with the Strada USH My comfort zone is about 14/16mph with occasional 18/19/20 extended sections. I'm very pleased with those numbers on my regular mixed rides.

Set up was fairly normal easily went on my stock Weinman Impulse rims which are giving me great service by the way with almost 2k miles on them. Needed my small compressor to set the bead. After first ride they were losing some air when I got home, enough for concern. They were leaking around the bead. I cleaned the bead and mixed up a fresh batch of home brew sealant with an extra tblspn of latex and aired them up with the husky air scout and did the shake and set on a bucket to settle and while they were setting I used a heat gun to help dry the foamy bubbles around the edge, just enough to dry not get to hot.

Front and back are now reliably sealed with no significant air loss overnight. I will be monitoring that over the next few rides, sometimes it takes several rides to get them settled.

These puffed out to 34mm on my rims which is just fine with me. My G-ones puffed out to 37mm.

 Road noise is a normal whirring sound but at 26 mph it was sort of whistling, not sure what that was all about maybe sound bouncing off of a structure or something.

The seemingly slightly raised center tread is different from the other 32 tires I have used. I call them my supercharged steam rollers. They roll over everything.lol

 I had Wtb freedom Ryder 32's and they were more of a peaked design like a v hull boat and they would cut or knife into loose stuff. The Maxxis 32 refuse are more of a radial design but would deflect side to side in loose stuff. The Clements are surprisingly stable and focused in (loose)and hardpack. The sides have angled file pattern ribs but the center tread is flat and you get a feel for that center track. Turns are tight and they hold there line well.

To summarize These are the best tires I have come across and used for my needs. Not quite a road tire or a full fledged gravel tire somewhere in between.  The price is reasonable for a tubeless designed tire, I paid 40 a piece at Universal cycles. I was very close to buying the 120 tpi version but it was a budgetary decision to stick with the 60tpi.

I think the 120 tpi with the flat protection bead to bead would be worth it.

The 60 tpi with flat protection under the tread seems on the firm side whereas the 120 might be more supple. 

With tires one size doesn't fit all, everyone has different preferences specifics,needs, and expectations. In Florida, I use the word gravel loosely, it is not like the stuff out west. For me these are the best tires I have ridden to date surpassing Schwalbe G-ones which were my favorite all around tire. The Strada Ush is faster and more reliable and handles everything the G-ones did so far. Time will tell how they are over the long run and it should be fun finding out. I have confidence in these tires and unless they are flat prone, have air retention issues or a faster, better model comes around they are staying on. Best in class in my opinion for their intended use.
Some photos of the roads to date I tested on.
     

Just curious, have you ever ridden the Xplor USH 35mm's?