Today at EuroBike, Challenge Tires officially launched its Handmade Tubeless-Ready (HTLR) and Tubeless Tubular (HTLTU) tires for gravel and road.
Challenge has long been known for its handmade tires, and with the new Handmade Tubeless-Ready technology, it brings the quality and performance of the handmade process to the tubeless tires it launched with a vulcanized construction a year ago. Challenge’s handmade tire construction provides comfort and handling, and the new tires are produced in line with the ETRTO tubeless guidelines.
Challenge launched Handmade Tubeless-Ready versions of its gravel tires today. © Challenge Tires
Based on testing done in the Flint Hills of Kansas and other challenging gravel terrains, the new handmade tires have a bead-to-bead inner coating that gives added puncture protection and greatly reduces air pressure dissipation. The tires also have an aramid bead protection strip to reduce rim chafing and increase longevity.
With this initial launch, Challenge is offering the Handmade Tubeless-Ready technology for both road and gravel tires.
The Strada Bianca, Almanzo and Gravel Grinder gravel treads will be offered as handmade tubeless options, with the Strada Bianca available in a 700c x 36mm width, the Almanzo in 33mm and the Gravel Grinder in 33mm and 36mm options. The tire casings of each tread feature a 260 TPI construction. They are expected to be available in November 2019.
The 260 TPI 700c x 36mm Strada Bianca is among the new HTLR tires available. © Challenge Tires
Handmade tubeless versions of the Strada Bianca, Paris-Roubaix and Strada road tires with the HTLR technology are also being released.
Challenge also launched Handmade Tubeless-Ready versions of its road tires. © Challenge Tires
Both the gravel and road handmade tubeless-ready tires will cost $79.90 and have weights competitive with some of the lowest on the market.
Challenge launched a handmade tubeless-ready version of the Gravel Grinder gravel tire today. © Challenge Tires
Also launching at Eurobike are the first Handmade Tubeless Tubulars (HTLTU). All Challenge Gravel treads now offer this unique HTLTU system that maintains all the performance benefits of the best handmade tubulars. A latex liner is fused to the casing, replacing the traditional inner tube, allowing for the use of a plug to finish a ride or race in case of a puncture too large for the sealant to fix.
The new HTLTU tires will be available in 700c x 30mm and 36mm for the Strada Bianca, 33mm for the Gravel Grinder and 33mm for the Almanzo. The tires will retail for $99.99.
Challenge is also offering new Tubeless Tubulars for gravel and road. © Challenge Tires
Challenge owner Alex Brauns today confirms, “It has been our goal to be at the forefront of truly handmade tubeless-ready products for a long time but the industry standards had not been defined. With new ETRTO and soon ISO standards in place, we are proud to lead the way with our unique, artisan HTLR products that we believe deliver the best possible ride in terms of performance, handling and comfort.”
Both the Handmade Tubeless-Ready and Handmade Tubeless Tubular tires are expected to be available to consumers in November 2019.
For more information, visit challenge.it and see the specs below the launch video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXIgpGZuJ88&feature=youtu.be
Gravel Handmade Tubeless Ready (HTLR) Specs
Gravel Grinder
MSRP: $79.90 USD
Sizes: 700c x 33/36mm
Weight: 405g (33mm), 425g (36mm)
Casing: 260 TPI
Protection: Aramid bead protection, bead-to-bead coating
Strada Bianca
Cost: $79.90
Size: 700c x 36mm
Weight: 385g
Casing: 260 TPI
Protection: Aramid bead protection, bead-to-bead coating
Almanzo
MSRP: $79.90
Size: 700c x 33mm
Weight: 390g
Casing: 260 TPI
Protection: Aramid bead protection, bead-to-bead coating
Gravel Handmade Tubeless Tubular Specs
Gravel Grinder
MSRP: $99.99 USD
Size: 700c x 33mm
Weight: 465g
Casing: 260 TPI
Liner: Latex liner, fused to casing
Protection: Double puncture protection
Strada Bianca
MSRP: $99.99
Size: 700c x 30/36mm
Weight: 385g (30mm), 495g (36mm)
Casing: 260 TPI
Liner: Latex liner, fused to casing
Protection: Double puncture protection
Almanzo
MSRP: $99.99
Size: 700c x 33mm
Weight: 450g
Casing: 260 TPI
Liner: Latex liner, fused to casing
Protection: Double puncture protection
Support for this post was provided by Challenge Tires.
