Product news: Shortly before the Eurobike, Schwalbe makes people sit up and take notice with three new tubeless racing tyres. Velomotion has already been able to drive it - here is all the important information about the new model range.
With the Pro One, Schwalbe was one of the pioneers of the "Road Tubeless" trend years ago. The current model is still convincing with a very low rolling resistance with high puncture protection and crisp cornering grip, but a revision was only a matter of time - the competition has finally caught up. The tire specialists are now presenting a completely redesigned range: three tubeless models will be available from September, which will do justice to every purpose, from time trials to mileage.
Three models for competition, training and everything in between
Let's start with the flagship Pro One, but behind the well-known name there is a completely new structure: With the "turn-up" carcass construction, there are no longer any overlapping layers of fabric under the tread. The sidewall is still three-layer; under the tread there are two layers of fabric plus a V-Guard puncture protection strip, which is 14 mm across the entire width. In addition to the significantly lower weight (the 25er now weighs only 245 grams), this structure is intended to ensure more suppleness - just "Souplesse". Together with the new rubber mixture "Addix Race Multi Compound" there is also a lower rolling resistance, which is said to be 13% below that of the well-known Pro One; According to Schwalbe, cornering grip has been increased by a full 22%. The sealing lip on the tire bead promises easier installation: It prevents air from escaping, so that the new tire can also be filled with a conventional floor pump – maybe even with a frame pump.
As a competition tire for triathlon and time trials, Schwalbe has added the Pro One TT model to the Pro One. This does not have a puncture protection layer, which makes it lighter and faster: Compared to the new Pro One, its rolling resistance is said to be 21% lower; Top triathlete Patrick Lange drove a prototype to victory at the Ironman Hawaii 2018. This tire is of course also used with sealing milk and therefore still has a high level of safety; Of course, it is not designed as an all-rounder for collecting kilometers due to the reduced construction - that's what the number three in the range is for, the Schwalbe One Tubeless Easy. This is the previous Pro One, supplemented by a new puncture protection and now with Addix rubber compound. The tried-and-tested tire, which has been proven to have low rolling resistance, is becoming interesting again for two reasons: Firstly, it is now also available with a beautiful "Classic Skin" sidewall, secondly, it has been significantly reduced in price and now only costs 54,90 euros. The new Pro One comes on the market at the old price of 69,90 euros and initially only in black; the Pro One TT costs the same and is only available with a yellow sidewall.
First driving impressions of the new Schwalbe Pro One TT
Velomotion has already been able to drive TT and Pro One for several hours and get an idea of the character of the two tires. The verdict is consistently positive: Both models are extremely smooth to drive, although a difference can only be felt in a direct comparison; on dry roads, cornering grip is enormous, even when leaning heavily. Where there are many foreign objects lurking on the asphalt, the TT is at a disadvantage: A prototype has already been punctured by a glass splinter, but could be driven on with reduced pressure and permanently repaired with a tubeless patch from Rema TipTop.
Watch out for the tire widths: New standard rims
The Pro One and One are available in 25, 28 and 30 mm widths, the TT only in 25 and 28 mm, whereby the following should be noted: While the tire widths have always been specified using a 17C rim (internal width 17 mm), the standard rim is now 19 mm wide on the inside. As a result, the new tires on older rims can be narrower than, for example, the well-known Pro One with the same nominal width. (This is exactly what we noticed with the Conti GP 5000 Tubeless, which measured exactly 25 mm as a 18 on a DT rim with an inner width of 25,4 mm.) If you value a lot of tire volume, Schwalbe’s new models should tend to be wider.
As soon as samples are available, Velomotion will deliver an extensive practical test; Until then, one thing can be said for sure: the new tubeless tires from Schwalbe are more than just a facelift, they catapult the manufacturer back to the top of the "Road Tubeless" segment. Oh, and by the way: Pro One and One are also available as "Tube Type" folding tires, so that drivers who prefer to ride with tubes in the classic way can also get a chance.