Schwalbe G-One RS Review
As I write this report, I'm currently looking out the window and it's snowing. Despite the annoying and not exactly inviting weather, we're kicking off "spring" with a tire test. There will definitely be many more tests in the warmer months, as it's much more enjoyable then;). Today's candidate is certainly not unfamiliar. We're talking about THE model when it comes to gravel racing. I bought the G-One Rs myself last autumn, but then stored it for the warmer and less muddy months. As always, please note that English is not my native language. There may be some grammatical errors here and there. Please excuse this, as I am working to improve my skills.
Technical specifications:
Price: €60 (April 26, 2024, Bike-Components) (Purchased myself)
Weight: 473g (in 40c)
Available in sizes 35, 40, and 45mm
Builds on a rim with an inner width of 25mm to 41mm wide
The tires are allowed to be ridden with a maximum pressure of 4.5 bar (65 psi).
The G-One RS not only looks good but is also really fast!
Here it is seen on the Vpace T3ST, which we will take a closer look at in a few weeks.
I probably don't need to say much about the Schwalbe brand; almost everyone in Germany has probably seen a Schwalbe tire on a bike at some point. Of course, the Marathon is one of the legendary tires that probably exists in the history of cycling. I rode a Schwalbe tire for the first time on my first gravel bike, back then the Allrounder in 35c, a gravel tire from the early days (which was still a "big" gravel tire in 2019). I've always had Schwalbe tires and was generally satisfied, but in recent years, with the gravel bike hype, many other manufacturers have come out with good models that have somewhat surpassed models like the Allround or Bite. In the last two years, Schwalbe has introduced three new tires for three different uses: the G-One R, Overland, and the G-One RS, which is primarily what we're focusing on today. I currently have the Overland on another bike, and I'll also be testing the G-One R later this year.
The Schwalbe booth at Eurobike 2023
But today we're starting with the model that's primarily focused on speed, and therefore the model that is currently probably the hottest choice for most participants in gravel races.
I bought the RS last autumn and mounted it on my gravel bike, but then quickly swapped it out for something more aggressive because it was getting too cold and muddy. Now I've been using the RS since February and recently took it on a 900 km bikepacking trip through Spain (Barcelona-Bilbao). I've put around 1700 km on it so far and I think I can provide good feedback on the RS.
In my opinion, tires and well-matched contact points are the best upgrade you can get for your bike. It can turn a sluggish ride into a racehorse or the opposite. Therefore, fast tires are always in high demand, but is the G-One really that fast? When you look at the tire's profile, you quickly see that speed was the main goal for the folks at Schwalbe. The actual tread is covered with small scales, which are responsible for braking traction and grip during steering. However, they are not very high, so the tire feels like a road bike tire at least on asphalt, as long as you're going straight. But on the side, you quickly see that this tire was really made for off-road terrain. There are clearly higher, differently sized side knobs that are supposed to provide enough grip in corners.
The tire, like all Schwalbe tires, was super easy to install tubeless. I didn't notice any major air loss in the first night without sealant.
Alright, enough with the boring description, but are these tires really rockets? Let's split this answer into an objective and a subjective part. On the website bicyclerollingresistance, tires are tested for their rolling resistance. Whether you trust the testing methods and results is up to you, but the G-One RS performs incredibly well here, being surpassed only by pure road bike tires. And subjectively? My opinion is very similar; this tire moves through off-road terrain really swiftly, noticeably faster than other gravel tires. Even on the road, the tire is incredibly fast and quiet. I wasn't a huge fan of the side knobs on the road, but they are crucial for the G-One RS's good cornering behavior on gravel. You can really trust this tire here. Of course, this relatively light tread is overwhelmed by heavily mashed paths, but which gravel tire isn't?
Comfort is also good. I chose "only" good because there are better tires in this category, but they also have their own issues. This is a tire to win races like Unbound 200 or the Traka 560 in Girona. Here, speed is simply the most important thing. Comfort heavily depends on perfectly adjusted tire pressure. Personally, that doesn't bother me.
I've read horror stories online about the tire being prone to punctures, but I can't confirm that at all. I rode with the tire in size 40c with luggage over rough gravel for over 10 days, encountering much more rough terrain than I intended. A few pictures below. The tire never disappointed me here and held up well. After around 1700 km, the scales are noticeably worn down, especially on the rear tire. I believe it would still perform well for about 500 km without luggage before becoming significantly more prone to punctures due to the thinner carcass. So, the lifespan is about 2500-3000 km (depending on rider weight and usage). Sure, there are tires that last much longer, but are there really faster tires in the gravel sector? I doubt it.
POSITIVE
The name says it all, the G-One RS is really blazingly fast.
Grip off-road is really very good thanks to the side knobs.
Puncture protection, in my opinion, is very good for a racing tire.
NEUTRAL
The price of the tires has improved (around €55), but the MSRP of €74.99 is steep.
Comfort heavily depends on the correct tire pressure, more so than with other tires. But once you have it dialed in, the comfort is good for a racing tire.
The lifespan is shorter than other tires (I estimate around 2500-3000 km), but for a racing tire, it's acceptable.
NEGATIVE
None!
CONCLUSION
The Schwalbe G-One RS lives up to its promise of being their fastest tire and likely the fastest tire for gravel racing in the UCI realm or similar events like Traka, Badlands, Unbound. Since there's no perfect all-around tire, you have to compromise a bit on lifespan and comfort, but I think that's totally acceptable for a racing tire. Would I mount this tire on my everyday gravel bike? No, because I don't race in my daily life and don't need to save every watt of rolling resistance. But if you're eager to be fast off-road or want a fast all-rounder for your all-road bike, you won't be able to pass up the G-One RS and you certainly won't be disappointed. I highly recommend it for these applications!
