![tufo flexus cubus tubular cyclocross tire tufo flexus cubus tubular cyclocross tire](https://www.starbike.com/images/2016/tufo-flexus-cubus-33-sg-28x33-tubular-cross-2-lowres.jpg)
Call me a philistine, but I like my mud tires to be able to handle the inevitable abuse that they will suffer: getting smashed into hidden rocks, roots and the like. And if they puncture, they are easily resealed using Tufo’s sealant. You can whale on these tires all season, run them at ridiculously low pressure and bottom them out multiple times per race and not worry about hurting them. The flip side of this is that Tufo tires are indestructible. Many people object to Tufo tires because they are much less supple than fancier tubulars. They grip well, but don’t pack up terribly, though, as with any aggressive tread, if the mud is sticky enough, they can’t help but pack. Tufo has struck a good balance with the Cubus. mud shedding ability (for instance Fangos shed mud, but aren’t aggressive enough when conditions truly deteriorate). This is the constant trade off: aggressive tread vs. The tread pattern sheds mud as good as any other specialized mud tire. But you will be able to push a little harder in corners knowing that your tires are gripping. Since they are a mud tire, you will never feel like you are riding on rails, since every corner should be greasy if you are using these. In corners, the side knobs dig in and offer stability and confidence. I attribute my 2 uncharacteristic Verge podiums at least partially to the grip offered by these tires on the slick climbs. At New Gloucester this year, I was able to ride many sections that my competitors ran. The super aggressive center tread pattern really bites into the ground and offers decent traction on deep, slippery, loose mud. But in a shit show like New Gloucester 2009 or Mercier Cup 2008, these tires will save your ass and keep you riding while others are slipping out and walking. On pavement, you can hear the raised knobs robbing you of speed and momentum. They are meant for deep mud and seriously greasy, sketchy courses. While my Challenge Grifo’s are great all around tires, and my Dugast Pipistrellos are fast I am most impressed with my Tufo Cubus 32’s. If you are a regular reader of this blog, you may remember that I have swallowed the Kool-Aid concerning tubular cyclocross tires.