Tyre reviews

OK follow up review of the Scwalbe Ultremo ZX's, bought these following good reviews in one of the bike mags. Anyway as is often the case don't believe the hype, I am not impressed with these tyres at all.

Since fitting these intially on 29th June to my best bike I've gone through 4 tyres, (and I own 4 bikes so we're not talking epic mileage here either)

2 have exploded completely and the others have worn so much they can be punctured with a sharp look, maybe I should start a tyres puntured by a glance thread :) The first explosion may have been my error as I had puncure the day before (a continuing theme with these tyres) so maybe pinched but when it went it sounded like a gunshot and it ripped a 4 inch slash down the sidewall rendering tyre useless. The second explosion was last night. After having lots of punctures I'd installed some tyre liners (thereby negating any weight savings) and had gone nearly a week without one but was at friends last night, been there about 2 hours and we heard as massive bang. We thought it was something electrical in the house, looked around, nothing, all lights on, checked round house, all power on OK, put it down to South London wildlife shooting each other and resumed watching telly and drinking. Went to go home later and realised it was my back tyre, fuuuuuuu. Blown a 10p sized hole in tyre ruining it.

Handling 9/10 really nice tyre to ride, you need to do a 50 miles or so to scuff up the tyres before they become proper grippy, if you ride them in the wet straight off they are very smooth and feel sketchy but once roughed up are really grippy and I found them fine in the wet.

Wear 2/10 I know its daft to expect a sub 200 gram tyre (quoted at 180 grams but a bit more I think) to last for ages but even bearing that in mind these tyres are shit. I'd come from Michelin Pro Race 3's which I loved to ride but thought they cut up too easy and did'nt last long, but these are worse. They definately don't cut up as bad as the Michelins and I did'nt puncture for the first few weeks but you quickly get to the point they puncture very regulary.

Puncture Protection 2/10 As above OK initally but after that not good at all, maybe OK for country riding but riding through glass strewn London destoys them. I was getting punctures from glass and even little flints of gravel. I had 3 in a day on more than 1 occassion just pottering round town, bloody hassle!

Also need high pressures to avoid pinch flats, they need more psi than any tyre I've ever used. I pinch-flatted one at 90psi!! I'm about 85kg and they needed to be run at minimum 120psi (they rated up to 145). Some portable hand pumps struggle to get to this pressure so that needs bearing in mind, so multiple punctures in a day is like doing a full upper body workout and after all that effort you just want to go home and lie down. If using these I'd advise CO2 canisters or a very good mini track pump.

Comfort 6/10 seem fine but on bad roads due to high pressures are not especially comfortable but I was using 23's so not expecting much in that regard.

Weight 9/10 very light, lightest I've used in fact but obviously this is achieved at the expense of any longevity. Honestly though with all the faff with punctures this is a false economy, get some thicker tyres. For the extra weight of a mars bar you will spend a lot less time at the side of the road red faced from all the pumping and swearing like a teacher. I think a few passers by must have thought I had tourettes on more than one occassion. And I doubt you'd notice a little extra weight anyway. Lesson learnt.

Speed 9\10 on a par with the Michelins these really do fly. Fast and hold speed well, maybe good for racing if you have a scuffed set to use each race, but if you race more than once on them you will puncture and the whole pack will fly past you.

Appearance 7/10 look better on modern bikes, especally the modern carbon ones, don't look so good on classic steel bikes like I have.

Price 3/10 I got a pair of these from Merlin for 52 quid which after my experience is very poor value but the list price for these in Evans is something like 42 quid EACH, the Germans may not be famed for their sense of humour but that is bloody jokes-ville.

Skidability 1/10 well I been running on a singlespeed and these are not for fixie skidding, they would not last 5 minutes.

Overall rating / opinion 4/10 and I think thats a bit generous. Very nice tyre to ride but all you will remember is fast wear and all the punctures. If you are rich, weigh 60kg and live in a glass and thorn free utopia they may be OK but otherwise avoid like the plague.

Am now debating what to go for next, definately something thicker.