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Bontrager Race Lite Hardcase 700x25c tyreBontrager Race Lite Hard Case tyre

Bontrager Race Lite Hardcase 700x25c tyre

9
by Iwein Dekoninck
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Sep 21, 2009

4
£17.99

VERDICT:

9
10
An excellent training and commuting tyre: fast rolling and puncture-resistant
Weight: 
362g
Contact: 
www.trekbikes.com
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Bontrager’s race lite hardcase tyre is a mid-level puncture resistant training and commuter tyre. It’s available in widths from 23mm to 32mm for 700c tyres, 25mm for 650c tyres and 1 1/8inch and 1 ¼inch in 27inch tyres. Bontrager say they offer the best in puncture protection, offering triple puncture protection to guard against the most common causes of flats - punctures, cuts through the casing and pinch flats.

This triple puncture protection consists of a Kevlar belt to keep glass and stone out, there’s a bead-to-bead woven anti-cut layer in the tire casing to protect the sidewalls and there’s also some special anti-pinch flat material around the hookbeads to prevent your tubes pinch-flatting.

I tested the 622-25 size mounted on a pair of Shimano RS30s on my mudguarded winter trainer. In 500 miles of commuting in all weathers, I got 2 punctures which is quite a lot really for a tyre that claims puncture protection as its main feature. In their defense, I had been puncture-less for over a year and as any commuter will tell you, I had it coming.

More objectively though, roughly half of those 500 miles were in some truly awful conditions with roads sometimes resembling rivers. The flints were out in force and two prime specimens made it through the hardcase triple puncture protection. In my experience, you have to go up a level in puncture protection and width to guard against that level of attack, which means compromising in the speed and handling department.

And this is where this tyre comes in. For a fast rolling tyre that handles well, the puncture protection is actually really quite good. Looking at the rubber after said 500 miles, there’s evidence of a considerable number of flint & glass attacks that didn’t make it through.

If you want some puncture protection that’s not going to hold back your speed and cornering, Bonty’s race lite hardcase is well worth considering. It’s become my favourite fast commuting tyre for sure.

Verdict

An excellent training and commuting tyre: fast rolling and puncture-resistant.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Bontrager Race Lite Hardcase 700x25c tyre

Size tested: 700 x 25 (x2 please)

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
9/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
9/10
Rate the product for value:
 
9/10

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: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 32  Height: 1.78m  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: All of them!  My best bike is: Cervelo Dual

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, touring, club rides, fixed/singlespeed, Audax

tyres
tyre
Race Lite
punctures
Hardcase
commuter tyres
commuter tyre
bontrager
700c tyre

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4 comments

Avatar
toph | 9 years ago
0 likes

These tyres are incredibly durable. I had a rear on for 4177 miles before it wore out. The front is still on after 6988 miles. Neither has had a single puncture and I ride all through the winter.

I've had a Conti GP 4 Season on the rear since retiring the Bontrager (I thought it would be good to try different rubber out) it has bald spots after 2816 miles and I have had two punctures.

I will be going back to the Bontragers when I get a new rear, they are cheaper too.

If I was lucky (or talented) enough to have a team car chasing me with new wheels/tyres then I'd probably use some super light, super sticky, super expensive tyres.

I'm not and these Bontragers are tyres for the rest of us!

Avatar
yellowstreak | 14 years ago
0 likes

Had these tires for almost 2 years doing at least 20miles per day and not had a puncture to date if your looking for a good all rounder this is top top notch!

Avatar
andy42 | 14 years ago
0 likes

Put 1800 miles on a pair of 700x25's. Really good performance in the flat department, super tough tyres. Speed is OK, handling great. Price is very reasonable. No liteweight rider, I hit the scales at 100kg.

Note- these 25mm tyres came stock on my CF Trek 5200. They fit perfect! After the Bonty's, I mounted a set of Michelin Krylion 700x25's. The Michelins BARELY fit, giving a slight rub in the chainstay/BB area.

Avatar
Simon E | 14 years ago
0 likes

I used a pair of these commuting for 12 months, covering over 3,000 miles on the roads of Shropshire in the process. They rolled and cornered well yet didn't wear quickly.

Nothing got through the casing, though I had one tiny pinprick puncture, the cause of which I couldn't locate. It shrugged off a hefty blackthorn (kindly provided by a tractor-driven hedge trimmer) that tried to pierce the casing; it got bent to one side and, once removed, the tyre continued to perform as before.

At 350g or so they're great for those not wanting the weight and sluggishness of the heavier bomb-proof types.

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