Schwalbe One Evolution V-Guard tyre

These Schwalbe One Evolution Line tyres offer pretty much everything you need from a quality race tyre: a supple compound that grips in the wet or dry while still offering decent durability. Rolling resistance is good, too, in fact the only thing lacking is the tubeless compatibility found on more expensive models in the range.

• Pros: Loads of grip; seem tough for a race tyre
• Cons: Pricier than some very good competition

Many of the test bikes that turn up at road.cc towers come equipped with Schwalbe tyres as standard, so I've ridden many of the models for thousands of miles and have always been impressed.

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The One we have here sits below the Pro One, which is tubeless ready and has a slightly stickier compound, but that doesn't mean the standard One is the weaker cousin.

Its Onestar compound is reasonably soft and tacky, which provides plenty of grip and gives you real confidence entering bends or roundabouts without having to scrub off much speed in the process.

In the dry you have to be pushing really hard and at quite an acute angle to the road to get them to break traction, and they do well when the road surface is wet too.

I'm not convinced the tread and whole rotation thing bring anything to the game; you aren't going to aquaplane on a bike, and they tyres would be better off just being slick, letting the compound do its work.

I've probably covered about 400 miles on this test and they barely look scrubbed in, and going by other sets I've ridden durability is pretty good considering they are a performance tyre.

The V-Guard puncture protection strip has done its job, and while I have a few little nicks to the rubber I haven't had an issue with any punctures.

I found the Schwalbes easy to fit to a few different wheelsets I had on test, from wide rims to thin, and they popped on with just a bit of thumb leverage on all of them.

Schwalbe offers the One in a range of sizes from a skinny 23mm through to 30mm, with 25mm and 28mm in between. The 25s are available in a range of colours too, if you fancy a bit of coordinating, and there is even a tan wall option if that's your thing.

A price of £52.99 isn't astronomical for a race tyre, but the One does find itself up against some tough opposition. One of my favourite tyres, which the Ones replaced, are the Panaracer Race Evo 3. The Schwalbes are about 50g heavier, which is noticeable, though they are more robust. Grip levels are about the same, and side by side there is little in it, but to equip the bike with the Panaracers would save you about £26.

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The 50 quid Maxxis High Roads offer excellent grip and durability to match the Ones, but they are nowhere near as supple.

Overall, the Schwalbe One Evolution Line tyres are fast rolling and grippy, and also offer decent durability. Normally, you have to choose two out of the three.

Verdict

A very good all-round race tyre that grips well and will take some abuse