Schwalbe

Schwalbe's Durano is 'for mile eaters': a training specific tyre. As a dual compound, folding tyre and at 235g, it is slightly more than this, a true utility tyre but how does it fare?

The first thing you probably want to know about a training tyre is what its puncture protection is like. Included is Schwalbe's premium level protection: RaceGuard, a synthesis of rubber and nylon moulded into the standard rubber. Schwalbe say this adds very little to weight and rolling resistance.

Hi guys and girls, I'm new to the forums so please be nice!

I'm looking to upgrade the worn tyres on my Mavic Aksiums and have narrowed it down to Continental Grand Prix 4000S or the Schwalbe Ultremo ZX Evolution HD.

Purely from an aesthetic viewpoint I'm leaning towards the Schwalbe's as I can colour coordinate , but have heard they have weaker side walls and are more prone to punctures that the Continentals.

I do about 100miles a week on the road as my commute, with the occasional longer weekend ride.

Anyone have experience or recommendations to go for either of these?

Schwalbe's ZX versions of the popular Ultremo are competition tyres, they provide good grip and they're very, very fast.

Notice, though, that I described these as 'competition tyres', and Schwalbe do the same. The tread really isn't thick, hence a weight of just 190g per tyre on our test pair (even lower than Schwalbe's claimed 195g). The rubber doesn't wear away particularly fast, it's just that there's not much of it to start with, so if you're after longevity, these ain't the tyres for you.

Deep section carbon fibre wheels have spurred something of a renaissance in tubular tyres; these Schwalbe Ultremo TT tyres only appeared in the German tyre company's catalogue a couple of years ago.

Like most tubulars, the Ultremo TTs are expensive compared to clinchers, and they're fiddly to fit and fix. On the flip side, carbon wheels for tubulars are cheaper, lighter and easier to make than carbon or carbon/aluminium clincher rims, which need a hook to hold the bead. So you could save money on your time trial wheels and tyres overall by choosing tubs.