Schwalbe G-One RX Pro gravel tyre review: best for extremely mixed conditions

Schwalbe offers a formidable and comprehensive line-up of gravel tyres, with the three Pro models occupying the top tier. The G-One RS Pro is a semi-slick, the G-One R Pro is a general-purpose, small block tyre, whilst the G-One RX Pro is the most aggressive of the range. I would stop short of calling it a full-on mud tyre (I think Schwalbe’s G-One Ultrabite is even more aggressive), but the RX Pro certainly looks like it could cope with most conditions.

In a telling reflection of modern trends, the RX Pro starts at 40mm, and is available in up to 55mm width, in both black and ‘transparent’ (tan) side walls, so read no further if your frame doesn’t have at least 40mm of tyre clearance. Furthermore, there is no 650b option at all for small wheel fans.

Construction

Under the skin, the RX Pro features Schwalbe’s new Race Pro construction, which includes a 25mm wide V-Guard puncture-resistant layer. This layer is 5mm wider than the previous version, providing greater coverage against pesky thorns and other sharp objects. The 3-ply carcass has 67 tpi. Schwalbe states that the dual compound Addix Race rubber has also been refined, reportedly providing both greater grip and reduced rolling resistance.

The tread consists of a centre line of widely spaced chevrons (or boomerangs, as Schwalbe calls them) and three different-shaped lugs on the shoulders for grip when cornering. Overall though, the tyre has a round profile without the squared-off look that overly tall side knobs can give.

Schwalbe gives the weight as 570g for the 45mm size, but I weighed my tyres at 598g and 594g, so more than 50g heavier than claimed for the pair. Hardly a deal breaker, but a bit disappointing. Width-wise, mounted on Scribe’s 24mm internal width Gravel 40 rims, the RX Pros were 45.5mm wide.

The RX Pro is hookless compatible, should that be your preference, and is, of course, tubeless ready too.

It is also worth mentioning that Schwalbe says that it is the first tyre manufacturer to use Fairtrade rubber, so that its suppliers get paid more for their produce.

The ride

The G-One RX Pros arrived just in time. The lovely Pirelli Cinturato M gravel tyres on my Cannondale Topstone were starting to struggle a little as autumn transitioned swiftly to winter via a couple of weeks of seemingly constant rain, so I was very happy to make the switch to the more heavily treaded G-One RX Pros

Whilst the trails to the west of Sheffield, out into the gritty Peak District, aren’t generally too bad in terms of mud thanks to their sandy nature, the tracks out east and south can get pretty sloppy - so naturally this is where I went for my inaugural ride on the RX Pros.

A 50km loop with a friend really showed up the difference that tyres can make in terms of ride enjoyment. The Panaracer Gravelking SKs on my mate’s Specialized Diverge are great tyres, but built for mud, they are not. Where I pedalled merrily up slopes and through mud baths, my pal was off and walking. Off course, this is no great surprise given the tread on the Gravelkings, but it was a stark illustration of the benefits of having the right rubber for the terrain nonetheless.

Those kinds of conditions don’t allow for much in the way of nuanced assessment of rubber compound or carcass tpi count, but they certainly allowed the RX Pros to show off their tread design. Schwalbe highlights that the widely spaced lug pattern is ‘self-cleaning’, and it is impressive how little they clog up. Even a muddy, grassy field, the traction nemesis of many tyres, failed to stop the RX Pros from gripping.

The post-Christmas freeze and subsequently frozen trails gave a chance to try the RX Pros in firmer conditions. Again, they impressed me a lot, with continued good grip and about as much compliance as it is reasonable to expect on frozen, hoofprint-riddled tracks.

The big surprise, however, was their performance on tarmac. A tyre with this much grip and well-spaced lugs shouldn’t feel this good on asphalt. The first clue was the lack of noise when rolling along road sections between trails; there was little in the way of vibrations or buzz as you’d normally expect from an off-road tyre, and subjectively, they felt quick and not at all draggy. The round profile also reduced the squirmy feel that some tyres with a squarer footprint can give when cornering.

Oh, and by the way, tubeless setup was easy and air retention was near faultless too.

Value and conclusion

Overall, an extremely impressive tyre. To make a grippy tyre is maybe not so hard, but to make a grippy tyre that also rolls well on the inevitable road sections and hardpack, as well as providing ample traction in difficult conditions, is much trickier.

Usually, I’d err on the side of speed and rolling resistance in my gravel tyre choices, choosing to endure the usually short sections of genuine mud in return for more fun and less effort elsewhere. However, with the Schwalbe G-One RX Pro, it seems that this compromise is no longer necessary, and whilst I perhaps wouldn’t run them as a pure, dry summer race tyre, their operating window is much wider than the tread pattern might suggest.

This versatility goes a long way towards offsetting the high RRP of £75 / $91, which is at the higher end of gravel tyre pricing, but then again, it seems that the G-One RX really does deserve its ‘Pro’ moniker for its performance.