Product Review: Schwalbe Ultremo Tire
Schwalbe is a lesser known tire brand here in the states, but they have great products. You may have noticed their logo while watching the Tour de France. In fact, Schwalbe is the tire that team Gerolsteiner uses.
Our test rider got his hands on a pair of Schwalbe Ultremo tires last month, and he is extremely impressed. The first thing he told me after his initial ride was, “These things are fast Eddy!” That is his way of saying that he likes the quick handling. The first thing we noticed when taking the tires out of the box, is that they are really nice looking tires. The Ultremo’s make any bike look nicer.
The ultremo features a tripple rubber compound that makes for a fast rolling tire with great cornering ability. Our test rider immediately took them up the local mountain pass to see how they would corner on the way down. Even at speeds above 40 miles per hour, our test rider had total confidence in taking the sharp winding turns.
The main reason that we wanted to test the Ultremo is because it features a tough Vectran fabric layer under the rubber which virtually eliminates flats. As the Schwalbe web site points out, vectran was first used for a Mars lander. Many companies offer tires with vectran, but only Schwalbe uses a vectran weave. This allows for a lighter tire with much higher puncture resistance.
“The newly developed HD-V Guard (High Density Vectran) is – with regard to both puncture protection and weight - the key to a new dimension in the construction of high-quality bicycle tires”, explained Holger Jahn, Bohles Technical Director. “At the moment no stronger fabric exists in bicycle tire technology.”
Even with the flat resistant barrier, the Ultremo comes in under 200 grams. That is extremely light weight for a flat resistant tire. Compare Ultremo’s 195 grams to Specialized Amradillo which weighs much more. I have been a big proponent of the Specialized Armadillo over the years, but it is very heavy. The Ultremo has changed my allegiance. It really is virtually flat proof. Check out this video to watch Schwalbe abuse the Ultremo without causing any flats: Ultremo vs. Toothpick
Ultremo clincher is 700×23 and rated to 145 psi. The tubular is 700×22 and can handle 205 psi. As Schwalbe puts it, “This is the ultimate racing tire.” I agree, it is the ultimate racing tire, but it is also the ultimate training tire. Ultremo clincher retails for $120 a set, putting it on the higher end of tires, but it is definitely worth the money.
Like I said earlier, Schwalbe tires may be hard to find. Any of your favorite local bike shops can order Schwalbe tires without any problem. They will likely be impressed with the quality once they see the tires in person. Have your shop order these in for you, or just buy them directly on-line. http://schwalbetires.com/node/1267
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Be lighter, be faster, be tougher. Twin Pack: set of two tires. |
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