Schwalbe is not one of the more well known tires in the US unless you happen to ever talk to one of those riders who are one of those "in the know" type of riders. I was fortunate enough to be turned on to the Schwalbe Ultremo tires recently by just such a rider and I am forever grateful. These are some good tires.
One ride on a bike equipped with Schwalbe Ultremo tires makes it clear that those guys at the German headquarters of Schwalbe, where the company has been developing tyres since 1901, know exactly what they are doing. The years of experience have served them well because with every generation of tire, they only get better and the Schwalbe Ultremo is the pinnacle of Schwalbes expertise as of today.
Schwalbe Ultremo Features and Benefits
The Schwalbe Ultremo fits the mold of a race tire in almst every way. It is a very lightweight tire coming in at 195 grams and it features what Schwalbe calls a Triple Nano Compound that is designed to reduce rolling resistance. They also feature a couple of revolutionary design features into the construction of their Ultremo tire.
The first being radial construction technology. They incorporate a dense weave of "Vectran" radially into the tire compound that provides superior puncture resistance and flat protection. The Schwalbe Ultremo offers better puncture protection than many training tires and is probably the best true "race tire" on the market when it comes to durability.
The second is that the tire compound is permeated with microscopic bits of "ceramic" material that also serve to protect as another layer of protection against sharp bits of glass or rocks that become embedded into the tire. Ceramic particles will wear the invading object smooth and render it harmless.
Schwalbe Ultremo Riding Impressions
First impressions of the Schwalbe Ultremo was not what I expected. The hype of these tires had me believing that they would walk on water and improve my speed by 10 mph on the flats but as you might have guessed, that is not the case. The tires roll very fast, they are no question a race oriented tire but what I did notice was that they were a bit of a harsh ride.
I typically ride either Michelin Pro Race Tires or Continental GP4000S tires and they are quite comfortable. I recently tested a pair of the new Michelin Pro Race 3 tires and the Pro Race 3 tires were noticeably more comfortable than the Ultremos.
It is important to note however, that Ride Comfort is VERY subjective. I found the Michelins to be more comfortable but your mileage may vary of course.
There is no question the Schwalbe Ultremo is a race oriented tire...it's fast and light and you can really feel it the quality in the corners because it corners on rails. The tires confidently stay glued to the road and inspire confidence in the rider, you just need to be careful they don't inspire more confidence than your skill level can handle, because that could be a little less fun.
Conclusion
To summarize, I think the Schwalbe Ultremo tires are an outstanding choice for a race or performance oriented rider. The latest incarnation is super fast, lightweight and offers much improved puncture protection than previous model tires. If you want a second opinion, here's what RoadBike magazine had to say about the Schwalbe Ultremo bicycle tire in a head to head test they conducted in 2007.
ROADBIKE Test winner 05/07
“Schwalbe’s new Ultremo is an ideal allrounder that no other manufacturer even came close to in the test. An extremely light tire, it offers the best puncture protection and rolls well. More importantly however: In all riding conditions, it is so surefooted, it can be relied upon absolutely on the road - even in the wet it offers still good traction.
You need to remember that when you get into this class of tire, the differences between them are very small. I'd be hard pressed to find a noticeable advantage to these tires over say the new Michelin Pro Race 3. They are both superb quality tires and both handle very well.
I would have to give a small edge to the Michelin Pro Race 3 tire in ride comfort but I will admit I felt faster on the Ultremo, even though my computer didn't measure a difference. Maybe it was the exotic name that inspired me, who knows. I know that if you are looking for a high quality race tire then you won't go wrong with either the Michelin or the Schwalbe Ultremo tire.
 Pair 2x Schwalbe Ultremo ZX HD Evolution Road Bike Tires Orange 700x23c  US $114.99
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 Pair 2x Schwalbe Ultremo ZX HD Evolution Road Bike Tires White 700x23c US $114.99
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 Pair 2x Schwalbe Ultremo ZX HD Evolution Road Bike Tires Green Stripe 700x23c US $114.99
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Find a great deal on Schwalbe Ultremo tires here.
