Easier to fit: Revised version - Challenge Strada road bike tyre

Every road cyclist knows the problem: on current wheel systems, it sometimes takes real strength training to get tubeless tyres onto the rim - if it works at all. Various tyre tests in TOUR have also come to this conclusion. So far, the Strada Pro TLR model from the manufacturer Challenge has been a particularly demanding tyre in all tested dimensions.

Now they have reacted and revised the TLR tyre (TLR stands for tubeless ready) - and indeed: fitting the rubber is much easier. In our follow-up test, the 30 millimetre wide version of the tyre could be pressed onto a Newmen Advanced 50 rim set without a tyre lever - albeit with some manual force and after manoeuvring the rubber ring cleanly into the deepest points of the rim. The tyre can also be mounted on a Zipp 303S rim. We tested with a tube. The somewhat difficult handling is probably also due to the comparatively stiff tread, which only rounds out after inflation.

Visually, the tyre is one of the now rare specimens with a "transparent", i.e. light-coloured, sidewall. Technically, according to our Test but there is still room for improvement. The grip and wet grip are not at the level of the top tyres - but you have to ride your road bike at the limit to achieve this. The Strada also scored poorly in terms of puncture resistance - and lo and behold: after a few kilometres of testing, the tread with its rare herringbone tread pattern picked up a piece of copper wire from the asphalt, which drilled its way through the tread - but miraculously did not perforate the inner tube. After removing the piece of metal, it was possible to continue the journey.