Schwalbe Ultremo ZX Evolution HD ?

MattC59

RIght then, I'll try to keep this from being a "Which Tyre" thread, but what do people think of the Schwalbe Ultremo ZX Evolution HD ?

The reason I ask is that I've read a lot of conflicting reviews. Most say that grip, feel and rolling resistance is great, but a lot say that durability isn't great and that they cut up badly after a few hundred miles. Anyone on here with any experience ?

Next question: 23mm or 25mm ? :roll: Does this tyre come up fat or narrow against it's specced size ?

Cheers folks........ M

Bobbinogs

...and on here you will get a lot of conflicting reviews too

I think they are very good: roll fast, reasonable protection for a race tyre, good grip in all weather and a lovely supple ride. Downsides are that they really don't last for ever and can cut up (I have just had to write off one tyre), oh and they are not cheap.

Up there with GP4000s in my book but slightly better ride quality, IMO, and the red/black colours match my bike (which is the most important thing, let's face it).

Sizes? I ride 23 and this seems to come up about right compared to others (apart from Kyrillions being on the small side of 23).

They came out tops in the recent C+ test.

luv2ride

I like mine. Have a pair in 23mm which picked cuts on the rear, but a touch of superglue has sorted that and have put a few hundred miles on it since. Also run a pair of 25mm on another bike and they're great. prefer the 25's over the 23's I think. Great ride and confident handling and cornering.

izza

Once tried, never touched anything else. As for punctures, never found them to be no worse than any others so from my experience, all good.

neeb

As it happens I just put a pair on for the first time a few days ago having been running Pro3 Race for 2 or 3 years. First impressions are extremely favourable, they definitely feel fast and supple, nicer than the Pro3s I think, and they are also a bit lighter. As long as they last at least as long as the Pro3s (which are not good for longevity, my last rear wore through to the threads in 800 miles..) I will be a convert.

taimur

i had the previous versions on my bike: the R1 Evolution. Similar reviews that they cut up badly etc but i can tell you grip wise there was a huge difference between the Michelin Pro3 Race they were replaced with. Rear became unreliable after seeing use of one year and 2500 kms. Having said that i may go back to ultremo simply because of the better grip, light feel and better roll.

neeb

taimur wrote:

i had the previous versions on my bike: the R1 Evolution. Similar reviews that they cut up badly etc but i can tell you grip wise there was a huge difference between the Michelin Pro3 Race they were replaced with.

Do you mean that the Schwalbes had better grip? I always found the grip of the Pro3s very good.

Whereas today I came off after a slip in the wet with the ZXs (no real harm done fortunately). Dodgy wet cycle path in busy town centre covered in white lines, tyres probably over-inflated for the conditions, and I had no issues at all during the preceding 50 miles on wet rolling roads, so probably not the tyres' fault... still...

Most of the comments I've seen on longevity relate to the R1s rather than the ZXs, which are a different tyre - it will be interesting to see how the ZXs last.

rjgr

I have ridden the ZX's since they came out.

I agree with all the positive comments,light, great grip, good roll - but one observation - the all black seem to grip slightly better than the colour options and do not perish/split at the boundary between the black and coloured compounds. Oddly this did not immediately cause more punctures but caused me to relegate red tyres to commuter bike and switch back to all black on the racing machine.

taimur

neeb wrote:

taimur wrote:

i had the previous versions on my bike: the R1 Evolution. Similar reviews that they cut up badly etc but i can tell you grip wise there was a huge difference between the Michelin Pro3 Race they were replaced with.

Do you mean that the Schwalbes had better grip? I always found the grip of the Pro3s very good.

Whereas today I came off after a slip in the wet with the ZXs (no real harm done fortunately). Dodgy wet cycle path in busy town centre covered in white lines, tyres probably over-inflated for the conditions, and I had no issues at all during the preceding 50 miles on wet rolling roads, so probably not the tyres' fault... still...

Most of the comments I've seen on longevity relate to the R1s rather than the ZXs, which are a different tyre - it will be interesting to see how the ZXs last.

on the same road same conditions i find the Pro3 race locking and skidding allot where the ultremo never did. No experience of wet though.

itboffin

I love me have the black/red & red/black and agree with the smooth rolling and grip comments but they're not as durable as conti 4000s and haven't lasted well sub < 400 miles now with sidewall damage and lots of deep cuts.

That said the roads here in the west country suck.

Fr Howie

I know this is a slightly different tyre, but for what it is worth, I have been running on a pair of Shwalbe Ultremo ZX HD tyres for over 1000 miles and I have had no punctures (despite those around me having multiple) they seem quick and grippy, and they still look basically new (they seem really hard wearing). Oh, and Ribble are selling them for £28 as opposed to the Evolutions that are on Wiggle at £32.

bobones

I like the Ultremos and use the green stripe ones (with Michelin latex tubes) on my summer bike, but they don't last long. I'm only getting around 1500miles out of a rear tyre. They seem to be quite prone to bulges from sidewall cuts, but I tend to boot these if possible. The 23s come up quite big (near enough 24mm). Lighter, but definitely not as durable as the Conti 4000s I use on my winter bike, but I keep buying them all the same. Supposed to be a new version out next year with more puncture protection and less rolling resistance.