Road Bike Tire Test: Cadex Race Tubeless
Contents and Test Summary
- Introduction
- Manufacturer Specifications
- Size, Weight, Thickness
- Rolling Resistance: 13.0 Watts
- Puncture Resistance: 48 Points
- Static Wet Grip: 71 Points
- Conclusion: 3.5 / 5 Recommended
- Comments
- Cadex Race Tubeless
(100% is best)
The Cadex Race Tubeless is the first time we've tested a Cadex tire, and as always, we're excited to see how it performs in our tests. As Cadex is in the business of creating the best-performing cycling equipment, our expectations are set to a high level right from the start. What raises our expectations even higher, as the compound is what makes up 70-80% of a tire's performance, is that they claim they've created a compound for superior tire performance.
According to Cadex, their RR-S Compound is a "state of the art silica-based tire compound for elite riders who demand ultimate speed and grip". They also claim this compound has "significantly less rolling resistance and boasts markedly increased grip when cornering, especially in the wet". That all sounds very good, and we're sure this compound will perform well, but the really interesting thing will be how it compares to other compounds from competing brands.
The other 20-30% of a tire's performance will be made up by the casing and additional puncture layers. In the case of the Cadex Race Tubeless, we're looking at a 170 TPI "single layer" casing which is about as good as it gets. An additional layer of "Race Shield" anti-puncture material is applied under the tread, which is similar to what we find on most other "all-round" road bike tires.
From a specification standpoint, everything sounds good, and we're sure this tire will perform well. The exciting thing will be how it compares to the competition, as pretty much all brands claim the same things about their tires. We've run the tests, so let's dive in and see how it does.
Manufacturer Specifications
| Manufacturer Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Cadex |
| Model | Race Tubeless |
| Year | 2022 |
| Tire Type | Tubeless |
| Supplied By | Bought in store |
| New or Used | New |
| Mileage | 0 km |
| Price Range | Very High |
| Buy At | |
| Manufacturer part number | 340000202 |
| EAN | 4713250833156 |
| TPI | 170 |
| Compound | RR-S |
| Bead | Folding |
| ETRTO | 25-622 |
| Size Inch | 28" |
| Specified Width (mm) | 25 |
| Specified Weight | 270 grams |
| Max Air Pressure (psi) | 125 |
| Made In | Members Only |
| Available Sizes |
23-622 (700x23c) 25-622 (700x25c) 28-622 (700x28c) |
Cadex Race Tubeless Test Results
Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements
| Size, Weight and Thickness Measurements | |
|---|---|
| Specified Weight | 270 grams |
| Measured Weight | 276 grams |
| System Adjusted Weight (tire + valve + rim seal) |
296 grams |
| Measured Width | 26 mm (un-round) |
| Measured Height | 23 mm (un-round) |
| Total Tire Thickness Center | 2.6 mm |
| Total Tire Thickness Sidewall | Members Only |
| Unmounted Casing Width | 67 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 | 26 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) |
13.0 Watts CRR: 0.00390 |
| 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) |
13.8 Watts CRR: 0.00414 |
| 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 | 48 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 | 71 Points |
| Wet Grip Center | Members Only |
| Wet Grip Edge | Members Only |
| Grip in points = coefficient of friction * 100 | |
Conclusion
- Cadex Race Tubeless
(100% is best)
The Cadex Race Tubeless is an average performer in almost all of our tests. The high points of this tire are the wet grip of the center and the wide tread and corresponding high tread to casing ratio, making this an excellent tire for use on wide rims. The edge grip comes in a bit lower (still good), but we attribute this to the file tread pattern along the edge of the tire as we've seen that reduces grip due to reduced contact patch and flexibility of the file tread edges.
The main shortcoming of this tire seems to be the rolling resistance which is on the high side for a tire that is supposed to offer pinnacle performance and comes with a corresponding price tag. The Cadex Race Tubeless isn't a bad tire, and we're sure it will be a fine performer in real-life, but you can find tires that perform better and that also come at a lower price point -> Road Bike Overview.
RATING:
3.5
/ 5
TEST VERDICT:
Recommended