Eric, et al:
The Clement Stratos 23 clinchers are nice riding tires. I rode them for about 2 or 3 years, before Clement folded (bad pun). I'd rate them as a half notch below today's Vittoria Open CX.
I have two late Clement catalogs (late 1980s or early1990s, I think, but no date shown) which lists three Clement clinchers:
The Stratos was available in 19 or 23 mm sizes. The weight was 215 or 240 g respectively. The casing material was polyester "20/3" which I interpret as 20 threads per centimeter, three ply. The tread pattern was either a slick or "rigatospina" which by my observation was ribbed in the center and chevron grooves on the sides.The description of the tire is "High speed, high mileage training. Clement tyres have more flexible sidewalls for better road feel." Recommended pressure ranged from 7 to 8 atmospheres (multiply x 15 to get psi). The price used to be around $25.
The Stratos Touring had the same sizes and only the "rigatospina" tread pattern but a softer tread compound and a royal blue stripe on the outside corners of the tread. "The softer tread compound is designed for better road holding and speed in the turns." I don't know what the price was, I never saw these tires available.
The Total Kevlar had a full kevlar casing as "40/1" (40 threads per cm, 1 ply?), 19 or 23 mm sizes, weight 185 and 205 g respectively. The tread pattern was "rigatospina", and pressure was a maximum of 10 bar (150psi!). The description is "100% kevlar carcass. The tough HP tire par excellence. Ideal for triathalon and other punishing road conditions." These tires retailed for around $50 each, and came in their own individual draw-string cloth bag.
I have a pair of Total Kevlars on my Pinarello, which is used just for display. I figured that a kevlar (plastic) casing tire won't rot or fatigue like a fabric tire (ie, cotton), so my now only-for-display Pinarello will look vintage (if not completely "period correct") for the rest of my life. I used to use the drawstring tire bags to pack my leather Duegi cycling shoes when I would take my bike on vacation travels. (Am I P.C., or what!)
Clement had 11 (eleven!!) tread patterns, with three reserved for cyclo-cross work: diamond, sculpted (multi shape nubs), and square nubbed. The other 8 tread patterns were dedicated to road use, with grid (mesh), chevron, small pyramid and mixed combinations available. (I wish I knew the reasons or events that the various tire patterns were designed for.)
Chuck Schmidt has some Clement catalog reprints available; I'll have to show him the catalogs I have and see if we can clarify their dates.
enjoy!
Andrew Gillis (Long Beach, CA)