Rough roads need tough tyres, and with a claimed 10,000km lifespan Hutchinson seem pretty confident in the battling capabilities of their Challenger road tyre.
Billed as "the tyre of the Transcontinental" - Europe's leading bikepacking ultra race - the Hutchinson Challengers are made in France and come ready to fit with tubes or tubeless. We've been testing them on some gnarly local tarmac - and haven't managed to defeat them yet.
It's been a long time since I fitted a 25mm tyre, but I was pleasantly surprised by how sprightly the 25 front and 28 rear combo felt on my Cannondale Topstone. Probably to be expected, as I'd just swapped in the road wheels for the 2.2" Mezcal MTB tyres I've been rolling on most of the summer - the Hutchinsons are noticeably lighter, if not especially light for a road tyre (374g for the 700x28 version).
But then, they're not meant to be lightweight: this is a tyre designed to rack up the miles and as such Hutchinson haven't skimped on the rubber. Fitting was tricky, in part thanks to the thickness of the bead which is a fair bit chunkier than lightweight race tyres - I chased the bead around the rim for a good (that is to say bad, and sweary) 10 minutes on the front wheel, but the 700x28 rear popped into place with much greater ease.
The trade-off is puncture resistance and longevity, and on that count they're holding up well. I've not reached 1000km mark on them yet, let alone the 10,000 target, but they are showing little sign of wear and the Hardshield reinforcement has been more than a match for local road surfaces, at least so far.
I initially set them up without sealant, which unless I'm missing something is what Hutchinson's hieroglyphics suggest on the box, until you reach the 1000km mark.
Something may be lost in translation here, or perhaps not, but I wouldn't be able to relax running the tyres dry. Hardshield may or may not be harder than a thorn, metal shard or misc debris threatening to pierce the tread at any moment - but why run the risk when a squirt of sealant could offer peace of mind?
Besides which I found the pressure dropping after a day or two, requiring a top-up with the pump before each ride. After adding a few ml of sealant the tyres are holding air much better: so don't be afraid to juice up, it's a no brainer as far as I'm concerned.
Ride feel, well it's good if on the firm side - al dente you could say. These are not the most supple tyres, nor does the narrow width allow for lower pressures to take the sting out of dodgy road surfaces.
Despite this, grip seems decent on wet and dry asphalt, even with the minimal "lightning bolt" tread pattern on the shoulders. Whatever about the claimed 10,000km lifespan of the tyre, I would be very surprised if the tread wasn't perfectly smooth in half that distance; not that it should make much difference, you'll just have a lighter and faster tyre!
Still, comfort and traction are key requirements and personally I would prefer to run wider tyres even on road - especially as the Challengers measure up approximately 1mm narrower than spec on my wheels.
My current choice is 700x32 and Hutchinson offer the Challenger in this size, along with a 30, 28 and 25; so you could go 30 front and a little wider at the back for example. But if your bike's clearances don't permit, your roads are smoother or you simply prefer the feedback and lively feel of a narrow tyre the 25/28 is a fine combo.
I'm impressed with the Challengers, and can see them being a great choice for the audax set, commuters, ultra racers or anyone who hopes to put a significant amount of mileage onto a tyre and needs it to last the course. The Challenger fits the bill, striking a nice balance between rolling speed and durability.
They mightn't be the easiest to mount, but if Hutchinson's claims are correct - and so far there's no evidence to suggest otherwise - this is a 'set and forget' tyre that will see you through many seasons of hard miles. Not only a challenger, but a real contender - just don't forget the sealant.
Hutchinson Challenger Endurance Tyre, from £27 at www.sigmasports.com
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