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review

Schwalbe G-One Bite Evolution Line TLE

8
£59.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Fast-rolling, robust tyres that excel on dry and firm surfaces, and ideal for the transition between gravel and tarmac
No noticeable drag on the road
Quick and easy tubeless set-up
Robust on the rocky stuff
Limited to dry conditions
Weight: 
556g

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The new Schwalbe G-One Bite Evolution TLE is a capable gravel tyre, especially in drier conditions, that zings along the tarmac too. Its Super Ground puncture protection has certainly upped the durability, while the ADDIX SpeedGrip compound – fittingly – shows how grippy it is when the speed picks up.

I've ridden various models of Schwalbe's G-One over the years, because so many bike brands spec them as original equipment – and for good reason, too. Most of us have to ride on the road to join up the trails, and for zipping along on the asphalt, the G-One is one of the best gravel tyres you can use.

2021 Schwalbe G-One Bite Evolution Line Folding tyre fitted 1.JPG

Even with its small-knobbled tread pattern it never feels draggy, doesn't make a huge amount of noise, and grips well in the corners.

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This Evolution Line model comes with Schwalbe's ADDIX Speedgrip compound, and it is soft and grippy enough for confidence when taking roundabouts or tight bends quickly.

It works really well on gravel tracks and all the other surfaces I tried it on too, including mud, chalk and grass. It's soft enough to grip on the hardpacked stuff, yet firm enough overall for the tread pattern to get some bite on softer surfaces.

Schwalbe makes the G-One Ultrabite for more extreme, muddy conditions (although Jamie wasn't a massive fan of the added weight), with this Bite being more the middle ground of the range.

The 45mm width of the test tyres stops them sinking as much on soft ground as something like a 38mm, but if the mud or chalk is really sloppy and sticky, you'll be riding on a pair of slicks within seconds.

2021 Schwalbe G-One Bite Evolution Line Folding tyre 2.jpg

This issue isn't limited to the Bites – a lot of tyres are designed for the dusty, dry conditions seen in the US. For £60 a tyre, though, I'd want to be getting more than a few months of use a year out of them.

This all comes down to where you ride, though. If you have plenty of hardpacked gravel trails around you, the Schwalbes will last longer into the autumn/winter.

2021 Schwalbe G-One Bite Evolution Line Folding tyre fitted 2.JPG

My experience with older G-Ones showed them to be less robust than I'd like, as the tread could cut easily, and I've had thorns go through the sidewalls. This can happen on any tyre, admittedly, but I've found the G-Ones to be prone to it.

However, the Super Ground construction here has a Snakeskin puncture protection layer, which covers the three carcass layers from bead to bead. It looks to be doing a decent job – along with the ADDIX SpeedGrip compound – as there are no cuts on the tyres after about 400 miles on gravel and various other surfaces.

As you'd expect, the G-Ones are tubeless ready, denoted by the TLE label on the sidewall. I used them both with inner tubes and tubeless, with no major issues either way.

The wheels in the pics have an internal width of 24mm, and I did need an Airshot inflation bottle to pop them onto the rims. That's quite a common experience on these rims, though. Oddly though, the Bites actually come up a bit narrower than their 45mm size, measuring 44mm across on the digital callipers.

With sealant added it was good to see none of it leaking out of the sidewalls, and after a couple of miles to sling the sealant around, I had no issues with them losing much pressure. I've just had to top them up by 5psi or so once a week.

Value

The rrp for the Bite is £59.99, and it is not alone at this level. The Continental Terra Trail is very similar in its design and tread pattern, and that comes in at £60. It is limited to just a 40mm width, though (in both 700C and 650B), whereas the Bites go up to 50mm for 700C, and 54mm for 650B.

The WTB Resolute TCS Lite scored highly over at off-road.cc, and while Matt said it wasn't so fast on tarmac, its off-road capabilities are hugely impressive. It's a bit more focused than the Bite, I'd say, but the point I'm making is that a quality gravel tyre will cost you. It's £55 in this case.

> 29 of the best gravel bike tyres for 2021 — get the right go-anywhere rubber

I can't write a tyre review without mentioning the Zipp Tangente Course G40, my favourite, go-to gravel tyre. They're £64, they fly on the road and deliver decent grip in many of the same conditions as the Schwalbe. Note that it looks like they've been renamed, though, as the Zipp G40 XPLR.

Also going down this tread pattern route is the Michelin Power Gravel tyre, which I tested last year. I wouldn't say it's as supple as the Bite, but the price is better. Michelin doesn't actually make a 45mm, but if you want a 40mm, it's just £44.99. The widest is a 47mm, which costs £54.99.

Conclusion

If your gravel riding is mostly done in relatively dry conditions or on hardpacked surfaces, the G-One Bite Evolution should be on your shopping list – even more so if you spend a fair amount of time linking up the trails via the road.

Yes, they are priced up there with some top end competition, but thanks to their durability, the old risk of damage is much reduced.

Verdict

Fast-rolling, robust tyres that excel on dry and firm surfaces, and ideal for the transition between gravel and tarmac

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Schwalbe G-One Bite Evolution gravel tyre

Size tested: 700C x 45mm

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Schwalbe says, "ON-ROAD OR OFF-ROAD - FREEDOM ON GRAVEL BIKES. This G-One feels pretty good on the road but its true strength comes up off-road. G-One Bite is clearly made for off-road terrain. Open tread design and strong outer blocks provide stability when cornering and provide this G-One with the perfect 'Bite'."

Not perfect for UK conditions in the wetter months, but other than that, very capable.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Size: ETRTO 45-622 (28 x 1.70Inch)

Type: Folding

Compound: ADDIX SpeedGrip

Execution: Super Ground

Colour: Black

Seal: TLE

Weight: 540 g

Pressure: max. 5.00 Bar (max. 70psi)

Maximum load: 100 kg

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
7/10
Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Impressive grip levels and suppleness on a multitude of surfaces.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Great grip on and off-road.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

They won't see you through the entire year, weather-wise.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

Many of the best performing gravel tyres sit around the £60 mark, as shown in the review, so I'd say the G-Ones are about where they should be.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

They have their limitations in UK conditions, but are one of the best tyres out there if you spend a fair bit of time on the road. This ADDIX SpeedGrip compound and Super Ground construction does a great job of balancing suppleness, grip and protection.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 42  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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1 comments

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Miller | 2 years ago
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Based in Reading my off-road riding is Ridgeway area and Chilterns. Mud, chalk and rocky trails predominate. I've settled on G-One Bite at the rear and Ultrabite at the front. They've been durable and grippy and the Ultrabite calms my fear of falling off due to the front wheel washing out. Thing is with gravel tyres though, everyone thinks their combo is best...

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