Discovering the precise tyres to your highway bike is a kind of choices that individuals get deeply invested in. Riders have a tendency to seek out their favourites by way of a mixture of trial and error, rumour and luck then follow their weapons for years. These of us right here at Cyclingnews do not have that luxurious although, we continuously attempt numerous tyres in order that we will share with you one of the best of what is obtainable. Currently, the Enve SES highway tyre has popped up on each our record of the finest tubeless highway tyres and in addition the finest highway bike tyres and now it is time to validate that inclusion with a bit extra element.
When a model develops one of many finest highway bike wheels it is not in a vacuum with out consideration for the remainder of the system. There are numerous hours of CFD and wind tunnel time spent optimising aerodynamics and the tyre is part of that. It solely is sensible to take as a lot management of the tyre because the wheel and that is precisely what Enve has carried out right here. After spending a number of time on the results of their efforts, we’re able to share with you our ideas on the Enve SES highway tyre. Preserve studying to see what we predict they’re good at and see if you happen to ought to think about making the soar to your using.
Design and aesthetics
The headline function of the Enve SES highway tyres is that they’re aerodynamically optimised. It is solely a small a part of the general design however if you happen to’ve learn something concerning the Enve tyres it is sure to be in regards to the aero optimisation. The vast majority of what that really means on this context is regarding the tread sample.
The essential idea is much like the dimples on golf balls – spend a lot time fascinated by aerodynamics in biking and this can be a pattern that comes up with regularity. You may even see it in clothes with Castelli utilising the identical idea within the Castelli Free Aero Race 4 bib shorts. As with clothes and golf balls, Enve says the Emblem on the shoulder of the tyre supplies helpful turbulence.
As air flows across the tyre, that tread provides turbulence that retains the airflow hooked up. As an alternative of breaking free on the high of the tyre and leaving the remainder of the wheel in a wake of soiled, turbulent air, it stays hooked up lengthy sufficient to circulate into the rim floor of the entrance wheel. On the rear wheel, the tread helps to shut the wake because the airflow transitions off the tyre. In accordance with Enve the specifics of the tread aren’t all that essential, simply that they comprise angles and edges. That little element means they’ve had the chance to have a little bit of enjoyable and use the Enve brand.
Regardless of this optimisation being the factor that tends to catch individuals’s eye, there’s much more depth to the design. On a regular basis rideability is definitely on the forefront of what the Enve SES highway tyre is all about, and to attain this meant balancing weight, rolling resistance, and puncture resistance for a tyre you’ll be able to journey with out overthinking it.
In every of those classes the design staff labored with Tufo tyres to fabricate precisely what they had been in search of, which is a mixture of wheel compatibility, ease of set up, and every-day rideability.
Enve didn’t attempt to be the best possible in each class, however slightly aimed to maintain the tyre on the wheel and in any other case be among the many finest. An important instance is the rolling resistance; a mixture of weight and puncture resistance. The design objective was to stability these wants for on a regular basis use. Put to the check by bicyclerollingresistance.com, the Enve SES tyre isn’t absolutely the quickest tyre obtainable, however it’s got higher puncture resistance than most.
Truly arriving on the acknowledged targets meant choosing the proper supplies for the job. On the bead you’ll discover a materials known as Zylon, which is stronger than Kevlar and stiffer than metal but in addition has excessive thermal stability and excessive resistance to stretching over time. Transfer to the tread and also you’ll discover a 2.2mm layer of SPC Silica with a 66 durometer score and a Vectran backing, all of which serve to supply longevity in addition to grip.
Efficiency
The very first thing you must do with a brand new set of tubeless tyres is mount them. Enve hung out optimising this expertise and the outcomes are apparent however not overwhelming. Pulling them out of the packaging you’ll be able to really feel in your arms that these are slightly cheesy tires and a 29mm tyre has a squared-off centre part with a steep sidewall. I examined them on a wheel that just a few hours earlier required three tyre levers and a second particular person to get a tyre on. With the Enve tyre, two tyre levers, and some minutes of struggling did the job simply nice. It is nonetheless a hookless appropriate tyre, and that’s at all times going to imply a difficult mount expertise, but it surely’s not practically as drastic, even on a tough wheel.
Out on the highway, my expertise was per the acknowledged design targets. My using tends to cowl nation roads that vary from chipseal as much as one thing that was as soon as in respectable form. I additionally spend period of time on rural freeway shoulders which might be inevitably stuffed with highway particles, so puncture resistance can be at all times at the back of my thoughts.
With tyre shortages being the present norm it is tough to make use of the identical tyres I’ve used prior to now. Having a tyre that is appropriate with hookless programs definitely takes a few of the guesswork out of issues, and that is a giant plus in my guide.
I am at all times a sucker for aerodynamic claims but it surely’s additionally essential that the story does not finish there. The Enve SES tyre is sticky sufficient it persistently shoots rocks on debris-filled highways shoulders. That is indication that you will have the grip when descending and it additionally matches up with the texture of the tyres as they arrive out of the field and the extent of traction provided in corners too.
Verdict
If you journey the Enve SES tyres you’ll be able to really feel their enter; quick tyres that you just don’t have to consider. You will get them on a wheel simply and received’t fear about them coming off if that wheel makes use of a hookless design. They’ve obtained nice highway really feel and grip however sufficient puncture safety that they aren’t fragile. The Enve SES highway tyre is a wonderful tyre in case your using is spirited and quick however you’ll be masking massive miles the place it’s extra essential to have a cushty journey than it’s to have absolutely the quickest tyre obtainable.
Two years in the past when these tyres got here to market there have been only a few choices obtainable for these working hookless wheels. There are extra choices now however the Enve SES continues to be a high-quality contender. The obvious competitors is the Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR, and the 2 are shut however you’ll be able to see how they’ve a barely completely different focus. The Continental is quicker however there’s much less puncture safety and our reviewer particularly known as out what a wrestle they’re to mount. It doesn’t harm that the Enve choice is rather less costly too.
The one factor I would like to see Enve alter is the sizing. I desire to journey a 28mm tyre and with the Enve system, I’ve obtained to decide on to go up or down. The explanation for that is not, in response to Enve, that the tyres are literally a distinct measurement however slightly that the majority tyre sizes do not signify the inflated measurement on trendy wheels. It is true but it surely’s a problem to have one firm because the outlier. Simply know that if you happen to like a 28mm tyre mounted on a wheel that is obtained an inner width of round 21mm, meaning a 29mm tyre from Enve. It additionally means each tyres will probably be close to 30mm if you happen to measure the inflated tyre on a 22.4mm inner width wheel.
Tech Specs: Enve SES Street Tyre
- Value: £69.99 / $75.00 / AU$109.99
- Utility: Street, Street Race, Triathlon, Time-Trial, All-Street
- Composition: Pure and Artificial Rubber Compound w/ Activated Silica for All-Climate Efficiency
- Tubeless Compatibility: Tubeless Prepared and Inside-Tube Suitable
- Rim bead compatibility: Hookless and Hooked-Bead Rim Sort Suitable
- Inside-Rim Width Compatibility: 25c (17-21mm) | 27c, 29c, 31c (17-25mm)
- Weight: 25c (255g), 27c (265g), 29c (275g), 31c (285g)
- Puncture Safety: Vectran™ Safety Barrier
