Tyres – pedalnorth

Pirelli PZero TLR 26

Pedalnorth Website — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 11:44:39 +0000

Pirelli PZero TLR 26

by Robert Thorpe

PIRELLI PZERO RACE TLR 26 TYRE

It’s been cold and damp here in North Yorkshire recently. The leaves are lying on the ground and adding to the autumnal road dangers. Good tyres are critical are this time of the year, as they can compensate just a little for a lack of handling ability, which I’m modest enough to admit to having. Pirelli are a brand that are used to creating tyres for bad weather. Just look at their Formula 1 credentials, or indeed their return to world cycling in recent years. Yes, these Pirelli PZero TLR 26 road tyres are definitely confidence giving and allow me to relax just that little bit more, as I enjoy the colours of autumn in the national park.

I chose a particularly testing ride for my cousin and I last weekend. It traversed the hills on narrow and winding lanes, filled with grit and soil and dirt, and wet from the rain that hadn’t yet dried due to the damp air. Our bikes looked like Cyclo-cross bikes as we climbed and descended back down to the valley. By the time we finished, we looked like a couple of Flanders riders, all splattered with the spoils of our ride. Thankfully though, the tyres had done their job and along the way I achieved a climbing success and a long and drawn out fast section, that swooped and swerved before descending the twisting road into Middleham. Ultimately, this is what we want tyres to achieve for us and these new Pirelli’s had done their job. Time to take a look at the tyre that allows you ride so well in autumn then.

Like the TLR Race in 28mm we tested a few weeks ago, this 26 iteration is likewise designed in accordance with the latest ETRTO standards and the tyre is compatible with hookless rims, as seen on many of the latest road tubeless wheels.

It’s created by Pirelli using their latest SmartEVO rubber compound on these tyres and a new 120 threads per inch (TPI) TechWall+ casing, with a lightweight puncture protection belt sandwiched between the casing and the rubber. It’s a very firm tyre on the wheel, retaining shape when fitted and they’re a very stable tyre in use, with no adverse movement. In terms of comfort in relation to the 28mm, I didn’t really notice that much of a difference. However, it’s certainly a faster and more power efficient tyre on the roads, rewarding yourself efforts on the climbs and the descents. How does it compare to the PZero TLR SR, race ready model; it’s definitely more grippy and gives a whole level of confidence when cornering on the messy country roads.

Road debris and field hedge cuttings have been all over the roads in recent weeks, as the farmers prepare for winter. However, these Pirelli tyres have simply ridden on through the lanes, with the tough casing, puncture protection belt and compound proving their worth. Weight wise, it’s also a reasonable tyre and has an excellent balance between its performance and durability. It’s proved itself to be the ideal general usage tyre for all conditions, with exceptional performance and grip in the wet.

This is the 3rd tyre in the PZero test range for us this autumn, and each one seems to get better, having started with the 28mm TLR. The read pattern is tried and tested and the compound is super sticky, yet rolls surprisingly well when you need it to. I was delighted with the Pirelli TLR SR 26mm Race tyre, especially with it being a tyre for speed. However, this general training tyre is a real road gripping genie, having a well defined tread pattern and being better able to throw the water away from you as it meets the tarmac. In terms of an all round tyre for the average and the experienced road cyclist, what more do you need. Price wise too, it’s within reach of most people and will pay you back in dividends through safety on the roads. Pirelli know their stuff on tyres and the PZero Race TLR in 26mm could easily become a classic.

Pirelli PZero Race TLR SL 26

Pedalnorth Website — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 18:49:09 +0000

Pirelli PZero TLR SL Race 26mm Tyre

Reviewed by Robert Thorpe

There can be something worrying about any tyre with ‘race’ within its name, as you instinctively know that it’s designed for speed. Ultimately we love speed, yes… but we like to balance it with safety, especially on the damp autumn roads in the national park, where lose grit and muddy tarmac can make descents interesting.

Add to this, the SL badge which Pirelli give to their lighter high performance race tyre and the interest rises even more. Thankfully though, these Pirelli PZero TLR SL tubeless ready tyres have proved themselves to be impeccable at handling, as well as being a superb rolling tyre, meaning that I really have had some sublime rides on this particular example of 26mm road rubber. So much so that it’s going to be difficult for me to replace them, as I move further into the Pirelli range on our tests. For such high praise, Pirelli have obviously worked very hard, using their vast experience gained from supporting UCI tour teams, developing a truly fine road cycling tyre that we believe all riders can benefit from.

In action it rides super smoothly, despite the thinner tread thickness given to the SL, and it quietly grips where required, then rolling when the power goes down and speed is called upon. It’s a confidence building tyre that Pirelli have clearly designed to achieve all these things, but so often brands fail in their pursuit. Pirelli though have a long and varied history in tyre technology and have brought it all to bare in the latest PZero range. For me, this 26mm tyre example sits in the perfect place, with comfort, performance and grip all gaining high marks on our test.

Let’s take a closer look: firstly, the SL designation given to the Zero Race TLR SL is to signify a lighter version of the new P Zero Race TLR tubeless tyre. Whilst using the same SmartEVO rubber compound and the new 120 TPI TechWall+ casing, it’s a technological tyre designed for speed and for racing. Weight wise it comes in at 246g, which is more than acceptable. Pirelli also provide suggested pressure guides, and we ran these generally at 90psi, giving a balance between speed and grip on the wet roads. Handling was firm, precise and confident, allowing the rider to simply concentrate on their own performance, which is what we all want from a tyre, isn’t it. The 26mm size tyre seems ideal, giving that necessary comfort and being a good size for speed. Bigger tyre sizes seem the norm now and the 25/ 26 range is the current favourite with riders. This race ready rubber from Pirelli should fit in perfectly, performing as well as it has dine during our test rides on the harsh and unrelenting roads of the Yorkshire Dales.

The puncture protection belt is gone to save this weight and to help to increase the rolling resistance, but Pirelli still claim that puncture protection is adequate. All that I know is that I’ve been deliberately riding these tyres on typical country roads here in the Yorkshire Dales, with numerous farmers cutting back hedges and leaving the sharp and tyre hunting debris all over the tarmac and yet I’ve not suffered any punctures. In my book, that’s a realistic and significant test and an honest result. Pirelli say that this is due to the tubeless casing and sealant providing a certain amount of this protection, especially compared to equivalent lightweight clinchers or tubular tyres. All I can say is that they would seem to be correct and it’s a good tyre for autumn country roads where the surface might be slightly damp or scattered with elements of field debris on the surface. Yes, be it a training ride or a race, this tyre will give you an element of gain and as proof, even my own limited Strava times benefited from the new Pirelli Race compound and their technologically developed tread pattern.

Ultimately we all like to ride fast in a bike, but we like to be safe. Testing the Pirelli PZero TLR SL 26mm tyre has been a real pleasure and quite a surprise. It’s a positive tyre that provides good comfort on harsh roads and its a fast performer whilst still holding the road when you throw the bike into that lose corner. It also seems to be reasonably hard wearing and is easy to fit onto the wheel, remaining stable and firm. The 26mm is in my opinion a great choice for all around riding and this tyre will bring lots of smiles to your road cycling miles. It’s not the cheapest of tyres, but you have to pay for performance, and this tyre from Pirelli certainly does that.

Schwalbe Pro One TT Tan Wall Tyre

Pedalnorth Website — Fri, 24 Jun 2022 14:14:35 +0000

Schwalbe Pro One TT Tan Wall Tyre

by Robert Thorpe & Ben Thorpe

Schwalbe Pro One TT tan wall 25mm

When the schwalbe pro one TT tan wall 25mm arrived here for a test, it was obvious that we needed to hand it onto a speed freak – thankfully Ben fits the bill, having a love of fixed gear urban riding and lo-pro bikes. This tyre however would be going onto his Giant TCR.

Fitting this high performance tubeless tyre was reasonably easy. What riders often don’t think about though, is the seating width requirement on narrow wheels. They made be made for speed, but they first need to be well seated. Thankfully, they were quite easy to fit, and due to the regular changes coming up for tyre tests, we fitted them with a good old fashioned tube, and it was simplicity itself. It’s a folding tyre and it went onto the rim easily and had stayed firmly there.

The tyre is quite narrow for a 25mm and this, together with its firmness and shape retention under load and speed, means that it’s fast rolling. That’s what Schwalbe intended thankfully, because it’s a high end race tyre, using their technical knowledge built up from their work with the leading world tour teams. In developing this tyre, Schwalbe wanted a tyre that created ‘souplesse’ – which to you and I means a tyre that rolls easy (it does), has excellent grip (it does, even on the Dales rutted roads), and it’s a strong performance tyre that won’t easily puncture (touch wood, none so far). To achieve this, the compound is new and gives more strength to the tyre, especially on the side walls, which retains shape and gives that increased grip that we all love – especially on loose corners.

For the weight watchers among you, Schwalbe say that the tyre is a light 205g. We found them slightly heavier, but not unduly so, and they sit well, feel good and performance is overall quite good, so hey, what’s a little weight discrepancy. What you get on the road is definitely a fast and safe tyre, that likes the road and wants to hug it as you belt out bursts of speed. Just ask Ben

Oh, and yes… we love the tan wall finish, which in our book is what most tyres ought to look like. Old school rules here, so thanks Schwalbe.

Schwalbe One tubeless tyre 30c

Pedalnorth Website — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 18:40:05 +0000

Schwalbe One tubeless tyre 30c

by Steve Smales

Schwalbe One tubeless tyre 30c

Over my time in cycling, various brands have been omnipresent. Campagnolo was the way to go for many years…. then Shimano seemed to take the baton. Tyre brands seem to very much have their moment, slip into the shadows, then re-emerge. Wolber, Clément, Michelin, Continental and Vittoria have all had their purple patch…. probably driven by sponsorship of world class professional teams – but we should always remember not to assume brand presence in professional cycling necessarily means these are the best products.

Schwalbe seem to sit in a select group of really sound tyre brands with consistently good products. Hutchinson and Panaracer occupy this space also. Well developed products that perform well.

My last experience of Schwalbe tyres was in around 2013 when the Ultremo ZX was a well liked option and recognised as being one of the fastest tyres around. This was at a point in time where the tubeless road thing hadn’t really happened yet. The fatter is faster thing was only just beginning to happen. Over the space of a year or two, I’d run 23’s, then 25’s and finally 28c widths of the ZX tyre with good success.

So why did I move to other brands? Because ten years ago, Schwalbes wider tyres had a very tall profile for the rim braked bikes of that time. Clearance was an issue that forced me onto rounder profile tyres, such as the much missed Vittoria Pave 27.

Wind the calendar forward to 2022 and here I am trying the 30c variant of the Schwalbe One tubeless on a pair of thoroughly modern 19mm internal width disc brakes wheels.

After a flawless mounting without the need for tyre levers these seated and inflated first time and without the initial need for sealant or profanity. 60ml of Stans sealant was then added. After an initial test ride to get the sealant distributed, I reduced the pressure to 70psi as a starting point and headed out onto the road.

After a careful first few minutes, I rapidly found these to be be a fast rolling, supple, tubeless tyre. Without doubt on a par with other offerings from Michelin, Continental and Vittoria. A particularly nice feature of these is the profile, which on the Syncros wheels gives a nice round profile. I appreciate that weird things happen to a tyre contact patch when a bike is leant over… but a nice round profile is good for all important confidence when leant over and committed. The sidewalls have just enough rubber coverage to protect the construction of the tyre, without degrading the suppleness of ride or giving that horrible dragging sensation that some armoured tyres give.

Conclusion

After around seven hundred and fifty miles of use, I’d normally start to see evidence of the rear tyre starting to develop a flat central section to the tread, but this doesn’t seem to be the case, hence early indications for longevity are good. The tyre rolls well as I’ve said and performs well too, retaining shape when required. In terms of a general tyre for training and leisure, that’s all that we want.

Pirelli Scorpion XC M 2.2 Mountain Bike Tyre

Pedalnorth Website — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 18:36:55 +0000

Pirelli Scorpion XC M 2.2 Mountain Bike Tyre

by Robert Thorpe

The Italian Wild Child Tyre for Racing

We previously tested the Pirelli Scorpion 2.4 MTB Mixed tyre, setting things up on our Yeti SB115 trail bike. Swapping things over the Pirelli Scorpion XC Mixed, in general terms, I suppose it’s just a slightly narrower tyre – but it’s not. It’s a whole new riding experience, providing a faster and livelier ride, with the same reliability of grip and performance. Yes, I know that many riders set things up with a 2.4 at the rear and 2.2 at the front – and we might try that next- but this test was all about the Scorpion XC M 2.2 and how lively and fun a ride it provides – and boy is this an exciting tyre. The Scorpion XC M is the best choice for XC and Marathon courses where terrain can vary but speed is still the key factor.

The tread pattern of the Scorpion XC M is optimised to compliment the properties of the rubber compound to offer uncompromising performance in variable conditions over differing terrain. The additional “bridges” help support the knobs and improve mud shedding in wet conditions.

As we’ve said previously, we have a wealth of mixed terrain in the Yorkshire Dales and North Yorks Moors, so these Pirelli Mixed options are ideal. From fast dusty tracks that weave around the hills, to the rocky technical trails and the loose and gravel strewn bridleways, you need tyres that can perform in a variety of locations, and this tyre certainly does. It’s a tough beast of a tyre that simply wants to go mountain biking.

The Yeti is an ideal bike for the trails here in the U.K. and yet it comes fitted with a 2.5/ 2.3 mixed setup which we found slightly unwieldy. We wanted to bring a bit more adventure to the ride, to speed things up a bit – hence the 2.2mm from Pirelli, which is certainly lively and yet controlled too. The tubeless setup was easy to fit to the wheel and the tyre looks and feels robust after some great riding here in the Dales. We’ve ridden it at several pressure options, depending on the riding conditions, and the tread pattern and knobs dig into things with ease and keep you upright. The tread pattern on the Scorpion Mixed is simply designed using the knowledge gained from working with the top riders, consisting of knobs with average height and spacing to guarantee excellent performance on a wide range of terrains. It allows speed and grip in equal measure – and this tyre is made for speed.

Pirelli SmartGRIP

Pirelli say that ‘the use of the special SmartGRIP Compound guarantees an elevated adaptability and at the same time resistance to tearing, offering elevated grip in all weather conditions, be they dry or wet: the best ally for your performance off-road.’ What that means in practice is that the tyre stays super firm when you need it to, with the knobs biting into the surface, and remaining strong, even when ridden at speed over the numerous natural rock gardens of Nidderdale and Wharfdale. It’s very much a confidence giving tyre, allowing you the freedom to open up, knowing that the tyre will do it’s best to stay firmly on the trail. The whole bike feels different with the Scorpion XC M 2.2mm and it wants to climb, wants to descend and wants to have fun, as it dances you around on the loose terrain and yet still gives the necessary grip that your handling requires. It’s a grin inducing tyre that the 2.4mm and other even wider options take away. Mountain biking is all about adrenaline and grin inducing trails, and the Pirelli Scorpion 2.2mm is definitely a tyre for racing around on.

Now for some tech data I guess…

Protection

• 2.2: rip-resistant rubber compound with 120 tpi reinforcement of the sides to offer greater protection against puncturing and cutting without sacrificing performance
• 2.4: rip-resistant rubber compound, casing of robust 60 tpi nylon and additional 120 tpi reinforcement of the sides for greater protection against puncturing and cutting without sacrificing performance

Handling & Grip

Riding in spring can be tricky, with the trails either being perfectly dry or wet and muddy. The weather here in the U.K. is unreliable, meaning that the tyre needs to compensate for this. The rapid changes to conditions obviously affect grip at varying levels depending on the surface, but the Scorpion XC M simply eats things up, and you can literally hear it digging in and gripping the ground.

Pirelli take grip seriously, as you’d expect. It’s why their tyres may cost more, but why they’re well worth it. Innovation isn’t cheap, and neither should your safety be taken lightly:

• Grip: the SmartGRIP rubber compound guarantees elevated grip on wet surfaces; weather is no longer an issue, no sacrificing grip for dry or wet conditions – and from our perspective it’s not just marketing, it actually works and will benefit the casual rider who wants a tyre that exudes confidence.
• Handling: the shape of the tyre has been optimised for modern rims made of aluminium or carbon with a wide internal groove. During our tests, it’s remained firm and stable on the bike in all conditions. The narrower width did give a livelier ride, but when required, the grip and handling was superb and even allows for you to get of trouble on the unexpected loose stuff.

Ride Performance

As I mentioned earlier, the Yeti SB115 becomes a different riding beast with this 2.2mm tyre fitted. It’s a bike that still loves the trails and all day fun, but it also becomes a restless beast that wants to go fast and have some fun. The whole bike looks and rides differently and yes, in my view, rides better, taking you back to the time when tyres weren’t so chunky.

Damping

• 2.2: 120 tpi TUBELESS READY casing designed to dampen vibrations and make low pressure riding more stable with a wider footprint on the ground
• 2.4: robust 60 tpi TUBELESS READY Nylon casing, designed to dampen shocks and vibrations and make low pressure riding more stable with a wider footprint on the ground.

Yes, these tyres have been designed and developed around some of the world’s best riders, like Vlad Dascalu from the Trek team, so you’d expect them to perform well in their hands. However, it’s when ridden in the hands of the ordinary everyday mountain biker that the true test comes. The trails here in Yorkshire don’t take prisoners and can be unforgiving, but we still want to have fun and we want to go fast uphill and downhill too.

Summary

Product details

Versatile tread pattern ideal for varied terrain and surfaces
The SmartGRIP compound provides high grip performance in wet and dry conditions, even as the tread wears
The ProWALL sidewall reinforcement increases puncture protection and improves handling at low pressures
An additional layer of nylon fabric applied to the casing sidewalls improves protection and cornering stability
Additional ‘bridges’ help support knobs and improve mud-shedding ability
A tubeless-ready design for enhanced puncture protection and lower riding pressures

The Pirelli Scorpion MTB M 2.4mm was a great all-rounder to test, but the XC M 2.2mm is its crazy younger brother, who can’t sit still. It’s about as a good and as fun an all-round cross country tyre that you’ll find – perfect for racing and having fun on. In terms of speed, it’s a tyre on fire and despite its width, it still gives you that confidence boost on the trails that produce the widest grins. If you want your mountain biking to be more fun and yet still give you the necessary reassurance, then go fit a set of Pirelli Scorpion XC 2.2mm Mixed to your own bike – you won’t regret it.

Clothing by Rosti (Italy) & Inspire-Repeat Socks

Shoes by Lake Cycling & RXM Custom

Water Bottle by Elite (Italy) Ice Fly

Visit Pirelli Website

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Pirelli PZero Velo 4S

Pedalnorth Website — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 11:50:13 +0000

Piirelli PZero Velo 4S Road Tyre

by Robert Thorpe, Executive Editor

Pirelli Road Tyres
Super grip for all weathers

Pirelli PZero Velo 4S – All Around Performance

If you’re after a tyre for colder and wetter conditions, then the Pirelli PZero Velo 4S is probably an ideal choice. We’ve been using it in the harsh conditions of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and it’s proved itself to be a fast rolling, grippy and hard wearing tyre for all conditions. Even when the farmers have been out clipping the hedges, leaving debris all over the roads, the puncture resistance has been superb, leaving us free to simply enjoy the ride. So, what do Pirelli say about this all round performer, and how does that stack up with our own findings. We tested the tyre in a 25 tubeless ready clincher.

Tyre Technology

The compound from Pirelli uses their SmartNET Silica, which gives that necessary rolling efficiency and the great wet weather grip. Performance has been more than adequate, on roads that have been wet, gritty and loose, and covered with farmland debris. The tread pattern design has been developed with FGD and ICS technologies specifically to provide great handling and water drainage, even in harsh weather conditions, and it does actually work. It really is noticeable when riding on wet roads, how the tyre displaces the rainwater. It’s a very confidence giving tyre, allowing you the freedom to relax a little and to enjoy the ride. It is actually a reasonably fast tyre too, but for me, it’s the grip that really stands out, and which is so noticeable on the twisting country lanes here in Yorkshire.

Hardwearing Performance

One aspect of our tyre testing here is to deliberately choose areas where farmers are cutting hedges, leaving sharp debris on the roads. Thankfully, the PZero Velo 4S is designed with these conditions in mind, and has an overall increased SmartNET Silica tread pattern thickness, in addition to an aramid firer puncture-resistant belt. These technical sounding aspects from Pirelli simply mean that the PZero Velo 4S will give you extensive mileage and reliability in bad weather and cold temperatures, which is exactly what we’ve found.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a good value tyre for all around riding, that will look after you in the cold and wet and still allow you to perform, then the Pirelli PZero Velo 4S could be the ideal choice for you. It goes on easily and doesn’t require that annoying wrestle that many tough tyres ask of you when fitting. Many modern riders choose a wider tyre for their bikes, opting for 28 widths frequently. However, testing this PZero Velo 4S in my own favourite 25mm iteration, it is in my view the ideal width for giving you a great balance of grip and performance. On the roads, it copes well with wet, mud and grit, whilst also giving you good rolling resistance and speed. And,it’s a hardwearing tyre too, giving you lots of fun miles for the money, and that’s always a winner with the average cyclist.

Pirelli Scorpion MTB Mixed Tyres

Pedalnorth Website — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 19:49:00 +0000

PIRELLI SCORPION MTB MIXED – 29 X 2.4 TYRE

by Robert Thorpe, Executive Editor

SCORPION MTB MIXED
A Pirelli Tyre That Bites…

Mixed is Fixed With This Tyre

Mixed terrain – welcome to the Yorkshire Dales National Park. There’s a wealth of trail options here in the hills of the north of England, from crunching gravel to sloppy peat single track and slippery roots. The trails are tough and technical and can change in an instant if the weather is feeling temperamental, meaning that tyre choice is vital. Thankfully, these Pirelli Scorpion MTB Mixed Terrain Tyres are just what’s required. Tested and developed alongside the world’s top teams, they’re made for days on the trail when you can expect the unexpected.

Taking a close look at the tyre, we used the 29 x 2.4 mm on a Yeti SB115 to give it a real life review, based on the most common trail types here in the U.K. and an absolute belter of bike. Setting it up tubeless was easy peasy and the tyre has given us no concern during our tests. We’ve used a variety of tyre pressures, based on the variable conditions and it’s a tyre that simply soaks up the trails and keeps you moving forward. It’s a useful point for all trail riders to check pressures for conditions. Trust us; it’ll make the world of difference to your riding. The tread pattern on the Scorpion Mixed is simply designed using the knowledge gained from working with the top riders, consisting of knobs with average height and spacing to guarantee excellent performance on a wide range of terrains. It allows speed and grip in equal measure.

Pirelli SmartGRIP

Now for some tech data I guess…

Protection

Handling & Grip

Riding in autumn and winter on mixed terrain can be tricky. The rapid changes to conditions obviously affect grip at varying levels depending on the surface, but the Scorpion MTB Mixed simply eats things up, and you can literally hear it digging in and gripping the ground. Pirelli take grip seriously, as you’d expect. It’s why their tyres may cost more, but why they’re well worth it. Innovation isn’t cheap, and neither should your safety be taken lightly:

• Grip: the SmartGRIP rubber compound guarantees elevated grip on wet surfaces; weather is no longer an issue, no sacrificing grip for dry or wet conditions – and from our perspective it’s not just marketing, it actually works and will benefit the casual rider who wants a tyre that exudes confidence.
• Handling: the shape of the tyre has been optimised for modern rims made of aluminium or carbon with a wide internal groove. During our tests, it’s remained firm and stable on the bike in all conditions.

Ride Performance

In terms of smoothness of ride, as mentioned earlier, we tested these Scorpions on a Yeti SB115, which is superbly engineered to take out the rigours of the tough test trails. However, we’ve used this ultimate trail bike when fitted with other brands, and it’s been far more skittish and bouncy than the dampening on the Scorpions. The 29 x 2.4mm helps, and it doesn’t feel like a huge tyre due to the optimised shaping mentioned earlier.
Damping

Yes, these tyres have been designed and developed around some of the world’s best riders, so you’d expect them to perform well in their hands. However, it’s when ridden in the hands of the ordinary everyday mountain biker that the true test comes. The trails here in Yorkshire don’t take prisoners and can be unforgiving, and throughout our testing period, the Pirelli Scorpion MTB Mixed has lived up to its name. It’s about as a good an all-rounder than you’ll find. In terms of speed, it’s a fast tyre too, as it allows you the confidence to open up. On climbs it simply chews the trail up and transfers your effort into upward motion, surpassing our expectations and becoming a trusted friend on the wide variety of mixed terrain on offer. Is it worth the investment – most definitely.

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Schwalbe Pro One 25mm Tubeless Tyre

Pedalnorth Website — Sun, 07 Nov 2021 16:31:03 +0000

Schwalbe Pro One 25mm Road Tyre

by Chris Galley

Tyre Testing Time

Most of the summer I’ve been getting to know the Schwalbe Pro One Tyre, using it in both the 28mm and 25mm guise. Riding around the Yorkshire Dales with all the beautiful nuances of our country lanes requires the right tyre choice, and the right inner tube unless you’re already riding tubeless of course. It’s tough going in places, with steep inclines strewn with debris and rough surfaces chewed up by years of traffic, and some large uneven pot holes, often filled with water. Add to this, those horrible pieces of crumbling tarmac leading you into a muddy grass verge and inevitably a wet derriere – you’ve got the picture. It’s an ideal testing ground for tyres.

Don’t get me wrong it’s hard going, but that’s why we love it and why Yorkshire provides the world with some of the finest cycling athletes. It’s hard cycling but it’s even harder on those tyres, so how have these Schwalbe Pro One tyres stood up to life in the Yorkshire Dales – especially in the 25 size, which is mid size these days. Thankfully, the Schwalbe Pro One Tyre ones with an enviable reputation already, meaning that testing here wasn’t too much of a shot in the dark.

On The Road

Testing tyres is a dangerous game at Pedalnorth. We push them to the point of breaking so you don’t have to. Yes, we purposefully hit potholes, often playing chicken with grass verges, bunny hopping over kerbs, riding through that patch of freshly cut hawthorne and throwing the wheels around when getting ready for rides and media shoots. It’s all in the name of considering how well these tyres really stack up against the marketing spin that cycle companies shout about.

Anyway, time for the detail, now that you know the test conditions. Firstly the latest Schwalbe Pro One 25mm tyre is without doubt strong, light and agile. I have to say right off the bat that I’ve suffered not a single puncture and these tyres appear as good in autumn as they did back in June. It comes in at 290 gramme, heavier than the Pirelli PZero 25mm (210 gramme), but it’s a robust tyre, which I’ll come into later.

Schwalbe’s developments in tyre technology is a key feature here, with their Souplesse construction, Adix race compound and V-Guard puncture protection all helping to keep these tyres fit for purpose for some time. And it seems to have worked on the 25s. It’s been a hard working tyre and that’s even stood up to a bit of turbo work too. You know, that machine that often shreds your rubber.

Performance Through Innovation

What’s really noticeable on the Pro One 25 is how admirably it performs on poor surfaces. You can hear and indeed feel the wheel biting in, and after lots of use they continue to bite the road surface and roll consistently whatever the road surface. Thankfully on the tight lanes of the Dales, grip is high on the agenda for Schwalbe in the Pro One range, and the V shaped, one way tread does work very well, both on inclines and in tight cornering. Comfortable and supple, or souplesse as Schwalbe calls it, even when riding slightly down on my normal riding pressure, they soak up the vibration and road surface imperfections easily, leaving a reasonably smooth riding experience – save for the rustic surfacing.

I certainly prefer the lighter feel of the 25mm tyre against the 28mm iteration, and have retained them on the bike the longest. Measuring them for completeness, they actually measure up slightly larger than 25mm and not far off 28mm when inflated around 90psi, so in real terms not far off 28mm anyway. This leads to what feels like the sweet spot for cycling in the Yorkshire Dales. Lighter 25mm tyre with the added contact and volume of the 28mm tyre. An excellent combination. Just a point here, don’t forget to measure and adjust your tyre pressures for each ride, making sure that you maximise performance opportunities and grip for the conditions.

I’ll be changing tyres over the next week or two as the sun drops even more and the roads get sketchy. The Dales weather is turning grim and we all need that extra level of grip to keep the wheels turning through the winter, but it has been a delight to ride thePro One 25mm tyres through the summer and into autumn. It’s a tyre that gives good grip and excellent rolling resistance, providing that necessary balance between speed and safety. That said, it puts it firmly in the bracket of a good race tyre and an excellent general ride tyre for the keen club cyclist.

Schwalbe Aerothan Tube and 28mm Pro One Tyre

Pedalnorth Website — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 07:25:30 +0000

Schwalbe Aerothan Tube & Pro One 28″ Tyre

by Chris Galley

Spring and summer usually means that you can look forward to removing those all season or winter tyres and replacing them with that fast rolling and lightweight set of tyres ready for pushing your limits. Personally, I’ve ridden Continental tyres pretty much all my cycling life for good reason. They cover all bases and give superb resilience, grip and weight. So when I was asked to have a look at Schwalbe Tyres it was an opportunity to get out of my comfort blanket and test a new tyre manufacturer to me and see how other tyres stack up against my tried and trusted tyre manufacturer.

First box to open was the Schwalbe Aerothan inner tubes. These are extremely light at 41grammes for the 28″ 700cc tube. A futuristic looking translucent compound designed to work with the Schwalbe Pro 1 tyre and which drastically reduces weight from my previous Vavert inner tube at 136 grams. That might not seem a lot but it really does liven up the steering but I’ll talk about the ride shortly. The compound appears sturdy too and fits well into the tyre. These tubes are designed to minimise rolling resistance, increase puncture protection and are set to deliver new standards with inner tubes. Best of all, they’re 40% lighter than previous tubes, and more resilient too.

Aerothan tubes consist of 100% thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), including the valve, and are therefore fully recyclable. Like all Schwalbe tubes, Aerothan tubes may be returned to Schwalbe at no cost using the tube recycling programme. The material of used tubes is recycled to make sealing or insulation material. In a world where we all need to do more, this is a good move from Schwalbe.

The Schwalbe Pro 1 tyre is not the lightest tyre (weighing in here at 263 grams for each of my test tyres), giving a heavier weight than the 235 gramme publicised. The Continental all season tyre I removed weighs in at 240 grams and our other test tyre, the Pirelli P Zero Race SL, is 245grams. However, it does have a decent grip pattern and is packed full of technology to mark this tyre out as a potential great product. This tyre installs easily, but you have to remember to watch for the directional arrow as they only fit one way. In usage, these tyres deliver everything they say. The overall weight saving with the tyre and Aerothan tube takes a couple of rides to get used to as the wheels become prone to dancing around a little, and it needs a new level of fine motor skills to control. In terms ofthe protection offered, I’ve experienced no punctures as yet, they’re grippy and stable in the corners and are notably fast rolling.

Climbing and sprinting is easier than ever on these boots, and fellow riders have told me they give off a distinct sound as the tyres bite into the tarmac. Tyre pressures are lower than most tyres and I do find myself checking those pressures more often now as they continually feel soft to the touch; but once checked I have to keep reminding myself that they play well at lower pressures. They bite well into the tarmac and handle the rough country lanes well. Cornering is confident and they basically just roll really well. With the Aerothan onboard, you’ve got a feisty mix that wants to race; but once you’re aware of this, the fun begins.

Overall then, in terms of both value and performance, these are excellent tyres and perform well – especially with the Aerothan tubes. I’m no scientist, so I really have no way to support Schwalbe’s claims on their data for these tyres; but in reality they are well worth the money, they fit well and on my Canyon Endurance CF they’ve changed the riding dynamics of the bike – especially when climbing and sprinting and that’s always a win for me.

Pirelli PZero Race TLR 28

Pedalnorth Website — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 19:35:40 +0000

Pirelli PZero Race TLR 28mm Tyre

Review by Robert Thorpe

Pirelli PZero Race TLR Tyre

The Italian tyre giant is making waves in road cycling with its new ranges, so we took a look at them in the Yorkshire Dales

Pirelli returned to road cycling just a few ago, going back to their heritage and using their knowledge and skills developed in the formula 1 environment to great effect. Now sponsoring UCI World teams at both road and mtb disciplines, their latest tyre range takeS things to a whole new level, so where better to test them than the badlands of North Yorkshire.

The two new road tubeless tyre offerings are designed for both training and racing, coming in the guises of the P Zero Race TLR and P Zero Race TLR SL. And, keeping themselves at the forefront of technology, Pirelli say that both ranges are designed in accordance with the latest ETRTO standards and are compatible with hookless rims, as seen on many of the latest road tubeless wheels.

Pirelli have used their latest SmartEVO rubber compound on these tyres and a new 120 threads per inch (TPI) TechWall+ casing, with a lightweight puncture protection belt sandwiched between the casing and the rubber. What we can say, having started to test the 2 new tyre offerings is that they go onto the wheel easily and without levers, they’re a firm shape when fitted and they’re a very stable tyre in use, with no adverse movement.

Starting things off with the P-Zero 28c Race TLR, it’s a superb all around tyre that’ll suit a variety of riders. Gone are the days of skinny 23 wheels for speed, as riders are riding more in comfort, choosing 25 upwards and with bike manufacturers supporting this trend in greater wheel clearances. We put the 28 Race TLR onto a Bianchi Infinito and the clearance was ample. Whilst retaining their original P-Zero tread patten, Pirelli have made the side walls slimmer and yet managed to increase the strength and stiffness. What this means in practice is a more stable tyre that also doesn’t add adversely to the bike weight, coming in at 291g. And, as the tread pattern is tried and tested at the highest level, why change it. It’s a tyre that we found had a decent rolling resistance and a superb grip. You can literally feel the stickiness of the rubber as you run your hand over it, and on the road what this means is a whole new world of rider confidence and safety, both in dry and wet conditions, of which we get just a touch on our test route here in the Yorkshire Dales.

Yes, riding the rough agricultural roads of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and usually doing so on a 25 tyre at most, I was pleasantly surprised at the extra comfort provided by the Pirelli PZero Race TLR 28mm. Clearly I’ve been riding skinny wheels too long!

It definitely removes lots of the vibrations and bumps, and when added to the extra grip provided by the P-Zero tread pattern and stiffer side wall, I was able to confidently take on the tight and twisting descents. I expected some speed loss due to the extra width of the 28c, but it wasn’t too bad and in fact gave better performance in lots of areas. However, and it’s a very minor however… the climbing ability of the tyre was somewhat slower, requiring more power for the same gain and leaving me floundering on some steeper climbs where I would normally excel.

Once back onto general rolling terrain again though, the 28c P-Zero proved to be the ideal tyre, giving me a very comfortable and a very safe ride, with lots of confidence into the corners. It’s also a super strong compound, which we deliberately tested by following farmers who were hedge cutting! Thankfully the quality of the Pirelli compound proved itself and we rode a way unhindered and without punctures.

Ultimately, as a training tyre or a general usage or commuting tyre the Pirelli P-Zero Race TLR in 28c is a great choice for most riders and will give you the confidence to take on more, which it what we all want as cyclists. If however, you’re a stickler for steep climbs, then maybe the 26c Race TLR is a better choice, but you’ll lose out on the superb comfort provided by the 28c. Price wise these tyres come in around the £59.99 point and they’re hard wearing enough to be good value. Ultimately, you have to pay for safety and performance, and these tyres provide you with both.

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