Criterium Open CR19 review

This tyre brings to mind an old Clement design because it’s similarly difficult to fit and remove. In fact, it’s a complex operation that requires the use of tyre levers every time. But there is a plus-side, in that the tightness to the rim means that the CR19 can take very high pressures without blowing off the wheel.

So this is a tyre that will appeal to time triallists, who believe that more than 120psi of pressure must give lower rolling resistance – in practice this is not necessarily the case.

The grip levels afforded by this tyre are excellent, and at just under £11 the CR19 is a bargain – as long as you can tolerate the hard ride. Like the Maxxis Re-Fuse, however, the manufacturer’s official weight proved to be a little inaccurate. We found the CR-19 29g more than stated. The Criterium is also slightly wider than it was supposed to be, coming out at 20mm rather than 19mm. The 18.5mm depth makes it the lowest-profile tyre we’ve tested here.