Schwalbe E-One tyres

The E-One is Schwalbe's new tyre designed specifically for e-bikes, but that doesn't mean it's restricted purely to bikes with batteries. With a new compound that gives excellent grip levels and durability, plus a thicker tread that benefits puncture protection, the only real trade-off is the extra weight.

• Pros: Excellent grip levels, durable
• Cons: A bit on the weighty side

A tyre specifically for e-bikes on the road seemed a little odd to me to start with. I mean, yes, they are getting motor assistance so in some places they will be travelling faster than a standard bike a fair bit of the time, but not by enough to warrant more robust tyres.

> Find your nearest dealer here

Take a look at the European market, though, and you'll find e-bikes called speed pedelecs which are legally allowed to achieve speeds of 45kph/28mph, and the kit you use on them, such as helmets and tyres, have to reach certain testing criteria to be approved. In the case of tyres, that standard is ECE-R75 and the E-One passes this. Testing them on a normal road bike, though, throws up some interesting findings.

For starters, the new Addix Race compound is very sticky and grip is amazing in both the wet and dry. On high-speed descents the way they cling to the road allows you to really let the bike go, and the supple rubber gives plenty of feedback too.

At the time of testing I was also reviewing a pair of Schwalbe's One tyres in a 28mm width, the same size as these E-Ones. The thickness of the main part of the tyres is quite different, with the standard One measuring not much more than a millimetre in depth while the E-Ones are more than double that.

> Buyer's Guide: 34 of the best road cycling tyres

It adds weight, mind, around 50-100g per tyre. I can't be more specific than that as the two E-Ones I have differ a fair bit on the scales: one is 320g while the other is 382g, so there is a fair bit of tolerance when it comes to manufacturing. (We've listed the weight at the top for the pair.)

Both the Ones and the E-Ones use a V-Guard protection belt, but the extra rubber thickness of the latter means that punctures should be shrugged off more readily, making them ideal fast but reliable tyres during the winter or on rubbish roads.

> Buyer's Guide: 18 of the best winter tyres

Fitting the tyres to a range of wheels wasn't too much hassle, and I could get them onto most rims with just thumb pressure. They were easy to pop off too, so fixing a puncture at the side of the road shouldn't be an issue.

Priced at £52.99 they are exactly the same as the standard Ones and I think they offer a decent return for your investment. They aren't as quick, mostly because of the weight, but against something like the Pirelli Cinturato Velo, which is great as a quick tyre that'll deal with rubbish conditions, the E-Ones stand up well. The Pirellis are £46.99 each and 345g.

Overall, although the E-Ones are designed for e-bikes specifically, they offer plenty of appeal for use on a standard pedal bike too.

Verdict

Excellent grip and durability mean they appeal beyond just e-bike use