Schwalbe Ultremo DD Review

Schwalbe Ultremo DDs are a hybrid of slick road racing tyre and high mileage dependable training tyre. The tyres themselves are made of Schwalbe’s Racestar rubber compound which draws on the lessons learnt making the Durano tyre range, making the tyres almost indistributable.

Schwalbe claim that cuts by glass shards and other sharp objects have little or no effect on the tyre, allowing you to ride puncture free. This is all well and good, as all manufacturers claim that their tyres to be puncture proof, but is not always accurate. I have to admit that I was slightly dubious in giving these a go, mainly because I am a die-hard fan of Continental’s Gatorskins; however, I was more than willing to be proved wrong!

I’ve ridden the Ultremo DD’s on my favourite twisting descent in the rainy Peak District as well as the notoriously potholed roads of the New Forest and even the muddy fields of transition at this weekend’s Ironman 70.3 UK. I was instantly impressed by the road holding and grip of the Ultremos, even in the wet. For a slick road tyre they performed very well in even the most torrential of rain storms.

As you would expect from a race tyre, the rolling resistance was low, much less than that of my Gatorskins and I loved this. Although the Ultremo DD are not a direct competitor of the Gatorskin, more the Continental GP4000, they could be substituted. The Ultremo DDs spun up quickly on my new wheelset and I have to say that I was very impressed.

I did experience one flat tyre, although upon closer inspection this was entirely due to a valve blow-out on an old inner tube, so I have no complaints about the Ultremos durability. I’ve ridden a good 500km on the tyres now without incident and they’re showing no signs of wear or tear, just as you’d expect from a tyre of this calibre.

Just before I conclude, there’s one more thing I think needs a mention: Schwalbe have managed to make a cracking looking tyre here. It’s not something I would usually mention, but I feel that Schwalbe’s tyre line up is one of the best looking out there, the logos are distinctive and large enough to be noticed – when shod on your favourite set of wheels they look the business!

I would wholeheartedly reccomend the Ultremo DDs, they weigh in at 240g for the 23c versions, so a little heavier than a throroughbred race tyre such as the Ultremo ZLX, but I personally would rather the extra security of puncture resistance than shelling 30g or 40g here and there. Overall a fantastic tyre with great potential for sportive riders, amateur racers and anyone who just wants a solid, do it all riding tyre that’ll let you go hard without the worry of constant punctures.

The Ultremo DDs retail at £43.99. More information can be found on Schwalbe’s website - http://www.schwalbe.co.uk/

I’m going to give the Ultremo DDs 4.5/5 for their excellent performance and durability!

1. Rupert Englander:

   June 20, 2012 at 15:07

   Interesting. I'm using Schwalbe Ultremo's ZX at the moment and they've cut up quite bad on the roads, although I am a big fan of their grip and their rolling performance. I was pretty sure I was going to go with Continental GP4000's but your review has made me think. I'm going to do a little more research on these. Thanks!

2. Bikesoup:

   June 20, 2012 at 19:21

   Great to hear that we could be of help Rupert! I've previously run GP4000s and Gatorskins and I feel that these top them both in terms of all year round performance!

3. Nick Fountain:

   June 21, 2012 at 10:01

   I have ridden these and find them terrible in the wet and on more than a few occasions had them wash out under me. I ride everyday what ever the weather and like to think I can keep it pinned in the corners – the only tyre for me is the GP4000's a true every day tyre than you know can hold you and you can trust. They don't last as long as others but if you want to feel stable and have confidence in the corners then these are the tyres for you.