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TECH NEWS
Schwalbe launches faster and lighter Pro One tubeless tyres
Schwalbe continues to pretty much single-handedly fly the flag for road tubeless tyres, and continues its development with the launch of the new Pro One, which it claims is 70g lighter with 10% lower rolling resistance than the current One tubeless tyre.
The new Pro One Tubeless tyre will be available in 23, 25 and 28mm widths, weighing 235, 255 and 275g respectively. That compares very favourably with regular tyres and even more favourably when you add the weight of an inner tube to a regular setup.
As well as being lighter, Schwalbe claims the new Pro One tyre is even faster than the tyre it replaces. In its testing, it found the Pro One to provide a 10% reduction in rolling resistance compared to the previous One tubeless.
Against a comparable folding tyre that gap increases to a claimed 25%, though it doesn’t state the actual tyre used in testing. Compared to its own Durano however, with similar puncture resistance, the Pro One provides a whopping 40% reduction in rolling resistance.
The improvements have been achieved with the development of MicroSkin, a construction process that Schwalbe has been using for its mountain bike tyres already. The Pro One is a Tubeless Easy tyre, which means that a little sealant is needed.
Schwalbe has also expanded its tubeless range with the new S-One, a 30mm tyre designed for rough roads and races like Paris-Roubaix, where it actually debuted. The new G-One is a gravel tyre and comes in 35 and 40mm widths, making it the first big volume road tubeless tyre I think we’ve yet seen. Finally, there’s the X-One, a 33mm cyclo-cross tyre.
We don’t have any UK prices for any of these tyres, but as soon as they’re announced we’ll let you know. A current One tubeless tyre costs , so expect the new One Pro to be similar money. It’s not currently clear if the current One will be phased out, or continue to be available.
The German company admits it used to be sceptical of tubeless tyres on the road, but that following much research and development, it managed to manufacture a tubeless tyre that met its demands and subsequently changed the company changed its tune. It's now a proponent of tubeless tyres, often saying its tubeless tyres are the fastest tyres it has ever developed, even compared to tubular and clincher versions.
Why tubeless? According to Schwalbe, the benefits are numerous, and include “clear advantages in speed, comfort, grip and puncture resistance.” It adds that rolling resistance is reduced because there’s no friction between a tyre and inner tube. There is the advantage of lower pressures and of course, the real trump card of a tubeless system, high puncture resistance.
I’ve certainly been impressed with Schwalbe’s road tubeless tyres over the past few years, and they just keep on getting better. The latest One tubeless tyre is very impressive, it’s fast, easy to install and very puncture resistant. I'm looking forward to testing the new Pro One, and also the G-One as well, that looks very interesting and appeals to the many new gravel and adventure bikes flooding the market.
David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes.
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18 comments
Fitted the Pro Ones last week onto Stan's Grails, replacing 26mm s-works turbo tyre and tube combination. Running same pressures (85). Tubeless def feel different, more floaty. Front punctured with a small glass shard this morning, sealant didn't hold and tyre now has a boot courtesy of LMNH. Bit of a worry maybe or just bad luck? either way don't rely on your tubeless to resist all punctures, carry a back up tube or boot.
Hoping Schwalbe will incorporate Pro-core concept in tubeless CX and road tires. Would love to have some added security for high pressure tubeless, such as road and less so for CX by having a mini tube press against a tubeless bead to increase the security of having the bead seated.
"Schwalbe continues to pretty much single-handedly fly the flag for road tubeless tyres"
Hutchinson must be really happy with that statement.
It's so you know which way round to put it on the wheel :-p
Been running the pro one tubeless on the schwalbe first ride program and have to say they are probably the best tyre I've used ! Noticeable difference in speed and weight over the original one tubeless did a 600km audax on them not a puncture or problem with them ! Now how am I going to get a set of the g one's
I'm close to fitting some on my Pacenti SL23s. Has anyone successfully fitted them onto H+ Plus Archetypes, which are my other wheels? I've seen contradictory info on whether or not they are tubeless ready.
Another happy Schwalbe One tubeless owner rolling fast on cr@p roads, cycle lanes etc... on 25-28mm at no more than 70PSI
My Hunt wheels have the schwalbe ones fitted. I really like them. I am coming round to the thought i don't need to carry a repair kit.
Lovely jubbly. The march of Tubeless continues apace. Although I am puzzled as to why they put a tread pattern on a road tyre, when they can't aquaplane below about 200MPH or summint.
NOTE TO HATERS: Schwalbe One's just work. And keep on working.
(Your anecdote of being coated in latex with broken thumbs, 50 miles from nowhere in freezing rain didn't really happen, did it? There now, saved you the bother of posting it
)
Tyre tread is not just about reducing aquaplaning though. If it where then mountain bikes would all be on slicks as well.
On a smooth road a slick tyre works best. On a rough,poor or debris stewn road having a tread can allow the tyre to deform more, increase the tyre surface area and therefore increase the area of the tyre in contact with the road.
How much benefit tread on a road bike gives is questionable though as there are plenty of other factors just as or more important.
Mountain and CX tyres have tread that forces itself into the soft ground it's rolling over, providing lateral resistance to stop the wheel slipping off axis or spinning. In this case, it's the ground deforming around the tread - hence why you see tyre tracks in mud/clay. And why wearing the edges off the knobs decreases traction.
A road tyre is the exact opposite - 99.9999999% of the time the road surface will be much harder than the tyre, therefore to achieve grip the tyre must deform around imperfections in the road surface. This includes where there is gravel on the road surface - again, the tyre must deform around it to maintain traction, and you *hope* the gravel won't slide against the road itself. Putting tread on a road tyre simply removes a portion of the surface available to deform. It also introduces power losses as the raised blocks 'squirm' needlessly between the tyre carcass and the road.
I'm genuinely keen to hear from Schwalbe why they put a tread back on the new One.
According to the bike radar piece it was because having it there was easier than explaining why it isn't there. In other words, those who think they need it, will now buy it. Those who know differently won't be put off by its presence.
It's not quite that simple Mike, I really recommend having a quick look at the VeloNews article for the discussion about some of the trade-offs of (small) tread on road tyres by representatives from some of the manufacturers
http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/05/bikes-and-tech/technical-faq/tech...
Clearly some may say that they have a commercial point of view to maintain but what they're saying seems to make sense from the physics side of things as well (IMO) and has been discussed before in areas other than cycling or indeed tyres. As to the degree of effect... who knows exactly, perhaps not a massive amount but i'd bet on non-zero myself.
"Putting tread on a road tyre simply removes a portion of the surface available to deform."
It's like you say, but the EXACT OPPOSITE. Is there more volume of tread surface compounds to deform on a flat or a 3d surface? A 3d surface can also offer lateral resistance in a corner through using this additional height surface via compound deformation. More so than a smooth surface. One is not better than the other - they just each have their own merits. It is up to you to decide what merits you see or don't see ie how to choose what tire to use where. You are right about half of your deformation statements though. Deformation on a relatively perfect pavement surface does lose energy. When you lose that energy, in exchange, you gain traction and safety. On an uneven/imperfect surface, the loss of traction from a smooth tire creates excess deformation and rebound which causes energy loss and fatigue. Those are the inherent trade offs when comparing tire tread/compound types. In my experience with Schwalbe, it's best to just follow Schwalbe's tire selection guide. Best to leave it to the pros who have input the R&D, through which, there is authoritative intelligence you can actually rely on.
Yeah, F1 tyres are full of dimples and ridges and channels and stuff to improve traction
Let's face it - the forces and speeds involved in cycling mean miniscule ripples in the tyre surface are indiscernible on the road.
I can't wait to get my hands on the new Pro one. Wow.
I already love the Tubeless One currently using on my Hunt Wheels.
Impressive tyres if you can get hold of them!
Agreed.
I bought a Bontrager R3 last year after several hours trying to locate one tubeless One (for one). If my Hutchinson (think they have been flying the road tubeless flag for a quite a while too eh?) Intensive ever wears out, which it is not in a hurry to do, I would try one of these.