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Racing tyre rolling resistance

May 20, 2020
In previous tests we have shown the importance of rolling resistance on cycling performance. A tyre with a high rolling resistance will require more power to travel at the same speed, whilst a low rolling resistance tyre requires less power.

The data below is a continually updated list of currently available racing tyres, in both tubeless and clincher format. Please do check back for updates!

The goal of this test was to evaluate the rolling resistance performance of tyres typically used in time trials.


WHICH IS FASTER - TUBELESS OR CLINCHER?

Tubeless tyres use sealant to create an airtight seal and allow inflation, whereas clincher tyres use inner tubes. The speed of a tyre depends on its construction, not just on whether it is tubeless or clincher. This means that a slow tubeless tyre will have a higher rolling resistance than a fast clincher tyre, so each must be taken on their own merit. There is also overall no difference in rolling resistance between the same tyre set up tubeless, and using a latex tube.

CLINCHER ONLY

Michelin Power Cup 23mm

Michelin Power Cup 25mm

Michelin Power TT 23mm

Michelin Power TT 25mm

Michelin Power Road 23mm

Pirelli P Zero 23mm

Specialized Turbo Cotton 24mm

Continental GP5000 23mm

Continental GP5000 25mm

Continental GP4000 23mm

Continental GPTT 23mm

Continental Supersonic 23mm

Continental GP Attack 3 23mm

Wolfpack Race Cotton 24mm

Veloflex Record 23mm 2022

Veloflex Record 25mm

Veloflex Master 23mm

Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport 25mm

Panaracer Race A Evo 4 25mm

Tufo Calibra Light 23mm

Tufo Calibra Plus 23mm

Maxxis High Road SL 25mm


TUBELESS COMPATIBLE

Vittoria Corsa Speed 23mm

Vittoria Corsa Speed 25mm

Vittoria Corsa Pro Speed 24mm

Vittoria Corsa Pro Speed 26mm

Michelin Power Cup 25mm

Vittoria Corsa G+ 2.0 25mm

Vittoria Corsa NEXT 24mm

Vittoria Corsa Pro 24mm

Vittoria Corsa Pro 26mm

Schwalbe Pro One TT TLE 25mm

Continental GP5000 TT 25mm

Continental GP5000 TL 25mm

Continental GP5000S TR 25mm

Specialized S Works Turbo Rapidair 26mm

Zipp Tangente Speed TL 25mm

Veloflex Corsa Race TLR 25mm

Veloflex Corsa EVO TLR 25mm

Veloflex Record 25mm

Schwalbe Pro One TLE 25mm

Pirelli P Zero Velo SL TLR 26mm

Pirelli P Zero Race SL TLR 26mm

Pirelli P Zero Race TLR 26mm

ENVE SES TLR 25mm

Hutchinson Fusion 5 Performance 11 Storm 25mm

Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport 25mm

Cadex Race Tubeless 23mm

Maxxis High Road TR 25mm

In order to test rolling resistance, we swapped between the tyres as a rider rode a bike on rollers, measuring power output and speed, as well as atmospheric conditions and bike/rider weight, repeated over a number of days testing. This allows us to calculate what is known as the Coefficient of Rolling Resistance (or "Crr"), which can be used to model the power output required to travel on a normal road. A lower Crr is better - in that it requires less power to travel at the same speed.


All tyres were fitted to a tubeless compatible aluminium rim (external width 24.7mm, internal width 19.6mm) and clincher tyres were all tested with latex inner tubes. The pressure was standardised at 90psi for all tyres to allow for a comparison between them, however we recommend different pressures outside depending on your bike setup: head to the Learn page for our tyre pressure calculator to help your decisions.

The Veloflex Record (which comes in different versions, inner tube or tubeless compatible) in 25mm was the fastest clincher only and tubeless tyre on test. A close second is the Vittoria Corsa Pro Speed TLR in 26mm then 24mm, followed by a Veloflex Record clincher in 23mm (when paired with a latex tube).


The limited edition Continental GP5000 TT tyre is just behind the Corsa Speed, which makes it another good option for racing and/or training. 


For better puncture protection on rougher roads however, thicker tyres such as the Specialized Turbo Cotton (clincher only) or the various Continental GP5000 tyres (clincher and tubeless compatible) may be a better choice.

In this test we found that the Veloflex Record  25mm tyre was the fastest clincher when paired with a latex tube, followed by the Vittoria Corsa Pro Speed TLR tyres. The Vittoria Corsa Pro Speed is clincher as well as being tubeless compatible. The Michelin Power TT tyre was close to the previous (older) Vittorias - the Corsa Speed - and is clincher only. The next fastest tubeless tyre was the Continental GP5000 TT (2.3w penalty for a pair of wheels at 45kph over Veloflex Record 25mm TLR).


It should be noted that the very fastest tyres (Veloflex, Vittoria and Michelin) are extremely thin and lightweight and more suited for better road surfaces and conditions. The Continental GP5000 TT is also thinner than a standard GP 5000S TR, although not as thin as a Veloflex Record.


Rolling resistance data CRR for road cycling or triathlon tyres tires
Size / Model / Compatibility Crr W/45kph
25mm Veloflex Record C 0.001926 20.1
26mm Vittoria Corsa Pro Speed TLR 0.001964 20.5
24mm Vittoria Corsa Pro Speed TLR 0.001974 20.6
25mm Veloflex Record TLR 0.001984 20.8
23mm Veloflex Record C 2022 0.002039 21.3
25mm Vittoria Corsa Speed TLR 0.002042 21.3
23mm Vittoria Corsa Speed TLR 0.002056 21.4
25mm Michelin Power TT C 0.002132 22.2
23mm Continental Supersonic C 0.002174 22.7
25mm Continental GP5000 TT TL 0.002216 23.1
23mm Pirelli P Zero TT C 0.002344 24.4
23mm Tufo Calibra Light C 0.002355 24.5
25mm Schwalbe Pro One TT TLR 0.002396 25.0
24mm Specialized Turbo Cotton C 0.002452 25.5
23mm Michelin Power TT C 0.002458 25.6
25mm Michelin Power Cup C 0.002509 26.1
23mm Michelin Power Cup C 0.002540 26.5
23mm Continental GPTT C 0.002550 26.6
26mm Vittoria Corsa Pro TLR 0.002607 27.2
25mm Continental GP5000 C 0.002612 27.2
25mm Continental GP5000S TR 0.002622 27.3
25mm Michelin Power Cup TLR 0.002644 27.6
23mm Continental GP Attack 3 C 0.002655 27.7
24mm Vittoria Corsa Pro TLR 0.002720 28.3
25mm Continental GP5000 TLR 0.002731 28.5
23mm Continental GP5000 C 0.002845 29.6
25mm Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport C 0.002904 30.3
25mm Zipp Tangente Speed TLR 0.002918 30.4
25mm Maxxis High Road SL C 0.002958 30.8
25mm Veloflex Corsa Race TLR 0.002992 31.2
26mm Pirelli P Zero Race SL TLR 0.003011 31.4
26mm Pirelli P Zero Velo SL TLR 0.003045 31.7
23mm Michelin Power Road C 0.003095 32.2
24mm Wolfpack Race Cotton C 0.003117 32.5
26mm Specialized 2Bliss TLR 0.003188 33.2
25mm Schwalbe Pro One TLR 0.003205 33.4
23mm Continental GP4000 C 0.003235 33.7
25mm Veloflex Corsa EVO TLR 0.003242 33.8
25mm ENVE SES TLR 0.003386 35.3
25mm Pirelli P Zero Race TLR 0.003412 35.6
25mm Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport TLR 0.003509 36.6
23mm Veloflex Master C 0.003553 37.0
23mm Tufo Calibra Plus C 0.003589 37.4
25mm Hutchinson Fusion 5 Perf TLR 0.003627 37.8
24mm Vittoria Corsa NEXT TLR 0.003671 38.2
25mm Vittoria Corsa G+ 2.0 TLR 0.003786 39.5
25mm Maxxis High Road TLR 0.004045 42.1
25mm Panaracer Race A Evo 4 C 0.004115 42.9
24mm IRC Aspite Pro RBCC 0.004190 43.7
23mm Challenge Record C 0.00431758 45.0
23mm Cadex Race Tubeless TLR 0.004637 48.3
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