ENVE completes its wheel ecosystem with a new SES road tire that is aerodynamically optimized, tubeless compatible, and promises "real-world speed" from the carbon wheel manufacturer.

For more than a decade, Utah-based ENVE has been developing and assembling high-quality carbon rims with a focus on creating the ultimate in performance, durability, and quality.

The final piece of the ENVE rolling stock jigsaw puzzle is tires, and with the introduction of the SES tire collection, ENVE can now offer a variety of tires that benefit ENVE riders and non-ENVE riders alike.

ENVE is an expert when it comes to carbon layup, but its equipment is not suited for tire production. So ENVE partnered with Tufo, a tire company in the Czech Republic that has been producing handmade tires for over 25 years; the partnership with Tufo allowed ENVE to conduct R&D to develop its own rubber compound and to obtain a premium casing.

ENVE recognized that tire geometry could be optimized by rim design, but the possible benefits were limited due to the limitations of working with other brands of tires. However, ENVE now has full system control, and by working with aerodynamics guru Simon Smart, famous for his Drag2Zero, ENVE is able to offer not only owners of ENVE SES and Foundation wheelsets, but also all road ENVE is now able to offer improved aerodynamic performance to all road riders, not just owners of ENVE SES and Foundation wheelsets. Jake Panton, ENVE's Vice President of Products, stated, "With the release of the SES road tires, SES wheel users can now get improved aerodynamics and real-world performance simply by upgrading their tires."

ENVE achieved this by creating what it calls a hybrid shape and employing a breakaway tread pattern. This shape is essentially a compromise between a tall aerodynamic tire and a rounded tire with excellent rolling and cornering characteristics. The tread shares elements of the distinctive ENVE logo that proudly adorns the rim, which ENVE claims affects the air flowing over the wheel. The front tread prevents air from sticking to the surface as it contacts the leading edge, while the rear tread is designed to close the wake as the wheel passes over it. [In addition to aerodynamic performance, tires must also provide cornering reliability and resistance to punctures, and ENVE uses SPC silica, a highly adhesive blend of synthetic and natural rubber with activated silica filler, to achieve wet performance and reduced rolling resistance. The rolling surface is connected to a casing laminated with a Vectran layer to prevent punctures and pinching.

ENVE is committed to road tubeless, and SES road tires are tubeless and designed to accommodate rim designs with straight sidewalls (TSS) or hookless or hooked beads. hookless rim systems, so it is not surprising that they preach the ease of setup and performance gains that such a system offers. [ENVE has evolved road tubeless rim designs by incorporating hookless beads that consistently deliver the critical bead seat dimensions needed for a reliable tubeless setup. However, this path has not been without hurdles, as some tire manufacturers have lagged behind in the advancement of road tubeless rim technology. For this reason, SES road tires are constructed with a strong sealing interface and a construction that ensures compatibility with hooked and hookless rims, not to mention on-road performance.

SES road tires are made for "everyday race performance" and come in four sizes (700x 25c, 27c, 29c, 31c) ENVE designed the tires to fit the SES wheel series with 19mm, 21mm, 23mm, and 25mm inner width rims The new wheels are available in the following sizes.

SES 25 - Ideal for narrower rims from 19mm to 21mm wide, ENVE offers this tire on current model SES and Foundation wheels as well as legacy SES wheels.

SES 27 - Designed to maximize the aero performance of SES AR wheels and provide owners of legacy SES and Foundation wheels with a higher capacity tire option without compromising aerodynamic stability and performance The SES 27 has an inside diameter fits rims from 19mm to 25mm, with dimensions between 27mm and 30mm depending on rim size.

SES 29 - The SES offers more versatility, and its larger volume improves grip and "all-road" performance; according to ENVE, this tire is a house specialty when paired with the SES AR wheelset; 28mm on 19mm rims and 31mm on 25mm rims.

SES 31 - With many brands introducing new endurance bikes with greater clearance than ever before, the SES 31 tire is likely to be popular with riders who want a fast, tough road tire that they can take on long rides and crowded surfaces.

In good news for riders who value style as well as performance, ENVE is offering black and tan options on all tires

The 25c and 29c SES road tires are available now, with the SES27c and SES31c coming later this year. ENVE SES road tires retail for £70.00, $75.00, and €75.00.