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review

Onza Preda 700cx23 tyre

8
£21.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Lightweight option with impressive performance and good puncture protection
Weight: 
205g
Contact: 
www.evanscycles.com

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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Onza is a Swiss brand producing tyres mainly for commuters, BMX and mountain bikes, plus a few road options including this Preda folding clincher. It's a lightweight tyre with impressive performance and good puncture protection, making it ideal for summer training, sportives and entry-level racing.

The Preda also comes in a wire-beaded version, but we're testing a pair of the Kevlar-beaded folding ones here. They went onto a pair of Mavic Open Pros easily, but without being sloppy, and sat nicely on the rim when inflated.

According to the Onza website, the Preda uses a technology called DXT, which stands for Dual Extruding Technology. It simply means the outer part of the tyre consists of two types of rubber: slightly harder on the top of the tyre, so there's less friction and wear when you're vertical on the road; slightly softer on the shoulder of the tyre to provide a bit more grip when you're cornering.

On the inside, the casing is 120TPI, which indicates a medium level of suppleness. (TPI stands for threads per inch; the bigger number usually indicates a more supple tyre, which in turn usually - but not always - indicates a more comfortable ride. Basic tyres are usually under 60 TPI; top-end tyres are 260 TPI or more.)

Several Onza tyres have something called NB1, which turns out to be a "Nylon inlay [to] increase puncture protection and decrease rolling resistance, plus add extra stiffness to the tyre". The Preda goes one better and uses NB2 which, you've guessed it, has two Nylon inlays for even more puncture protection.

With these layers of puncture protection, you might think the Preda would be heavy. But no. On the road.cc scales, this 700 x23 tyre weighs an impressive 205g - putting it in the same weight bracket as benchmarks like the Michelin Pro 3 and Conti GP4000, and slightly lighter than the Panaracer Race A and Schwalbe Durano.

However, I'm not convinced by the claims that a tyre with 'extra stiffness' can also have decreased rolling resistance. Although conventional wisdom may hold that a stiff tyre has less rolling resistance because there's less rubber in contact with the road, I'm with the school of thought that states that stiff tyres have more resistance because they continuously vibrate on all but the smoothest road, whereas supple tyres 'flow' around the bumps.

Having said that, performance doesn't seem to be hampered on the Predas. I've tested a pair during training sessions on the local motor-racing track (cyclists use it in the evening when the cars pack up for the day), and cannot detect any sluggishness compared to other tyres of similar weight and profile I've used in the same conditions. Cornering hard through the chicanes, I've found grip is fine too.

I've also ridden the Predas on local roads. Despite some rough road surfaces, these tyres are comfortable. And on the smaller lanes, where gravel flints and thorns are not at all unknown, so far the tyres have kept all punctures at bay. This is in spring and summer conditions though - I haven't tested these tyres in winter, when there's a lot more debris in the road, but then I would normally ride wider heavier tyres in winter anyway.

The Onza Preda comes in four colour options (black and gray; black and red; black and yellow; black and, er, a slightly lighter shade of black). The retail price is £21.99 for the wire-bead version and £29.99 for the Kevlar-bead version tested here. This isn't a bargain, but it's a fair price compared against £30-plus for GP4000s and £25-plus for Pro 3s.

Verdict

Lightweight option with impressive performance and good puncture protection, ideal for summer training, sportives and entry-level racing.

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Onza Preda 700cx23 tyre

Size tested: 23mm

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Onza say this tyre is designed for "competition, training and sport" - which is a fair claim. The Onza website doesn't say much else about the tyre other than: "DXT Technologie makes it a reliable partner on hard mountain passes. This light weight tire leaves you with some reserves even at the peak of the highest mountain." Hmm...

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

The Onza website says this about the Preda's technical aspects:

NB1 = 1 Nylon Breaker.

One Nylon inlay increases puncture protection and decreases rolling resistance. Plus Nylon adds extra stiffness to the tire. Field of Application: MTB City/Urban and Road Training

NB2 = 2 Nylon Breaker

Uses NB1 as the basis and adds an additional Nylon inlay that increases puncture resistance further. Field of Application:

Road Race

DXT = Dual Extruding Technology

Extruding production technology with 65a for low rolling resistance and long-life on the inside and 55a compound on the outside for perfect grip in all conditions.

Field of Application: Rennrad Pro Racing

[I'm no expert but I think rennrad is German for racing bike]

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

So far, construction seems good. There are no signs of any poor manufacturing.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Performance is good. This tyre seems to have achieved a balance between lightness, speed, comfort and puncture protection.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

It's too early to say, but first signs are good - there are no cuts or nicks on the tyre from bad roads.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
9/10

Around 200g very good weight for a tyre of this type.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10

Comfort is good, despite the extra stiffness created by the puncture protection.

Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Value is fair, but the price is not a bargain at a penny under 30 quid.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Overall performance is good. No sluggishness compared to other tyres of similar weight and profile I've used in similar conditions. The grip is fine when cornering.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 51  Height: 5ft 10 / 178cm  Weight: 11 stone / 70kg

I usually ride: an old Marin Alp, or an old steel classic  My best bike is: an old Giant Cadex (can you see a theme here?)

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: A few times a week  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: touring, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding,

 

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