Road Bike Tire Test: Challenge Criterium RS 25
Contents and Test Summary
- Introduction
- Manufacturer Specifications
- Size, Weight, Thickness
- Rolling Resistance: 9.4 Watts
- Puncture Resistance: 61 Points
- Static Wet Grip: 61 Points
- Conclusion: 4.0 / 5 Recommended
- Comments
- Challenge Criterium RS 25
(100% is best)
Although we've tested many of Challenge's cx and gravel bike tires over the past two years, their road bike tires got less attention. We did test their Strada Pro HTLR (read our review) road bike tire last year, and this time we're going to look at the latest addition to their road bike lineup, and it's the Criterium RS in the 25 mm size.
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The Criterium RS is Challenge's ultimate performance tire and comes with a 350 TPI handmade tubeless-ready casing and their new SmartPrime compound. Challenge claims the Criterium RS is the "perfect mix of speed, grip, and durability while at the same time providing refined control and shock absorption capabilities thanks to its handmade construction." They also claim it's one of the lowest rolling resistance tires thanks to the new SmartPrime compound.
The Criterium RS is one of the few tires we know of that is available with white sidewalls, and we must admit it's a beautiful tire. If you've ever mounted one of Challenge's handmade tires, mounting these can be hard due to the design of the tread, that's essentially a flat piece of rubber glued on top of the casing. The Criterium RS was easier to mount as the tread appeared to be more flexible, and due to the tubeless-ready nature, you don't have to wrestle with the inner tube.
Although the Criterium RS is a tubeless-ready tire, we recommend taking 24 hours before riding them as they need time to seal fully. During these 24 hours, you'll need to shake and rotate the tires a couple of times to get the sealant into the sidewalls, and they will seal better every time you repeat this. From a sealing standpoint, better tires are out there than these, as they rely a lot on the sealant to fully seal.
If you don't like the white sidewalls, you can also get them with black sidewalls, although we're not sure why you would want to do that. Also available is a slightly larger 27 mm version for those who like extra volume in their tires.
Manufacturer Specifications
| Manufacturer Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Challenge |
| Model | Criterium RS |
| Year | 2023 |
| Tire Type | Tubeless |
| Supplied By | Bought in store |
| New or Used | New |
| Mileage | 0 km |
| Price Range | Very High |
| Buy At | Ad Amazon.com |
| Manufacturer part number | 00150 |
| EAN | 8855627001501 |
| TPI | 350 |
| Compound | SmartPrime |
| Bead | Folding |
| ETRTO | 25-622 |
| Size Inch | 28" |
| Specified Width (mm) | 25 |
| Specified Weight | 225 grams |
| Max Air Pressure (psi) | 95 |
| Made In | Members Only |
| Available Sizes |
25-622 (700x25c) 27-622 (700x27c) |
Challenge Criterium RS 25 Test Results
Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements
| Size, Weight and Thickness Measurements | |
|---|---|
| Specified Weight | 225 grams |
| Measured Weight | 235 grams |
| System Adjusted Weight (tire + valve + rim seal) |
255 grams |
| Measured Width | 25 mm (un-round) |
| Measured Height | 22 mm (un-round) |
| Total Tire Thickness Center | 2.6 mm |
| Total Tire Thickness Sidewall | Members Only |
| Unmounted Casing Width | 66 mm |
| Unmounted Tread Width | Members Only |
| Tread Cover (Tread / Casing Ratio) | Members Only |
| All size measurements are taken at an air pressure of 100 psi / 6.9 bars on a 17.8 mm inner width rim. | |
Rolling Resistance Test Results
| Rolling Resistance Test Results | |
|---|---|
| Inner Tube | None (20 ml sealant) |
| Measured Width | 25 mm (un-round) |
| Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 22-24 = 132 psi/9.1 bar 25-27 = 120 psi/8.3 bar 28-29 = 108 psi/7.4 barUltra High Air Pressure (120 psi / 8.3 bar) |
9.4 Watts CRR: 0.00282 |
| Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 22-24 = 110 psi/7.6bar 25-27 = 100 psi/6.9 bar 28-29 = 90 psi/6.2 barExtra High Air Pressure (100 psi / 6.9 bar) |
9.9 Watts CRR: 0.00297 |
| Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 22-24 = 88 psi/6.1 bar 25-27 = 80 psi/5.5 bar 28-29 = 72 psi/5.0 barHigh Air Pressure (80 psi / 5.5 bar) |
Members Only |
| Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 22-24 = 66 psi/4.6 bar 25-27 = 60 psi/4.1 bar 28-29 = 54 psi/3.7 barMedium Air Pressure (60 psi / 4.1 bar) |
Members Only |
| The Road Bike section is a multi tire size section, air pressures have been adjusted to the measured casing width. All numbers are for a single tire at a speed of 29 km/h / 18 mph and a load of 42.5 kg / 94 lbs. Use the formula: RR (Watts) = CRR * speed (m/s) * load (N) to calculate rolling resistance at a given speed and load. |
|
Puncture Resistance Test Results
| Puncture Resistance Test Results (higher is better) | |
|---|---|
| Total Puncture Score Tread | 61 Points |
| Total Puncture Score Sidewall | Members Only |
| Tread Puncture Force Sharp Needle | Members Only |
| Tread Puncture Force Blunt Needle | Members Only |
| Tread Total Tire Thickness | 2.6 mm |
| Sidewall Puncture Force Sharp Needle | Members Only |
| Sidewall Puncture Force Blunt Needle | Members Only |
| Sidewall Total Tire Thickness | Members Only |
Static Grip Test Results
| Static Grip Test Results | |
|---|---|
| Wet Grip Average | 61 Points |
| Wet Grip Center | Members Only |
| Wet Grip Edge | Members Only |
| Grip in points = coefficient of friction * 100 Road bike grip test rim width = 19.0 mm |
|
Conclusion
- Challenge Criterium RS 25
(100% is best)
The Challenge Criterium RS performs very, very strongly in all of our tests except the wet grip test. If we didn't have our wet grip tester, we would consider the Criterium RS to be one of the best tires on the market. Unfortunately, the edge grip comes in at less than 60 points, and we have to subtract points. If you never ride in the rain, this might be one of the best tires out there.
When we compare the Criterium RS to Challenge's Strada Pro HTLR, we see the Criterium RS outperforming that tire in pretty much all of our tests. When purely looking at Challenge's own tires, the Criterium RS is the best tire they have available, and if you've been happy with their tires, it might be worth a try.
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RATING:
4.0
/ 5
TEST VERDICT:
Recommended