Challenge is Different
Understanding what differentiates our RACE, PRO, XP, TE and ULTRA Series tires becomes simple when you consider we use four different casing materials while our competitors use only nylon. The following is a breakdown of our "product levels" along with how they are constructed.
If you need clarification or advice about which tire is for you, always feel free to ask questions at info@challengetires.us
Vulcanized
Tire Series
RACE Series
The RACE Series focus is value – It's tough to beat the durability, good performance and low cost of vulcanized construction. We work with proven factories in Asia to bring iconic Challenge tread patterns and compounds to more riders.
CASING: Superlight Nylon
With our RACE Series, we start our lineup where other tire makers stop - we utilize ultralight 60TPI Superlight Nylon casings and superior tread compounds to give our traditional vulcanized tires excellent compliance and quality that is more affordable than our handmade offerings.
The Real Story of TPI
The TPI (Threads Per Inch) of a fabric is determined by counting the number of threads in one inch of a material. This is familiar when discussing the quality of bed sheets or tire casings. Depending on the material used in a tire, this varies widely from 60TPI nylon to 350TPI corespun cotton and the almost-uncountable TPI of silk.
The vast majority of high-end vulcanized tires are constructed with 60TPI nylon thread material. In an effort to make this sound more appealing when comparing with 260TPI polyester or 350TPI cotton, many of our competitors will multiply the layers of 60TPI material to claim thread counts of 120 or 180TPI. This is simply misleading and not how TPI is calculated. These companies make fantastic tires, but there is no such thing as a 180TPI vulcanized nylon tire casing fabric.
Challenge uses the same high quality 60TPI superlight nylon as our competitors to create our RACE Series, bringing the same level of construction that you expect from our competition in uniquely-challenge treads and compounds.
Handmade
Tire Series
PRO Series
HANDMADE!
Everyday Handmade Luxury – Our workhorse handmade tire is the PRO Series, delivering performance and ride feel unmatched by traditional vulcanized tires. Perfect for training, racing and the rigors of daily riding, they're the gateway to Challenge Handmade Tires.
CASING: Super Polyester
'Super' Polyesters with higher thread counts of 220-300TPI make up our most affordable handmade casings. Polyester is much softer and stronger than nylon, is impervious to water and quite durable.
XP Series
HANDMADE!
Rugged High Performance – Extra Protection under the tread and Corazza Silver + Gold armor in the sidewalls make our XP Series the choice for rough pavement and gravel routes where sidewall cuts are common.
CASING: Super Polyester
'Super' Polyesters with higher thread counts of 220-300TPI make up our most affordable handmade casings. Polyester is much softer and stronger than nylon, is impervious to water and quite durable.
TEAM EDITION Series
HANDMADE!
The go-to for our professional athletes, Team Edition TE Series Road, CX and Track tires are a step up in casing and compounds and are the ideal balance of features for special efforts. Since 2018 when they were ridden to four World Championship titles by Sanne Cant, Eli Iserbyt, Evie Richards and Ben Tullet, our TE Cyclocross tires have become the world standard.
CASING: Corespun Cotton
Corespun Cotton with thread counts of 320-350TPI is naturally softer and more supple than polyester but is more likely to absorb water so we seal our cotton sidewalls for increased durability.
ULTRA Series
HANDMADE!
The Best of the Best – The extreme expense of silk (Seta, in Italian) construction means ULTRA Series tires are primarily for World Championship and Olympic competitions. The performance is only moderately higher than our TE Series, but when pursuing marginal gains there is no better tire for chasing dreams.
CASING: Silk (Seta, in Italian)
Silk is a strong, soft, natural fiber with thread counts over 1000TPI. The ability of our compliant sealed-silk tires to conform to even the smallest surface feature gives them great traction and very low rolling resistance.
