Challenge Grifo Pro Handmade Tubular Tire 700 x 33

The Staple That Sets the Standard

The Grifo is absolutely one of the best "mid" tires around for racing cyclocross. It excels in racing courses that have a mix of terrains such as grass, slightly loose dirt, rock, etc. It performs well on grassy off-camber sections. It doesn't rob you of straight-line speed on hard pack or grassy fields. While it can handle some moisture such as early morning dew for those early races as well as some mild slick mud it can be said that soft, wet, or overly muddy conditions are not it's forte. 

This is the "PRO" casing meaning it is 300 TPI and is made of "SuperPoly" instead of Cotton. This is a Tubular Tire

Rob's Rating: "The Grifo has wiggled it's way back into my heart after years of not riding it. If you are in an area with a lot of hard soil or grass crit style courses then it is quite possibly the best option all around. This is the PRO casing option. It differs from the Team Edition by being less supple. Personally I use a tent floor sealer/seam sealer on the sidewalls to help maintain its ability to repel water and keep its looks."

Leah's Take: "I think the Grifo is fast in a straight line and has reasonable mid range traction in most non-muddy conditions. My personal tendency is to prefer a tread with more aggressive side knobs such as the Flandrien or Baby Limus in the same conditions"

Tim's Take: "Grifo is a great all season tire if you don't get rain/mud. Good on loose, loose over hard, dry and dusty, rocky and rooty. Fast on grass. Faster on pavement, Even works well in slightly muddy provided you have your pressures dialed. It is not a true mud tire. Has the ability to shed mud well depending on the conditions. My true choice in the Challenge lineup."