Schwalbe X One Bite Preview

Paul Horta-Hopkins

A preview of the Schwalbe X One Bite tubeless cyclo-cross tyre.

New for 2017 is Schwalbe’s X One Bite. This is a beefed up X One, which is their all round tyre. I’ve been using the X One for a season now and it’s been good in all conditions; so much so that I’ve not bothered to change it. In really thick mud however it can get a little overwhelmed. Just as I was thinking I could do with something that was a little more aggressive, I noticed a pair of these at a local race.

The X One Bite is an aggressive mud tyre. Should get me through the gloop

The X One Bite comes in two versions, Evolution and Performance Line. The Evolution Line, which is what I’ll be testing uses Schwalbes’ latest tyre technology and materials. These include Microskin and their One Star compound, which is the road version of their Triple Star Compound. One Star uses a mix of hard and soft compounds to produce a grippy, but long-lasting tyre. The Performance Line tyres use slightly lesser materials to produce a more affordable tyre, about half the price.

Tubeless ready, means lower pressures and the reassurance of sealant onboard

Using Schwalbe’s Microskin Tubeless Easy carcass, I’m expecting them to fit as easily as all their other tyres. The Microskin carcass also offers improved cut resistance, something I appreciate when riding on the flint strewn Downs.

Both tyres are only available in one size, 700×33, so you’ll be UCI compliant. The X One Bite looks a lot like it’s older brother, with a similar tread pattern. But where the X One arranged it’s tread in a repeating diamond pattern, the Bite’s are arranged in a more spread out line pattern. The lugs look like cones that have had their tops cut off. The majority are circular with oblong ones running down the centre.

With the dry early season races now a distant memory, they’ve arrived just in time for some proper mud. I’ll be fitting them today, testing then around the park tomorrow and racing them on the weekend; perfect timing! I’ll let you know how they perform in the gloop.

Schwalbe

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