Hutchinson’s new Blackbird Racing Lab TLR road tire replaces the Fusion 5 Performance, which was a decent all-rounder but I rarely saw one out on the road compared with the performance models from Continental, Vittoria or Pirelli. The Blackbird, presumably named after the exceedingly rapid Lockheed SR-71 plane rather than the familiar garden bird, is an all-new design that is claimed to be much quicker than the old tire yet offers excellent longevity at up to 4,000km.
Hutchinson Blackbird Racing Lab TLR: Construction
As a tire designed for modern, wider rims, the Blackbird has a contact patch that is 15% wider than that of the Fusion 5, and the Mach 3.0 rubber compound (a clue that the name relates to the plane, not the bird I reckon) has ‘25% extra energy return’ according to Hutchinson. Together these two technologies reduce the rolling resistance by 10% over the old model.
Construction is also slightly different from the norm, with 3 layers of 127tpi on the sidewalls, but only 2x127tpi under the tread. This helps increase suppleness and reduce weight, with the 28mm version on test weighing in at a little less than the claimed 290g. Whilst this doesn’t make it the lightest tubeless tire available, it is a very good weight for a 28mm tire with a potential lifespan of 4,000km.
Width was bang on 28mm on rims with an internal width of 21mm, so they will come up smaller on narrower rims. Currently, there are only 3 sizes available - 26, 28 and 30mm, but this does cover all the popular sizes, and it comes in tan wall and stealthy all black.
Hutchinson Blackbird Racing Lab TLR: The ride
Fitting the two tires to my HED Jet 4 rims was nice and straightforward with a little tweak from a tire lever and instant Airshot inflation, so I had high hopes for them, particularly after the superbly easy Hutchinson Challenger tires I tested recently. Unfortunately, the Blackbirds had other ideas and what followed was five frustrating days of constant reinflations, spinning, jiggling and general frustration. I even removed the worst offending tire and retaped the rim to no avail. There was no obvious air leakage and no weeping sealant, but neither tire would hold air at a rideable pressure for more than an hour.
Eventually, after rather a lot of swearing and praying in equal measure, both tires sealed and I finally felt confident enough in them to go for a ride. As air retention relies on three elements - tires, rims and valves it is impossible to know where the blame lay, especially with no sealant making a visible bid for freedom anywhere. However, once this seal had been achieved, they held air well, and handled multiple days riding without the need to add air.
At my usual 60psi for 28mm tires (at 73kg), the Blackbirds certainly felt pretty racy, with a noticeable zip that encouraged putting extra pressure on the pedals. The sense of urgency was similar to the feel of Continental’s GP5000S TR but definitely a bit less supple than the Corsa Pro from Vittoria. Perhaps the 3-ply sidewalls and 4,000km’s worth of rubber stiffen the tires up a bit; it’s by no means unpleasant or harsh, but simply not quite as cushioned as the Corsas. With this in mind, I tried them at a slightly reduced pressure, and the ride quality did improve with no noticeable loss of speed or any issues in terms of handling.
Dry, summer roads shouldn’t pose much of an issue to a performance road tire in terms of grip, and I certainly haven’t had any traction issues with any of the tires in the recent group test, but the Blackbirds definitely inspired plenty of confidence. Whether this was down to the rubber compound, the tire’s wider profile or the appealing tread visuals I can’t say for sure.
Value and conclusion
Performance seemed on par with big hitters like the Continental GP5000S TR and Pirelli P-Zero Race TLR, so the Blackbird didn't lack speed on the road. It wasn't as supple as the much-loved Vittoria Corsa PRO, but it promises much better durability and has a more robust feel.
Whilst performance is, to some extent, a subjective metric without a laboratory, value is more objective, and as the Blackbird offers its performance benefits at a significantly lower price point than many other race tires it scores particularly well here.
That its speed can be enjoyed for 4,000km makes it something of a bargain in the current market and it is a tire that deserves serious consideration. Highly recommended.
