As an example, we found the Challenge Getaway gravel tyre to be excellent, but the puncture protection was pretty woeful one for race days only (yes, this is a gravel tyre nominally, but the construction is the same as the brand's CX offerings). The flip side is that, for general use, the tyres can be too fragile. This is why the best ‘cross tyres use cotton or silk casings. A higher TPI (threads-per-inch) count means the tyre will more easily deform over whatever surface you’re riding over, increasing the contact area with the ground and therefore the grip on offer. Grip is paramount in cyclocross, and one way to gain more traction is by running a more supple tyre. We’ve got a whole guide dedicated to answer the question ‘ what is TPI?’, which you should definitely read too, but there are some ‘cross-specific details that are pertinent to go into here. I don't think anyone could try and claim this was 'gravel', so don't use gravel tyres (Image credit: Will Jones) What TPI do I need for cyclocross?
