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Hutchinson has just announced the expansion of its high-performance road tire range, Blackbird, with two new models: the Blackbird Race and the Blackbird All Season.
Source: press release
Blackbird Race
The Blackbird Race embodies Hutchinson’s expertise, designed to satisfy the most demanding cyclists, whether they compete on the WorldTour circuit or in local races. This tire marks a major evolution in Hutchinson’s competition tire offering. Building on the DNA of its fastest road tire, the “Blackbird,” every component has been refined to create a lightweight and even faster tire, positioning it among the most technologically advanced on the market.
Developed in collaboration with the WorldTour team Intermarché-Wanty and Hutchinson’s elite athletes, a prototype was used by British triathlete Alex Yee to win the gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Every aspect of the Blackbird Race has been meticulously adjusted to achieve a perfect balance between speed, grip, and puncture resistance.
The tire incorporates a new Ultraswift casing, pushing the limits of current manufacturing techniques. Hutchinson has reduced the weight of the rubberized fabric used in the casing by nearly 22%, while decreasing the thickness of the tire’s central section by 23%. Perfect sealing in the tubeless version is achieved by wrapping this 127 TPI casing fabric around the tire beads, then binding it directly to the central polyamide protection strip. This results in three layers of 127 TPI on the sidewalls, but only two in the center, thereby improving flexibility and reducing rolling resistance.
This Ultraswift technology offers an incredibly flexible and lightweight tire, providing exceptional grip, a smooth ride feel, and an increased sensation of speed.
The rubber compound used on the Blackbird Race is also an innovation. The Mach Tread Ultimate compound builds on the lessons learned from the previous generation (Mach Tread 3.0) to further improve rolling resistance and grip. Thus, Mach Tread Ultimate becomes the fastest compound ever developed by Hutchinson, combining speed, grip, and abrasion resistance.
These combined advancements make the Blackbird Race the fastest tire ever produced by Hutchinson. It offers a 10% gain in watt efficiency compared to the existing Blackbird, with a 30 mm version performing even better than the 28 mm. The weight has been reduced by 17% on the 28 mm model, reaching a floor weight of 240 g (255 g for the 30 mm). This versatile tire will be the preferred choice for the majority of Intermarché-Wanty races throughout the year.
Handmade in France, the Blackbird Race represents the culmination of Hutchinson’s expertise, developed through decades of collaboration with the world’s best athletes and their “Racing Lab” program, which includes talents from all cycling disciplines.
The Blackbird Race is available for €79.99. Compatible with hookless rims, it is available in 28 and 30 mm versions (wider versions are in development).
Blackbird All Season
The Blackbird All Season completes the Blackbird ecosystem by offering a high-performance tire suitable for all conditions, increasing speed, safety, and peace of mind throughout the year.
Several new technologies have been integrated. A dual-compound tread is used to maximize efficiency and protection, with Mach Tread 3.0 in the center and a new Safetread compound on the sides, maintaining grip even in cold and wet conditions. The tread thickness has been increased by 24% to 2.1 mm, extending the tire’s lifespan to 6000 km and offering better protection against road debris.
The Blackbird All Season reintroduces Gridskin technology, an innovative knitted fabric for the sidewalls, offering increased protection against cuts and pinch flats, comparable to Hutchinson’s Hardskin protection, but with a much lower weight. Combined with the polyamide protection strip, puncture resistance is unmatched for a performance tire.
The result: a tire capable of high-speed performance all year round without sacrificing grip or comfort, ideal for winter rides without compromising summer performance. With a competitive weight of 340 g for the 28 mm version, the Blackbird All Season is the perfect choice for cyclists tackling winter Gran Fondos, cobbled races, or those seeking speed on poor quality roads.
Handmade in France and available in Black or Tan Wall versions, the Blackbird All Season is hookless compatible in its Tubeless version. The tubed tire construction is different from the tubeless, more focused on peace of mind, while the tubeless version is very performance-oriented. The Blackbird All Season is available in 28, 30, and 32 mm sizes, starting from €49.99 for the Tube Type version and €69.99 for the Tubeless version.
The Blackbird Ecosystem
With these new additions, Hutchinson now offers a complete range of high-performance tires suitable for all racing and riding conditions:
Blackbird Race: A tire designed for demanding connoisseurs, seeking pure performance.
Blackbird: A versatile tire offering a balance between high performance and daily durability, with a lifespan of over 4000 km.
Blackbird All Season: For demanding cyclists looking for a high-performance tire that combines speed, safety, and reliability, even in the harshest winter conditions, without compromise throughout the year.
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