Hutchison’s 650B offerings have been finalized – the Cobra, Toro and Cougar will be offered in widths from 2.1 up to 2.4 depending on model and version. All are shown above.
The Black Mamba (shown after the break) is a new low profile XC race tread developed with Julien Absalon for the Olympics. It’s a 425g tire in 26×2.0, and it’ll be available in a 29×2.0, too. Center knobs are shaped similarto the Cobra tread pattern, and side knobs are slightly taller. Works for front and rear just by turning it around.
Word is Niño Schurter saw Absalon training on them and asked Dugast to get that tread for him, too, for his 650B (er, sorry, 27″) tubulars. Hutchinson make the treads for Dugast’s tubulars. A few other riders are said to be mounting these up for the Olympics, too.
The Black Mamba 26″, above, and the tread piece for the Dugast tubular below.
Squale and DZO are newer DH tires that are being raced by Nico Vouillez, Fabian Cousinie and Mick Hannah this week in Mont St. Anne. The Squale uses their 50 durometer RR compound with large split knobs all around. Unlike the Barracuda, it has transition knobs between the center and side knobs.
The DZO is a mud tire with tall spikes that have molded steps so if you is want to cut them down, you can get them all even.
CYCLOCROSS
They went back to a Kevlar bead and standard clincher tires for the Toro CX and Piranha 2 CX. Last year they were tubeless ready, but they had concerns about the tight tolerances required for the carbon bead and found some real issues mounting to certain rims. With these, they say (though don’t necessarily endorse) you can use sealant and set them up tubeless.
They also have two new tubular ‘cross tires in the Toro and Black Mamba tread patterns.
ROAD TIRES
With their Road Tubeless tires, they validate the rims from wheel manufacturers to ensure fit. So far, the list of partners that they’ve tested includes Shimano, Corima, Campy, Hutchinson (RT1), Fulcrum, A-Class, DT Swiss and Easton.
Two new Road Tubeless tires will be offered. The Intensive 28c tire is designed for Roubaix style riding or just crushing around town. The casing and bead are tubeless ready, meaning you’ll need sealant. It has a Hardskin reinforced casing and Kevlar belt for puncture protection. Retail is $99, weight is 295g.
The new Atom Galactik claims to be the first sub-250g tubeless tire. In their testing, it came out more efficient than their Pro Tour tubular, which is extremely expensive. They say it provides the ride quality and performance of the Pro Tour in a much easier to use (and cheaper) package. It’s full tubeless, so it doesn’t require sealant, and it’s a new natural rubber compound. At 240g, it’s lighter than a normal tire/tube combo and lighter than tubulars. It’s designed for competition, but should be durable enough for everyday riding. The Vendee U pro team just raced and won on these, and they’re hoping to move them into more of the pro peloton as wheel selection grows. Them pros seem to like carbon rims. $109 retail, 700×23 only.
In September, they’ll launch the Atom X-Light that uses the same natural rubber compound as the Galactik, has no puncture protection and comes in at 160g. It’s a standard tube-type clincher in 700×23.
