Hey, I just picked up a 'cross frame and would like to use a clincher wheelset I have - Campy Record hubs to Mavic Open Pro ceramic wheels. What kind of air pressure can I run in clincher tires without problems? Any idea if these rims can be converted to tubeless?

Hey Alex!

Thanks for the forum post! There are a TON of variables here that need to be known. The wheels you have are great. They'll be just fine. The variables are first: Tire type/size and second: tire pressure.

Clincher tires are notorious for not accurate sizing. As an example, a 30 Michelin Mud is more like a 32 in a Challenge or a Dugast. My advice is 'the bigger the better'...especially if you are racing on dirt and non grassy courses. I run 32 for fast courses and 34 for everything else (which is pretty much everything!).

Finally, to answer your question about pressure: It depends on body weight and course conditions. You need to find a balance between your body weight and a pressure which will prevent pinch flats....all the while ensuring you have as much tire contact as possible when you are cornering. Tubulars obviously are designed for this exact purpose but you can get somewhat close with the right clincher tire/pressure combo. I've found the size 35 Maxxis Raze to be supple enough as an example. A fast tire too.

Lastly, I am not confident you could Stans-up a Mavic Open Pro. It's possible but I am not sure if the width of that rim is possible. More importantly, you need to run the right tubeless ready tire (Hutchinson owns this market right now) but I've just seen WAY too many burping episodes to run them myself confidently as a race wheel.

Hope this helps!

Greg

Thanks Greg. I've been reading up on it, and it looks like using a Stans kit on these wheels is pretty tricky. I'll give the Maxxis tires a try and experiment with tire pressure to see what works best for me.