Innovation, engineering and outside the box thinking. Those are qualities that have made Schwalbe a major player in tires for all disciplines. When we consider the use of various heights and rubber compounds of round knobs to deliver traction across a variety of tire uses, Schwalbe tires come to the fore. These shapes make even more sense in the tubeless tire world where lower presures, even on the road, mean tires react and respond differently and emphasize low rolling resistance without sacrificing traction and control in wet or dry conditions. By bringing that concept to gravel and cyclocross tires, Schwalbe changes our expectations and skill sets. The best example for cross is the X-One Speed TL Easy Cyclocross Tire, which is fast and agile, yet grips on hardpack, loose over hard, firm dirt and can thrive on dry grass as well. The 700x33mm UCI legal tire was conceived to dominate the early season all around the country, but also most of the year in the dry mountain states. It can be run as rear with an X-One AllRound up front, or as pair on the fastest of courses.

As an Evolution series tire, the X-One Speed is a race-ready product made with the highest grade materials and technology, among them the OneStar rubber tread set-up. OneStar is Schwalbe's race road/cross triple compound rubber, which delivers the best combination of lightweight, grip, traction, and low rolling resistance. As you'd expect, the firmest compound is in the center and it trends softer as you go outward. Which brings to the very interesting tread of the X-One Speed. Think about how a tire's shape changes with pressure variations. The round knobs deliver grip at higher pressure, or lower equally well for fast accelerations and stable control. The gaps between mean sand or small loose material on hardpack can be managed at speed. As smart and effective as the round knobs are, the key to the overall performance of the directional X-One Speed comes from the shoulder, angled, long oval knobs with siping lines referred to as “Multi-Rip” Block by Schwalbe, and the smaller, yet similarly shaped and siped edge knobs that at higher pressure seem to face almost distinctly outward. Now think about the tire at lower pressures, on corners and off-camber sections, and how those edge knobs become more of an active traction and grip device, with the angled shoulder transitions offering extra grab and a consistent feel.

Every company can make a fast tire. Every one of them can add edge traction. It is how those zones interrelate that truly matters for the versatility required for cross, even on hard pack. Think sand, grass, wood flyovers with loose sand on them and fast corners that require aggression- or any speed advantage is lost. Your tire needs to feel natural, consistent, capable and highly predictable. We think that is the value and genius of the X-One Speed. Yes, it has limitations, but that is where other tire options come in. Skill, fitness and talent in cross are crucial to success, but one of the most important skills is understanding how your equipment equates to the course requirements and to your abilities. Ever see someone riding a tire you think is just flat wrong for the course or conditions, yet they never seem to falter? That is because equipment knowledge and experience enhances their physical and mental skills. With so many options on the market you can find the best tires for your situation, but make sure you test and take chances on options you might dismiss at first glance. Tires are now being developed not just to "be" tubeless, but "for" tubeless use and in our opinion no other company is ahead of Schwalbe in this direction at this time.

The key to effective tubeless set-ups has to be mount-ability and how quickly and effectively the tire seats the bead to create a proper seal that won't burp. Yes, you need sealant, and Schwalbe recommends Stan's NoTubes version. The goal is to run a lower pressure set-up (without burping) for added grip and control from the larger footprint the conforming tire matching to the surface. Schwalbe's Tubeless Easy system ensures this, and you will have best results on rims with 19-22mm tubeless ready internal rim widths. The suppleness of the tire is delivered by the 127 TPI casing and MicroSkin protection layer, which move freely together. That suppleness helps you set the bead, as well as giving the tire the ability to conform and deform as necessary, with the protection you need to avoid sidewall cuts or tears.

The harder the course conditions, the tendency is for a higher pressure, but with this X-One Speed tubeless tire, you may not need to go as high as normal. Drop down a little to take full advantage through every aspect of the course, maintaining better overall speed and control. Allow the OneStar rubber to deliver on it's properties, and give the tread an opportunity to function as intended. We expect the Schwalbe X-One Speed TL Easy Cyclocross Tire to be a top seller early this season and a dominant offering in the mountain states region. Like our home, in and around Boulder, CO.