Hutchinson Blackbird Wider tyres

Hutchinson’s Blackbird Wider Tyres – Redefining Fast tyres?

Hutchinson has expanded the entire Blackbird family – Race, standard Blackbird and All Season -to include 32mm and 34mm widths. According to independent lab testing commissioned by the brand, 32mm tyres deliver a 5% improvement in rolling efficiency compared to otherwise identical 30mm versions. The Blackbird wider casings also offer increased comfort and grip, without any price increase across the range.

For a company with more than a century of tyre development behind it, Hutchinson says the move wasn’t about following a trend. Instead, it wanted to validate the shift toward wider tyres through controlled testing and rider feedback from elite athletes. The conclusion: wider is not only viable for performance riding, it may now be the smarter choice.

Why Wider Tyres Are Testing Faster

Hutchinson highlights three performance pillars behind the move to larger sizes:

• Rolling resistance – At the same pressure, a wider tyre produces a shorter, rounder contact patch. This reduces casing deformation and internal friction, improving efficiency.
• Grip and stability – A broader footprint keeps the contact patch centred under the rim during cornering, especially when running lower pressures.
• Comfort – Wider tyres allow lower PSI without sacrificing speed, helping the tyre absorb road imperfections rather than bouncing over them.

The brand acknowledges that narrower tyres retain an aerodynamic advantage, but says the gains in rolling efficiency and reduced rider fatigue outweigh any aero penalty – particularly over long distances or when paired with appropriately wide rims.

“Once You Try It, There’s No Going Back”

Hutchinson Product Manager Martin Chuchu says the industry’s long‑held belief that narrow tyres equal speed is now outdated:

“A wider tyre performs better: it filters vibrations, provides damping, and delivers a level of stability you feel immediately, especially in high‑speed corners. The change might be surprising at first, but once you get a taste for it, there is no going back.”

Hutchinson sees 32mm as the new performance sweet spot for most riders, with 34mm suited to daily training, rough roads and cobbled racing.

Full Blackbird Range Now in 32mm and 34mm

All new sizes are available immediately and priced the same as existing widths.

Blackbird Race – Pure race tyre focused on speed and handling.

• 28, 30, 32, 34mm – €79.99 / £69.99

Blackbird – All‑round performance with low rolling resistance and a claimed 4,000km+ lifespan.

• 26, 28, 30, 32, 34mm (Black or Tan Wall) – €69.99 / £61.99

Blackbird All Season – Performance in wet and cold conditions without sacrificing speed.

• 28, 30, 32, 34mm (Black or Tan Wall) – €69.99 / £61.99

With the pro peloton already pushing towards wider setups – and modern rims designed to match – Hutchinson’s expansion of the Blackbird line reflects a broader industry shift. The brand’s data‑driven approach reinforces what many riders have begun to feel on the road: comfort, grip and speed no longer sit in opposition.

See Hutchinson’s full range of Blackbird tyres on their website. Read our article about the Blackbird Race, All Season or the Caracal Gravel range.