The Hutchinson Blackbird Race tyre is tubeless ready and compatible with hookless rims. It’s evolved from the Blackbird Road and is claimed to be the ‘fastest tyre’ Hutchinson has ever made. It’s an excellent race tyre that balances grip, speed and durability, and is currently one of the lightest tyres in its class.
Hutchinson claims the Blackbird Race offers a 10 per cent improvement in rolling resistance over the Blackbird, and a 17 per cent reduction in weight (for the 28mm). It’s the race tyre of choice for Biniam Girmay, winner of the green jersey in last year’s Tour de France, and the Intermarché-Wanty team.
The Blackbird Race works with hookless rims and can be run without tubes, but is currently only available in 28 and 30mm widths. Hutchinson says that wider versions are currently in development. It’s also only available with black sidewalls at the moment.
On test we have the 30mm width, which has a claimed weight of 255g, though we found them slightly heavier at 261g apiece. That’s still very light, and one of the lightest 30mm race tyres on the market. For comparison, Continental’s GP 5000S TR tyre has a claimed weight of 325g in a 30mm width.
Despite its light weight, the tyres aren’t purely for time trials, and Hutchinson claims that Intermarché-Wanty riders will use them for ‘the vast majority’ of races this year.
I set them up on an Enve Foundation 65 wheelset with hookless rims and installation was an easy process, whether you have strong thumbs or opt for tyre levers.
The tyres feature Hutchinson’s new Ultraswift casing, which it claims reduces the thickness by 23% and the weight by 22%. The casing itself consists of three 127tpi layers on the side of the tyre and two in the centre, and is designed to improve ride quality and reduce rolling resistance. In addition, Hutchinson has introduced a new Mach Tread Ultimate compound, which it says helps to optimise speed, grip and abrasion resistance.
Out on the road, this translates to tyres that feel fast, grippy and supple, riding well in both wet and dry conditions. I tested them in some early season circuit races, and even in damp conditions I could corner with confidence.
Durability
After using them for over a month, mainly for races and shorter training rides, I have clocked up around 600km. While wear rates and durability are a hard one to review, they still look as good as new.
Punctures can often be down to luck, or lack of it, but it’s a positive that I haven’t had any noticeable punctures during testing.
Value
The Hutchinson Blackbird Race retails at £69.99, which is £26 more than the Blackbird Road tyre it evolved from, now £43.99. But though it isn’t cheap, it’s actually pretty good value compared with rivals.
It costs less than the Continental Grand Prix 5000S TR tyre, for example, one of the fastest tyres on the market, which is now £84.95. And Pirelli’s P-Zero Race TLR is also more expensive at £74.99, and heavier, weighing in at 305g (28mm width).
Goodyear’s Eagle F1 R tubeless tyre is a fiver less than the Hutchinson Race, at £65, but again, it’s heavier at 284g (28mm).
For more options, check out our guide to the best road bike tyres.
Conclusion
Overall, Hutchinson has delivered a lightweight race tyre that rides and grips well, and you can use them on more wheels than ever thanks to their hookless compatibility. They’re currently only available in two widths, and there’s no tan-wall option yet, but aside from that they’re excellent.
Verdict
Excellent lightweight tubeless-ready, hookless-ready race tyre that balance grip, speed and durability
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Hutchinson Blackbird Race Tyre
Size tested: 700 x 30
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?
Hutchinson says, “The Blackbird Race is Hutchinson’s ultimate racing tyre, engineered for speed, precision, and victory. With a 10% gain in watt efficiency, a featherlight 240g weight, and the revolutionary Mach Tread Ultimate compound, it’s the fastest tyre we’ve ever created. Designed in collaboration with the Intermarché-Wanty World Tour team, the Blackbird Race delivers unmatched performance for pros and ambitious riders alike. Dominate every race, every ride.”
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
From Hutchinson:
Use: Race
Tyre size: 700×30
Tubeless ready/hookless
Beads: Folding
Reinforcement: Polyamide
Compound: Mach Tread Ultimate
Colour: Black
TPI: 127
Well made.
Great ride feel and grip well in the wet and dry.
Looking good so far.
One of the lightest tyres in its class.
Smooth rolling and comfortable on a range of different surfaces.
Not cheap but pretty good value in their class.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
A great race tyre that’s fast, grippy and durable. The low weight doesn’t mean it needs to be reserved for time trials.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
The ride feel – fast and grippy.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Nothing.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
They are £15 cheaper than the Continental Grand Prix 5000S TR, which now costs £84.99, and also cheaper than Pirelli’s P-Zero Race TLR tyre, which costs £75.
Goodyear’s Eagle F1 R tubeless tyre is £5 less than the Hutchinson Race at £65.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
An excellent race tyre that rides and grips well in both wet and dry conditions, and is one of the lightest tyres in its class, as well as one of the ‘cheaper’ ones.
About the tester
Age: 25 Height: 175 Weight: 64
I usually ride: specialised tarmac sl6 My best bike is:
I’ve been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, commuting, club rides, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,
3 thoughts on “Hutchinson Blackbird Race Tyre”
I just fitted a set of the
I just fitted a set of the Blackbird Road (tubed version) this weekend and have to say I’m really impressed, I had to check the pressures a couple of times as they feel really supple, they rode really nicely on a 3 hour ride yesterday morning, so if these are “better” then I’d be tempted to give them a go as a best days tyre.
Been using these for a year
Been using these for a year or so, and they’re my go to tyre now. If you do a side by side comparison with a P-Zero Race TLR on BRR, they’re more or less equal across most metrics- apart from cost- I’ve seen these selling for less than £50/tyre on multiple occasions since I bought them (for less than £50/tyre). Never seen Pirellis that cheap.
Ignore all that, I have the
Ignore all that, I have the Blackbird, not the Blackbird race. I wholeheartedly recommend the Blackbird though.