Bontrager boasts best-in-class with new all-weather road tires

AW tires have high-puncture protection but low-rolling resistance

Bontrager's new AW line of tires

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Ben Delaney

Published: May 16, 2013 at 10:14 pm
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Typically with road tires, you can have a lightweight performance tire with low rolling resistance, or you can have a sturdy but portly training tire with good puncture resistance. With its new line of AW tires, Bontrager claims to have the best of both worlds. The top model, the $65/£34.99 AW3 Hard-Case Lite, has lower rolling resistance than competitors' similar tires, Bontrager claims.

The AW2 and AW3 also feature a nod to aerodynamics, with 'Aero Wing' extensions on the side that are designed to smooth airflow between tire and wheel.

The 'aero wing' smooths airflow between tire and wheel: the 'aero wing' smooths airflow between tire and wheel - Courtesy

'Aero Wings' on the AW2 and AW3, designed to smooth air flow

According to Bontrager's figures, the AW3 Hard-Case has lower rolling resistance than other high-performance protection tires, including the Continental GP Four Season, the Schwalbe Ultremo Aqua and the Specialized AC Armadillo Elite.

While Bontrager did not divulge the actual resistance numbers, the company claimed a difference of about 15 watts at 20mph, and as much as 25 watts at higher speeds. Bontrager did not say how the AW3 compared to a race clincher without an Aramid or similar flat-protection belt

The AW line ranges includes the $30/£22.99 AW1 Hard-Case Lite, the $40/£29.99 AW2 Hard-Case Lite and the $65/£34.99 AW3 Hard-Case Lite. These tires feature a narrow Aramid flat-protection belt down the center of the tire.

There are also two tires with an additional flat-protection layer that runs the full width of the tire: the $45/£29.99 AW1 Hard-Case and the $70/£34.99 AW3 Hard-Case.

An exploded view showing the green hard case protection layer: an exploded view showing the green hard case protection layer - Courtesy

The (green) Aramid protection layer sits between the rubber and the 120tpi casing on the AW3

The AW3 Hard-Case Lite comes in 23 and 25mm widths, both with a 120tpi casing. The middle AW2 come in 23, 25 and 28mm widths with a less-supple 60tpi casing. Finally, the AW3 comes in 23, 25, 28 and 32mm widths with a 60tpi casing, and weights between 305 and 390g. Weights were not provided on the other two models, but they are almost certainly lighter.

BikeRadar will be testing these tires soon and will post a review in the near future.

Bontrager's new aw line of tires: bontrager's new aw line of tires - Courtesy

Bontrager's new (l to r) AW1, 2 and 3 high-performance, high-protection tires

Ben Delaney

Contributor

Ben Delaney is a journalist with more than two decades of experience writing for and editing some of the biggest publications in cycling. Having studied journalism at the University of New Mexico, Ben has worked for Bicycle Retailer & Industry News, VeloNews and BikeRadar. He has also previously worked as Global Brand Communications Manager for Specialized. Ben covers all things road and gravel, and can be found logging big miles in the Rocky Mountains that nestle alongside his home in Boulder, Colorado. He has covered the most important bike races in the sport, from the Tour de France and Tour of Flanders, to the Unbound gravel race, and specialises in tech content, showcasing what the pros are riding and putting everyday equipment through its paces.
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