Rubena

With a company history as storied as the country itself, Rubena tyres, made in the Czech Republic, are fast establishing themselves as a major player in the big league of bicycle tyre manufacturing. When current mountain bike world champion Jaroslav Kulhavy burst into the winner’s circle by cleaning up at the 2010 European Championships, he did so astride Rubena tyres and set the stage for the company’s current range of high performance bicycle rubber.

The path that leads to the Rubena conglomerate of today, as one of Eastern Europe’s largest manufacturers of industrial and sporting rubber products, is crossed with government acquisitions and company amalgamations. We can trace a beginning, however, back to 1908 when Josef Kudrnac started the production of rubber seals. By 1928 bicycle tyre and tube manufacturing had already begun.

Today Rubena delivers six million tyres and nine million tubes annually. Although thousands of city bikes in Europe can be spotted with the Rubena logo, it took until recently for an interest in the high-end market to develop. With the factory possessing the technology to produce entirely on site a choice was made to create a range of predominantly mountain bike tyres. The core focus is on supple casings for minimal weight and high speed, dual compounds for grip, and tubeless compatibility for low rolling resistance. The latest Rubena tyre selection is comprehensive enough to cover XC racing through to trail riding, and even road. Tread depths get incrementally deeper as the target usage becomes more aggressive, compounds can be single or dual for either longer life or better grip, and dedicated casings are available to run with tubes or sealant. A rider choosing Rubena will be guaranteed to be able to find their perfect tyre for their perfect trail, and ride it faster, smoother, and safer than before.