Hutchinson announces a new endurance and training tire: the Challenger TLR

Hutchinson today introduces the Challenger TLR, the ultimate all-season tire, designed for ultra endurance and training. Developed to deliver safe, confidence-inspiring handling in all conditions, the Challenger TLR offers a level of puncture resistance never before achieved at this level of performance, an impressive tire life of 10000 km and unrivaled comfort in the endurance and training categories.

Source: press release

Hutchinson has a long history of developing this technology. The Challenger TLR honors that heritage. Representing the culmination of many years of intensive research and development by the Hutchinson team in France, two new groundbreaking technologies are introduced on this tire.

The first is an all-new puncture protection technology called HARDSHIELD™. Made up of two distinct layers of protection working in tandem, HARDSHIELD™ delivers a level of puncture resistance never before achieved on a road tire of this performance, while retaining superior flexibility and comfort. A first layer of protection, made of a flexible polyamide reinforcement, covers the full width of the tread, while the second is a slightly narrower strip of super-strong aramid threads, concentrating protection at the contact patch with the ground.

To assess the tires’ ability to resist punctures, Hutchinson put them, along with a range of competing tires, through a testing regime. It was found that, among the tires tested, punctures generally occurred at a force of 80 to 120 Newtons, whereas the Challenger Tubeless resisted punctures up to a force of 170 Newtons, an increase of more than 100% in some cases.

HARDSHIELD™ was also put to the test in real-world conditions during the world’s toughest endurance road race, the Transcontinental Race. Over the last two editions, the tire was tested by three top-level athletes totaling more than 9000 kilometers without a puncture, even allowing Ulrich Bartholmoes to secure 5th place in 2022.

The second groundbreaking advance in this tire’s technology is AIRSHIELD™, a new construction technique that represents a paradigm shift in tubeless setups. It completely eliminates the common problems of air leakage. By incorporating two high-performance sealing compounds that coat the inside of the tire and the bead, AIRSHIELD™ ensures a completely airtight environment.

At the heart of this innovation is a thin layer of flexible butyl that extends without interruption all the way to the “rim line”, setting it apart from conventional textile reinforcements. This unique characteristic allows it to deform and flex in sync with the movement of the tire, thus maintaining an airtight seal against air leaks.

In addition, a tough, abrasion-resistant coating surrounds the tire bead, ensuring a perfect junction between the tire and the rim. This reinforced layer is able to withstand the friction generated by the rim, ensuring an airtight seal that lasts over time. This breakthrough eliminates the need for traditional textile reinforcements on the bead, thereby preserving the suppleness of the sidewall and, as a result, improving ride comfort to unprecedented levels.

The combination of AIRSHIELD™ air-leak prevention technology and HARDSHIELD™ puncture protection opens up the possibility of using Challenger TLR tires without sealant. This could open up access to this technology for those who previously avoided tubeless because of perceived difficulties in setup and maintenance. In the event of a puncture, simply fit an inner tube and repair the tire at home for a mess-free experience. It is nevertheless recommended to use the Challenger TLR together with Protect’Air Max Sealant for its self-sealing qualities, ideal for long endurance events and all-season training.

The construction of the Challenger TLR is based on a 3×127 TPI casing combined with a new Hutchinson Bi-Compound Endurance. The softer shoulders (53 Sha) provide reliable grip in all conditions, while a harder center tread (62 Sha) ensures low rolling resistance and high abrasion resistance. The center tread is 2.3 mm thick, offering extra puncture resistance, increased comfort and a lifespan of up to 10000 km, dominating this category.

The Challenger TLR is available in 25, 28 and 32 mm, weighing 385 g, 400 g and 450 g respectively. Its recommended retail price of €59.99 makes it an economical upgrade for your bike, built to last all year round, peace of mind included.

More info: Hutchinson

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