The 35mm Hutchinson Challenger TR Tyre follows on from the excellent performance of Hutchinson’s 28mm Challenger TLR rubber. It’s an endurance-focused road tyre that takes the Challenger’s core attributes of ‘longevity and outstanding puncture protection’ and ups the comfort and versatility, so that it lives up to the ‘all-road’ claim made by Hutchinson.
The first difference is immediately apparent: the size. My rims have an internal width of 22mm, and our 35mm test tyre measures up at a voluminous 36.5mm. The increase in size over a 28mm tyre is significant, resulting in a super-wide appearance that delivers undeniable comfort and plushness.
While fitting such a high-volume tyre to a wide rim naturally creates a slight mushrooming effect, this is pretty minor and I didn’t detect any negative effect in the bike’s handling. You do have to double-check frame clearance first, ensuring that your setup allows not just space for the tyre, but to allow ‘for some extra room for road debris’ .
I found fitting them a breeze. I chucked some sealant in and pumped them straight up, no faffing with an air compressor – nice and easy.
They’re compatible with hookless rims, though as always, look into your wheel manufacturer’s figures to ensure you don’t over-inflate them.
Even set up on hooked rims, Hutchinson says not to inflate them over 72psi. I ran mine around the 50psi mark, and I’d recommend using something like the Silca Tyre Pressure Calculator to get the right pressure.
The main benefit of the increased volume is the ride quality. Where the 28mm width was fast and reasonably comfy, the 35mm tyre is significantly more plush and comfortable. This extra volume allows you to run the tyres at a lower pressure, effectively isolating you from road chatter and impacts.
Without access to a machine for testing rolling resistance (those road.cc bean counters again…) I can’t give an objective measurement, but my testing experience suggests they roll better than older-style winter tyres, though they don’t compare to a thinner, lighter road tyre without the all-road ambitions.
I think those characteristics make the 35mm Challenger an excellent winter tyre. The greater grip that the combination of high volume and new rubber compound delivers really inspires confidence, especially in the slippery conditions you can experience in winter. The result is a tyre that strikes a brilliant balance of comfort, grip and security.
Like its narrower sibling, the 35mm Challenger is designed for ultimate durability, which Hutchinson achieves using two trademarked core technologies: Hardshield and Airshield.
The first consists of puncture-protection layers designed to deliver the resilience that contributes to a claimed lifespan of 10,000km, which is an amazing figure. This sort of longevity should provide significant peace of mind if you’re an ultra-endurance rider – or even a commuter tired of winter flats.
Airshield is a flexible butyl layer that fully lines the tyre’s casing, which allows the tyre to be run effectively without sealant, which eliminates the common tubeless issue of air loss. This gives you the option of using sealant for maximum puncture resistance, or running them dry for a mess-free setup
The carcass has a 3x127tpi (threads per inch) construction that’s matched with a new Hutchinson ‘Endurance Bi-Compound’ with softer shoulders and a harder central tread. The shoulders have a 53 ShA durometer rating, with the centre measuring 62 ShA (ShA stands for ‘Shore A’, which is a scale used to measure the hardness of different rubbers). In practice this means that the centre strip reduces rolling resistance, with the softer edges giving you greater grip when cornering.
The main downside as a result of all these features is weight: they come in at a pretty hefty 508g each. While they are of course heavier than narrower tyres, I do feel this is a fair trade-off for the protection and durability they offer.
Hutchinson says that this width crosses into ‘all-road’ territory. The generous volume and robust construction mean you can confidently take the tyre over light gravel routes or on poorly maintained roads, adding a layer of versatility that the narrower models simply can’t match.
Value
At just under £55 per tyre, they aren’t cheap. But they cost a lot less than something like the Continental GP5000 All-Seasons tyre that Stu loved, which is £90 a go. As with the Hutchinson it’s also available in a 35mm width.
I was pretty impressed by the Goodyear Vector Sports when I tested it but the widest option is just 32mm.
The Pirelli Cinturato Evo TLR is presently available in widths up to 40mm, though Pirelli did originally announce there would also be a 55mm model. They’re more expensive at £75 per tyre, but Jez rated them as a contender for all-round riding.
The Michelin Lithion 4 Performance Line tyre costs just £29.99 each but while Stu was impressed, it’s a clincher-only option with 32mm the widest it goes to.
Our best road bike tyres buyer’s guide and best winter road bike tyres buyer’s guide offer more options.
Conclusion
The 35mm Hutchinson Challenger TR Tyre is a serious contender if you’re looking for fit-and-forget rubber that prioritises durability, comfort and security over low weight. If your frame has the necessary clearance I’d recommend it for the the step-up in plushness and confidence over the 28mm model – all while retaining the puncture resistance and the claimed 10,000km lifespan the Challenger range is known for. It’s ideal for winter training and ultra-endurance cycling – or for simply making poor road surfaces disappear.
Verdict
Excellent hard-wearing tyre that’s comfy, grippy and extremely puncture-resistant
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Hutchinson Challenger TR tyre
Size tested: 700×35
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 new endurance tire from Hutchinson. Complete peace of mind, all year round. A tire with no compromises, delivering exceptional performance in terms of longevity, comfort and safety. Created after extensive research and development from Hutchinson, the Challenger has been designed as a ‘do-it-all’ tire capable of the demands of everyday training, Gran Fondo riding and ultra-endurance adventures.”
I found them tough, grippy and comfortable, so I think it hits Hutchinson’s ‘do-it-all’ ambitions well.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
The Tubeless Ready version of the Challenger
Hookless-compatible from 28
The tyre of the iconic Transcontinental Race
The toughest road tyre on the market thanks to its double tread reinforcement
Preventive fluid only protects the tyre in the event of damage
A dual compound for good grip and a 10,000km lifespan
Colour: Black
Tubeless Ready (TR), fits tubeless rims with no inner tube and also standard rims with inner tube
Bead: Folding
HardShield (HSH), textile grid reinforcement
Bi-compound
Weight: 505g approx.
These are really well made.
I’ve been very impressed – I found them comfy, grippy and long lasting – what’s not to love?
Their width, the proven durability of the narrower Hutchinson tyres and the tech these use mean they’re going to be incredibly difficult to challenge (sorry for the the pun…).
They’re weighty, with a set tipping the scales just north of a kilo, so you’ll have to bear this in mind.
They’re wide and plush, so you can run them at a low pressure and just enjoy a great ride.
At over £100 for the pair, they’re not a budget option, but that’s in line with a lot of other tyres, and it’s a good deal less than you’ll spend on a top-end tyre such as the Continentals mentioned in the review. So I think considering the quality that puts the value above average.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Very well, these are a really good set of winter/all-round tyres.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
I love the comfort and plushness, along with the added grip that the extra width gives you.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
I’d rather they had an RRP under £100 a pair. That said, if you shop around you will be able to find them at under a ton.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
They’re a chunk cheaper than the Pirelli Centurato EVO TLR and the Continental GP5000 AS TR, but more expensive than something like the Michelin Lithion 4 Performance tyre.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes – absolutely.
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes – ff their bikes have clearance.
Use this box to explain your overall score
Excellent winter/all-round tyre, which is very unlikely to leave you stranded, and I found it performed remarkably during all sorts of conditions.
About the tester
Age: 25 Height: 174 Weight: 78
I usually ride: Storck Aerfast My best bike is:
I’ve been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, commuting, touring, club rides, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,
1 thought on “Hutchinson Challenger TR tyre”
“something like the
“something like the Continental GP5000 All-Seasons tyre that Stu loved, which is £90”
I just purchased a 28mm 700c astr and paid £62.