Tuesday, 19 March 2024
FeaturedNews

Schwalbe enters airless tyre arena with bike shop exclusive product

Schwalbe has entered the airless tyre segment with a new €89 puncture proof system based around an air free thermoplastic polyurethane paired with an inner Airless ring.

Consisting of an outer tyre paired with an inner portion, the new Airless system is said to be able to cope with high-speed and electric bike use, delivering a 10,000 kilometre lifecycle if used normally.

Initially available in Germany and Holland, UK rollout is to be confirmed, according to Dave Taylor of Schwalbe UK.

He told CI.N: “The UK SRP will be similar to the Euro SRP converted at current FX rate and it will absolutely be IBD only. At present we’ll produce 622 size moulds which will be available only until such time as sufficient demand comes from 559 or 349, for example.”

Requiring special tooling to install, the product comes well suited to physical bike shop installation, as opposed to online sales. According to Bike Europe, Schwalbe will host specialist training starting in May.

The ‘feel’ of the tyre is said to replicate a 3.5 bar air pressure, something that’s comparable with the characteristics of a normal inner tube.

Schwalbe told the European trade portal: “The technical properties of the foam particles, consisting of thermoplastic polyurethane (E-TPU), known under the Infinergy brand of BASF” make the system unique. “Incidentally, it is the same material that is used in the soles of Adidas BOOST running shoes. The Airless tube has excellent damping and flexibility characteristics and offers lots of comfort.”

The only downsides, according to Schwalbe, are a slightly higher rolling resistance and a marginally higher weight when compared to tubes.

To begin with a 40-622 sized tyre and Airless counterpart will be available, coming best suited to internal rim widths of 19 to 21mm.