Eurobike 2021 had quite a few new treads on display. Many brands, though, kept it simple with new sizes and options for some of their existing treads, or only had a couple new things to see…but still interesting, like a new eMTB specific rubber compound, almost MTB-sized gravel tires, and a wider option for roadies still riding tubes.
Here, we round up the best new tires and tech from Panaracer, Schwalbe, Vee Tire Co., and Michelin.
2022 Panaracer Tires – More GravelKing sizes, even for MTB
The Panaracer GravelKing SS, for Semi Slick, actually gets two narrower sizes, offering 650B riders slimmer, faster 38mm (380g) and 43mm (450g) options under the existing 48mm option. That’s 1.5″, 1.75″ and 2.0″ in inches. The 700c sizes come in 28, 32, 35, 38, and 43mm widths.
Shown at the top of this post is the GravelKing SK, for Semi Knob. It gets a big new 29×2.1 (700x54mm wide) size, which weighs in at a claimed 680g. Both tires come in both brown and black sidewall options in all sizes.
2022 Schwalbe Tires – Wider road, wider MTB
The only truly new tire being shown at Schwalbe’s booth was a wider 700x32mm version of their tube-type Pro One road bike tire. While tubeless riders have been getting all the good, wide options lately, there’s now a top-level racing tire for those still rocking tubes.
On display were a few more recent launches, like the G-One R gravel racing tire, which we covered here and reviewed at Unbound.
And the new Wicked Will for light trail bikes, perfect for when an XC tire isn’t enough, but All Mountain or Enduro treads are overkill. Check out the tech details and first impressions here, including actual weights.
The Nobby Nic gets a new 2.4″ size to fill in between the racier 2.2 and the larger “plus” sizes it’s come in.
Perhaps the biggest news from Schwalbe is their move to a more sustainable, eco-friendly future. They have a couple of commuter tires that will start using their GreenGuard puncture protection layer, which comes from recycled natural rubber. And, all of their inner tubes are 100% recyclable, just drop them off at your local dealer.
They’ve also started sourcing rubber from a fair trade region where they pay a higher living wage to the farmers that’s well above market pricing, but ensures they’ll have a better quality of life and can be better stewards of the land. Look for a five-tire commuter bike lineup with those now, with more to come as the program grows.
2022 Michelin MTB Tires
Michelin’s tires were literally tucked into the corner of another booth, but we didn’t spot anything brand new…just the Enduro Wild front and rear tires that we recently tested and found to offer vastly different performance from front to rear.
2022 Mitas Tires – new allroad and MTB treads
The Mitas X-Road has been in their lineup for a while, but only in thinner 33mm and 38mm sizes. Now, they’ve gone just a bit bigger with a new 700×40 (470g) option for the gravel curious folks that still need a fast and smooth rolling tire on the pavement.
The new Mitas Monarch lines up at the gravity end of their catalog, using their eMTB-ready DH Supra Max 127tpi casing. That gives it a much sturdier sidewall with added pinch flat and tear protection, plus a grippier dual-compound rubber on top. It uses more, smaller knobs than the more downhill-ready Highlander, aiming more for the all-conditions enduro racer. It’ll come in 29er and 27.5″ sizes in 2.45″ and 2.6″ widths, weights from 1020g up to 1390g.
2022 Vee Tire – eMTB specific rubber, new fat bike tread
Vee Tire Co. is rolling out a new, firmer version of their Stick-E rubber specifically for eMTB. The original Stick-E compound was a super soft rubber designed for their sponsored gravity riders, where ultimate traction was prioritized over everything else.
But, stick that on a heavier e-mountain bike, and it simply couldn’t hold up, often wearing out after just a few hundred kilometers. So, they’ve designed a firmer Stick-E rubber for e-bikes that lasts longer while still being very grippy…just not squishy. It’ll debut on the Attack in a 2.5″ width sometime this fall.
For fat bikes, they’re launching the new Snow Ball, which gets a bit different tread pattern than their Snowshoe XL. The knobs are a little lower profile, and directional, giving it a faster, more performance oriented ride quality.
Like the Snowshoe, it’s compatible with metal studs if you want them. Look for a 27.5×4.0 size to start, more likely to come.
Stay tuned for more new tires from other brands, and check out the new Kenda XC models and sizes here.
