Tires are always the main source of small talk before a cx race. "Have you ridden the course? What pressure you recommend? What tread are you using?" Sure, all pros have access to the Finer tires with silk casings that are handmade but what about someone who wants to go fast, doesn't want to pinch their tube, and doesn't want to worry about the glue and $$ of messy tubulars?
After considering all the tires available for cross, I ended up with the Hutchinson Bulldog Tubeless Tires. Sure there plenty out there, Dugast, FMB, Challenge, Tufo, Vittoria, Maxxis, Michelin, etc. but I was hoping to keep within a budget. I had just bought some Velocity Excape Tubular rims (28h) and was weighing my options for tubular tires when I finally decided to go tubeless with the Road Wheels I already had. The Stan's Kit was only $60, (returning one of the escape rims covered it) and was very easy to install. Drill a little hole for the valve, clean rim, apply tape(2layers), install CX rim tape with 48mm presta, soap it up, mount tire, inflate, add sealant, done! Sounds much easier than spending an hour or 2 in order to properly glue tubular tires, plus, I am not sacrificing any weight.
I am 168 lbs and have ridden these from 32-40 lbs racing all season with no problems. The bulldog tread pattern is very aggressive, and since this is my first real cross season, and I have never raced mtn. before, I figured I could use the extra help with the sacrifice to speed. Hutchinson also offers the Piranha. A lower tread, more faster, dry condition tire. Both are 34c.
When I first tested the bulldog tires, I pumped them up to 30lbs and road really hard through nearby Roanoke Park. After 15 minutes of carving terms and steep off-camber hills, checked the pressure and it read 29lbs. Maybe it is the lack of consistency from my joeblow pump, or maybe 30 is too less, but I have never needed to go down to 30. The lowest I have done is 34 in the front and 36 in the back. Still no problems.
For the money ($40ea. +$60 for kit), $140 is not a bad deal for a complete tubeless kit. With the benefits of no pinch flats, or tubulars sliding of your rim, + no real weight penalty, they are a great option for the cx racer on a budget.