Intro

My earlier review on the Schwalbe Marathon Racer tires left me feeling like there must be better out there. Indeed, there are more expensive ones out there, but what does that mean in terms of performance and quality? I purchased a set of Schwalbe One tires to find out!

Review

Let me start by saying – these things are not cheap. Compared to other popular tires in their class, they are towards the top end in price. I purchased mine from Lazada at $69 per piece. I hope to review many more tires in the lineup over the coming months and plan on doing a ‘top 5’ review.

Straight after slipping these onto my rims, I noticed the difference. These tires are fast and seem to get you places more quickly. For me, the most significant difference I saw was the performance in wet weather. I was sceptical and nervous about this, which is one of my primary concerns when riding our bikes. After having a couple of damp weather falls on the Schwalbe Marathon Racer, I am (touch wood) happy to say that I have had none on these tires. The tires have been used for the last four months and, even in wet conditions, seem to perform slightly better, giving the rider peace of mind that they are safe. Still, I always advise extra caution and slower speeds in wet conditions, especially on smaller-wheeled bikes.

And don’t they look cool? The contrast of the tan wall with the tire and the slick rubber shouts sophistication. This isn’t just a performance upgrade but also a cosmetic one. They look good, but I’m not sure about the overall hardiness of these tires. I have had a couple of punctures since using them, and am unsure how long the initial great-grip performance will last. I will update this post after a year’s worth of service.

Conclusion

Compared with the OG Marathon Racer tire, there is a definite and noticeable difference in performance. They also look much better on the bike. However, the punctures make me slightly apprehensive about giving this tire a rating of more than 9/10.