Hutchinson Introduces the Blackbird Racing Lab, Its Fastest Tire Ever

Hutchinson is launching the Black Bird Racing Lab today: a concentration of cutting-edge technologies designed to offer exceptional performance! While the Fusion 5 was already considered very high-level a few quarters ago, it is now surpassed by the competition. With the Black Bird Racing Lab, Hutchinson shifts gears. You will be amazed by the characteristics of this tire, but for now, we’ll let you read the official presentation to get an idea. At 3bikes, we have already covered 2000 km with this French tire, and we are impressed by its level of performance. Join us in another 2000 km: at the end of the longevity test, and discover for yourself the exceptional durability of our Black Bird Racing Lab tire, but believe us, this French weapon will make an impact!

Source: with press release

In summary:

The fastest tire ever developed by Hutchinson, introducing revolutionary new technologies: Mach Tread 3.0 compound and SwiftEasy Casing construction
A 10% performance gain compared to the previous generation of tires
A 15% wider tread allows for improved grip and better cornering lean angle

Hutchinson, historical French manufacturer of bicycle tires and pioneer of tubeless technology, today announced the launch of the Blackbird Racing Lab, its latest generation of high-performance road tires. The Art of cycling ultimately comes down to one thing: three square centimeters of contact between your tires and the road. This small surface has been at the heart of Hutchinson’s history since its first innovations in this area in 1890.

The Blackbird is the exciting next chapter in this story. A development resulting from over a century of collaboration with riders at the highest level and the fruit of transforming this consuming passion for innovation and performance into technologies that advance cycling.

Four years of intensive research and development were needed to create the Blackbird, resulting in the fastest tire ever developed by Hutchinson. Rolling resistance has been improved by 10% compared to the previous generation Fusion 5, while offering an increased lifespan of over 4000 km, which places it at the top of its category.

At the heart of the rolling resistance reduction is Hutchinson’s new ‘SwiftEasy Casing’ construction. This new construction sees the tire’s 127tpi casing wrap around the tire bead, then be directly bonded to a central polyamide puncture protection strip instead of the usual process of layering these plies.

A final casing layer extends from bead to bead to ensure airtightness. The SwiftEasy Casing construction provides a much more flexible contact patch with the road, significantly improving both rolling resistance and comfort. The result is a super-fast, comfortable, and lightweight tire, with the Blackbird TLR in 28 mm displaying a weight of 290 g.

Another technology introduced on the Blackbird is the ‘Mach Tread 3.0’ compound, the fastest and most efficient mixture ever developed by Hutchinson. This new mixture is a completely new formulation with significantly reduced rolling resistance and a high rebound that provides better energy return (+25%) when it comes into contact with the road.

The Mach Tread 3.0 compound is also 10% harder than the previous 11Storm compound, which means the tire offers increased resistance to tears in case of cuts from debris and an impressive lifespan of over 4000 km. These improvements are made while maintaining the same high levels of grip found in Hutchinson’s previous generation of high-performance road tires.

The tire has been specifically designed around modern, wider rims, with a tread surface 15% wider than previous generation tires. This, combined with the more flexible SwiftEasy Casing construction, means that the tire’s footprint is wider than it is long, allowing for aggressive lean angles and reduced rolling resistance.

The tire is available in black and Tan Wall versions, in three sizes: 26 mm, 28 mm, and 30 mm, weighing respectively 275 g, 290 g, and 310 g. The 28 and 30 mm TLR versions are hookless compatible. The Tubeless Ready versions of the Blackbird Racing Lab are sold at a recommended retail price of €69.99.

The Blackbird Racing Lab is also available in a Tubetype version. In this version, the SwiftEasy Casing construction gives way to a 3x127tpi casing reinforced with Aramid protection under the tread, to offer increased puncture resistance, necessary for tubed tires. These Tubetype versions are also available in black and Tan Wall, weighing respectively 225 g, 245 g and 265 g. The Tubetype versions of the Blackbird Racing Lab are sold at a recommended retail price of €49.99.