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Reviews
Speed tyres - fast threads
By Jeff Jones
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The Speed tyre company is a relatively new Thailand based outfit that is aiming to forge a niche in the very competitive road tyre market. The company was started by a group of individuals with over 10 years experience working in the Lion Tyre Factory, which has manufactured tyres for well known brands. Speed's tyres have been marketed for the past two years in Japan as 'TNI'. It now intends to market its tyres under the Speed brand all over the world.
With tyres being among the most consumable of all cycling products, value for money is important; Speed claims its range is both significantly lighter and cheaper than the competition's, without compromising on durability.
We tested two different Speed tyres - the top end Criterium Super model (AU$64.95), and the mid to high end Cefiro (AU$54.95). There is also the Scatto, an entry level tyre, that retails for $37.95 in Australia. By comparison, a typical high end racing tyre such as the popular Michelin Axial Pro, retails around $100 in Australia.
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All of the Speed tyres boast impressively high threads per inch (TPI) counts, a measure of the quality of a tyre. Generally speaking, it's claimed that the greater the TPI, the more supple the tyre, the better the grip and the lower the rolling resistance. Generally the best racing tyres, such as Tubulars or Open Tubulars have TPI counts between 200-300. Speed's Criterium Super has a TPI of 340, while the Cefiro has 260, and even the Scatto has a TPI of 220.
Similarly when it comes to weight, the Speed tyres also score well. The claimed weights of the Criterium Super and Cefiro are between 175 and 195g, although the tyres we tested were 10-20g heavier than this, as tested on our atomically precise scales. However, most tyres do vary in weight, and the bottom line is that the Speed tyres are among the lightest on the market.
The tyres are manufactured from a silica rubber compound. The belt is made out of high density polyester, which the manufacturers claim is more flexible than kevlar, and is said to give a more lively ride. The carcass of the tyre is constructed from a blend of polyester and polycotton, and undergoes two coating stages to give improved flexibility.
The tyres also feature an elastic puncture protection belting, which is designed to improve the puncture resistance, tyre longevity, dampening and speed of the tyre. Finally, the tread is made from a silica compound, which is bonded to the rest of the tyre using a process called "Dual Bonding Molecule". The tread itself is fairly minimal, as it should be in a high performance tyre.
On the road
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All this is good in theory, but how do they feel on the road? I tested both the Cefiro and Criterium Super on fairly good roads in and around Sydney, as well as on rougher roads further north. My verdict was that while they feel and handle like good racing tyres, they don't give as 'soft' a ride as you'd expect from a tyre with such a high TPI. But I certainly had some good results on them in local races, and at the end of the day, that's what really matters - results.
There were no real opportunities to test them in the wet, so I'll refrain from conjecture there. Generally for wet weather handling, I find soft compound tyres with zero tread to be the best.
With regards to puncture resistance, I got 2,000 km out of a 700 x 20c Criterium Super mounted on the rear wheel, before a rather savage rock forced me to retire the tyre. Had that not happened, I estimate I could have squeezed another 1,000 km out of it. I consider 2000-3000 km to be the average life of a racing tyre on the back, so the Criterium Supers certainly fit this criteria. The Cefiro was still going strong after 1,400 km when I stopped using it.
Overall
As a racing tyre with good performance characteristics, the Speed tyres rate well against other leading brands. Their low price, high TPI and light weight are a big plus, and they should find their way onto plenty of wheels once they become more widely distributed.
Tech specs
Criterium Super 700x20c
Threads per inch: 340
Claimed weight: 175g
Tested weight: 195g
Max psi: 125
Colour: Black
Price: $AU64.95
Cefiro 700x23c
Threads per inch: 260
Claimed weight: 195g
Tested weight: 210g
Max psi: 125
Colour: Black/Red/Blue
Price: $AU54.95
Scatto 700x23c
Threads per inch: 220
Max psi: 125
Colour: Black
Price: $AU37.95
Australian/New Zealand importers: The Bicycle Authority
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