Schwalbe X-One Speed TLE tyre

If you want a very fast cyclo-cross tyre for dry race courses, the Schwalbe X-One Speed TLE is well worth considering. It could also be pressed into action as a gravel-lite tyre for bikes with limited clearance, or to give a cyclo-cross bike a bit more speed on road and gravel tracks.

• Pros: Fast if the conditions allow; reasonably good on gravel and road rides
• Cons: Pricey, not as grippy on mixed terrain with a dose of moisture

Schwalbe's growing range of tyres can be a bit tricky to get your head around. The X in the name stands for cyclo-cross and the Speed denotes a tread pattern designed for fast conditions. If you're racing cyclo-cross and the ground is hard and dry, this is a good choice. For muddier conditions have a look at the X-One Bite which has a knobbly tread pattern. There's also the X-One Allround which slots in between the two.

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The X-One Speed's tread pattern certainly backs the tyre into a small window of perfect riding conditions here in the UK, but during the test period we had some splendid weather and so it got a lot of use, on cyclo-cross courses, in training and more exploratory adventure rides.

The rows of small dimples are reminiscent of the bigger G-One Speed and work similarly well. Just like its bigger cousin, this tyre works well on the road – there's a good case for it being used on some of the latest endurance bikes that might accommodate such a wide tyre – but it's aimed at cyclo-cross where, given the conditions are dry and firm enough, it excels.

Fitted to a CX bike, the X-One Speed lives up to its name. Zipping and zooming between corners, it delivers impressive pace on hardpacked dirt and hard and dry grass. Lean them over into a corner and those slightly raised oblong blocks give a bit more purchase, though if you really take liberties they will break away. That said, when the limit of traction is reached the transition to sliding is fairly smooth and controllable.

It's surprising just how fast and hard you can push the tyres on mixed terrain, but you can get caught out if you encounter a damp patch or slippery surface: there's simply not enough tread to deal with anything sticky. You don't quite have to tiptoe around such obstacles, but you do have to ride with a hint of caution.

The tyres are clearly aimed at cyclo-cross, but can they be used for gravel? Without a doubt, they work well on mixed surfaces, but they are on the narrow side compared to the trend for a 38-42mm tyre for 'proper' gravel riding. If your bike has limited clearance or you want to throw your cyclo-cross race bike into the wilderness then the tyre is more than capable, provided you remember there's a lot less cushioning from a 33mm tyre compared with a 42mm and adjust both your tyre pressure and riding style accordingly.

> Buyer's Guide: 16 of the best gravel and adventure tyres

There are two versions of this tyre available. This is the Evolution line with a TL (tubeless) Easy and Microskin casing construction. There's also a cheaper Performance line version which isn't tubeless-ready. This range-topping Evolution model uses a 127tpi (threads per inch) nylon casing construction, the Performance line 67.

Installing the tyres was a breeze. They are tubeless-ready and fitting them to a set of DT rims was a straightforward affair, as per my experience with other Schwalbe tyres. I did use a Lezyne Digital Pressure Over Drive Tubeless track pump to get them to pop up and seal.

The tyre pressure you choose will depend on your weight and the demands of the course and trail conditions. Schwalbe recommends a pressure range of 40-70psi which is a good starting point.

How low can you go? I experimented with pressures as low as 25psi but 30-35psi felt better, with more stability in the tyre carcass preventing unwanted flex and squirm when riding through fast corners. I find in dry conditions higher pressures worked well, and so it was with these tyres.

Away from the tape of a cyclo-cross race you'll want to go higher to stave off smashing the tyre into the rim on gravel tracks and rocky descents; for more road use, running the tyres at 50-60psi gives a very good rolling speed.

I had no issues with the tubeless setup during testing and while the sidewalls feel worryingly thin between the fingers, I've not had any problems so far. I have previously ripped the sidewall on an X-One Bite when hammering down a local gravel descent but that is outside of the design brief for these tyres, and all riding within the tape of a 'cross course resulted in zero issues.

For typical UK conditions the Schwalbe X-One Allround or Bite is probably a more suitable choice, as you're likely to have mud to deal with, but if it's a dry winter or for more mixed-surface gravel-lite riding these are certainly worth a look. They would also make a decent commuting tyre, giving your cyclo-cross bike extra purpose during the week.

Fifty quid sure isn't cheap for a tyre, and you could pocket a tenner and plump for the equally impressive Specialized Trigger Pro 2Bliss tyres, which I've ridden on various Specialized test bikes and VecchioJo gave them a good review a couple of years ago. The Schwalbes are a tenner cheaper than the Continental Mountain King CX, though, which have an rrp of £60 (though you can find them for £40 online). These have a more aggressive tread pattern so better grip in the mud, but aren't tubeless-ready (nor are any Conti tyres) so that might be a deal breaker.

Verdict

A good fast cyclo-cross race tyre for dry conditions and for commuting