HUNT DISCUSSIONS: TUBELESS TYRES ROUND UP - PART 1 ROAD
Tyres are a highly significant factor in influencing how your bicycle rides. With the advent of tubeless, the benefits which more and more riders are appreciating include:
- Less punctures (sealant + no pinch flats )
- Lower rolling resistance (no tube to deform)
- Low overall system weight (no tube weight)
The increasing popularity of this new (to some) technology to road bicycles has shifted the landscape in terms of the right tyres for your riding, so see below a round-up of the key info on the current road performance and 4Season tubeless tyres (which can be fitted with sealant to your tubeless-ready Hunt wheels). Part 2 of this guide will cover fatter, gnarlier, crossier and gravelier tyres so if you like off-road thrashing keep your eyes peeled.
Performance Road
Here are some great tubeless tyres for fast-paced road riding and racing. These may be your summer or race season tyres, or rolling on the bike you use for those faster club rides. They are intended for staying on the fast tarmac rather than heading for rougher roads with performance and speed being king here.
"The Pro One is one of the lightest road tyres we offer at 230g for the 23mm version"
Schwalbe were one of the first to popularise tubeless road tyres with their Pro One. As one of the larges bicycle tyre manufactures, they certainly know how to put together a top performing road tyre. The Pro One is one of the lightest road tyres we offer at 230g for the 23mm version as well as having 25 and 28mm options. The tubeless beads on Schwalbe tyres have a flat edging and the new Mirco-Skin carbon tubeless layer makes them incredibly good at sealing with the rim bed and sidewall and very easy to fit. Not-so-minor details include:
- Weight: 230g (without sealant, 23mm)
- Sizes available: 23, 25 and 28mm
- Price: £99 (Pair, fitted to your Hunt wheels including sealant)
Hutchinson Fusion 5 Galatik TLR 25mm
The Fusion 5 Galactik is the result of the work conducted around the French company's own compound found on the Fusion 5 range. Compound thickness, casing/compound bonding procedure, polyamide reinforcement, it’s 240g dedicated to speed, performance and the competitive instinct.
This is a very fast tire and outperforms many TT specific offerings. The Fusion 5 Galactik Tubeless comes in near the top of the chart for rolling resistance.
- Weight: 240g (without sealant, 25mm)
- Sizes available: 25mm
- Price: £89 (Pair, fitted to your Hunt Wheels including sealant)
The tyre of choice for Hunt-supported, UCI Continental team Canyon Eisberg. The Padrone is designed with dual-compound technology for enhanced treadwear and improved cornering control. This tubeless road tyre also uses proprietary Silkworm material for puncture protection, along with a high-strength carbon fibre bead. Maxxis’ tubeless technology allows the Padrone to easily conform to the road surface, resulting in the highest ride quality.
- Weight: 300g (without sealant, 28mm)
- Sizes available: 28mm
- Price: £99 (Pair, fitted to your Hunt Wheels including sealant)
4Season Road
Here are a list of tubeless tyres we recommend for road riding no matter the weather conditions, and will put up with 'slightly less than ideal' roads. These tyres are perfect for day-in-day-out duties, knowing that something with more of an emphasis on top-end performance might not cut it out there in the worst winter conditions. Whilst they are intended for staying on the tarmac, you are able to push what might be considered a 'road' that little bit more.
Hutchinson Fusion 5 All Season TLR 25mm
"The tough puncture belt and excellent grip make it ideal as a 25mm 4Season or training tyre."
The Hutchinson Fusion 5 All Season is optimised to provide the best performance and adhesion in all weather conditions. Unlike most other 4Season tires, the Fusion 5 All Season is made up of the best materials available to Hutchinson. The Fusion 5 All Season includes a compound designed for grip in winter conditions when compared to it's fairer weather summer-oriented Galactik 5 cousin. The tough puncture belt and excellent grip make it ideal as a 25mm 4Season or training tyre.
- Weight: 260g (without sealant, 25mm)
- Threads per square inch (TPI): 127
- Sizes available: 25mm
- Price: £79 (Pair, fitted to your Hunt Wheels including sealant)
Hutchinson Sector 28mm and 32mm
"designed to be tough enough to withstand the incredibly rough cobbled surfaces and provides enough grip for both dry dusty corners and wet muddy corners alike."
The Hutchinson Sector tyre was developed alongside the Europcar professional cycling team to take on the brutal Paris-Roubaix cobbled classic. The tyre is designed to be tough enough to withstand the incredibly rough cobbled surfaces and provides enough grip for both dry dusty corners and wet muddy corners alike. These characteristics make it a fantastic tyre for use during the wet conditions found in the European winter and year round. Coupled with the enhanced puncture resistance offered by tubeless as well as a wider 28 and 32mm option, these tyres are hard to beat for year round riding/winter training.
- Weight: 295g (without sealant, 28mm)
- Sizes available: 28 and 32mm
- Price: £89 (Pair, fitted to your Hunt Wheels including sealant)
Schwalbe G-One Speed 30mm (Formally S-One)
have extra grip dimples but roll fast and are designed to take on the toughest classic races and perfect for winter training on rough roads.
Schwalbe's G-One Speed Tubeless Tyres have extra grip dimples but roll fast and aare designed to take on the toughest classic races and perfect for winter training on rough roads. We have been testing them for a long time and have been very impressed. The One range are Schwalbe's top specification tyres and feature their triple compound tread so you get extremely low rolling-resistance combined with excellent grip and durability. A light dotted tread enhances grip even further and as a result makes this tyre ideal for use on wet and gritty winter roads and lanes.
- Weight: 330g (without sealant, 30mm)
- Sizes available: 30mm
- Price: £99 (Pair, fitted to your Hunt Wheels including sealant)
Summary
Breaking down where you ride and in what conditions is a great way to decide on tyres. From here consider what width your bicycle is able to accept. As a general rule of thumb 25-28mm is a safe bet for those wanting a good all round road tyre. However, some older frames may leave you only being able accept 23mm tyres due to clearance issues. Please measure your frame or check with your bike manufacturer. If you do not envisage yourself going against the clock on smooth/maintained roads and regularly ride broken roads (pretty much all roads here in the UK!), then 28-32mm is definitely worth considering. Ultimately, personal preference is a large factor in tyre selection but we're always more than happy to help with further advice. The great news is that all the tyres listed above will perform to incredibly high levels, it's just which ones have the edge for your type of riding and conditions.