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Donnelly Cycling X’PLOR CDG 700 x 30 Tubeless Ready Tire Review

By Jim Langley

HOT!

  • Mixed low profile tread patterns grip great wet or dry
  • Tubeless-ready construction for use without and with tubes
  • Integrated puncture-resistant belt
  • Directional arrows on both sides of tires
  • Supple folding tires for easier on/off

NOT!

  • pricey

https://www.donnellycycling.com/collections/adventure
Price: $68
Source: bike shops, catalogs
Size: 700 x 30C
Weight: 420 grams
How obtained: sample from company
RBR advertiser: no

A little over a year ago, I reviewed the Clement Strada LGG road tires, which I said were a great value for the price. Since then, the Strada LGG tires and a versatile lineup of road, adventure and cyclocross tires has hit the market rebranded under the name Donnelly Cycling because Donnelly ended their former licensing agreement for the name Clement.

The new tires now proudly carry the name Donnelly, and they still use the three-letter designations of famous airport codes. Both the tire designs and innovative names belong to Donnelly owner Donn Kellogg. About his tires, he says,

“The tread patterns, the tire model names, and our wheels were all designed here in Colorado beginning in 2010. Our new packaging includes the state-licensed “Colorado Designed” logo. It’s a world class destination for all genres of cycling. The strong cycling community here is on the highest level, which is an integral part of our design, development and testing team. This has allowed us to develop each individual tire for very specific riding and racing conditions. We’re a young company that will continue to make products that are well ahead of the curve.”

The CDG name on my tires stands for the Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris and these treads have been designed for the weather and varied terrain of pro racing’s spring classics, like Paris-Roubaix.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t fly into Paris to tackle the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix, but I can tell you that the CDGs perform nicely on rough and slick pavement. They also work well on hardpack dirt roads. You’ll need a bicycle with the clearance to accept 30mm-wide tires. I put them on a Specialized Roubaix Expert, which also has a connection to Paris-Roubaix.

The tread pattern is small enough to roll quickly on smooth roads and the larger tread on the sides makes for grippy, confident cornering. A 30mm wide tire is a nice width for switching from pavement to dirt roads and for spirited riding on both.

I also like that the tires are easy to install and remove with their supple casing and folding beads. They seated quickly and precisely on the carbon wheels on the Roubaix. Also, many tires have almost impossible to find directional arrows. Donnelly smartly uses easy to spot arrows on both sides of the tire – nice attention to detail.

Summing up, I think if you’re looking for fast-rolling tubeless-ready rubber for all road and weather conditions, you’ll be delighted with Donnelly’s CDGs. Or, if you prefer other types of riding, browse their full collection because they have tires for most uses and keep adding more.

Ride total: 8,898

Next Article: Change a Flat Tire the Fast Way!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Maven says

    May 15, 2018 at 12:30 am

    Clement/Donnelly USH gravel tires 700X35c came on my new Norco Search (carbon gravel bike) January ’17. Great bike. I was on a steep, twisty ROAD (asphalt) descent last October, an on a tight turn the bike, when leaned way over, disappeared from under me, resulting in a clavicle fracture, rib fractures, scrapes, and eventually a trip to surgery to fix the clavicle. CAUTION: the file tread on the USH on the shoulder of the tire is “squishy” when new, and if the bike is leaned significantly, traction may be compromised. I wore the same tires on a spring classics tour in Belgium, March ’18, and again, on a twisty descent I could feel the tires get “soft” when the bike was leaned hard. On balance, when we rode the Paris-Roubaix sprotif, the gravel tires (50 psi) worked well when on cobbles, and on that narrow dirt path on the side of the cobble sectors, gripping nicely.

    Reply
    • yerg says

      September 27, 2018 at 9:48 pm

      the cdg has a very different tread pattern.

      but yes, i agree, i’ve also layed my bike down, destroying my shoe and derailleur on a wet switchback with the ush. mostly good luck, but high speed corners seem to be difficult for them. they seem best at offroad

      Reply

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