The goal of this test was to evaluate the rolling resistance performance of tubular tyres used whilst racing on velodromes, particularly indoor wooden velodromes.
WHICH IS FASTER - TUBULAR, TUBELESS OR CLINCHER?
Tubular tyres are fixed to wheel rims optimally using tubular cement/glue. Adhesive tubular tape can be used, but this results in slightly higher (worse) rolling resistance than using glue. The wheels used for tubular tyres are specific and have a tyre well in which the glue is spread, unlike tubeless/clincher wheels which have bead seats/hooks for the tyres to lock into when inflated.
"Faster" will also need to take into account the wheel the tyres are used with, and how aerodynamic the wheel is. A tubular wheel which is not very aerodynamic could be slower overall than a more aerodynamic tubeless/clincher wheel, even if the Crr on the tubular wheel is better.
TUBULAR TRACK RACING TYRES
Vittoria Pista Speed 23mm
Vittoria Pista Oro 23mm
Continental Sonderklasse 23mm
Continental Olympic 19mm
Continental Tempo 22mm
Veloflex Record 23mm
Veloflex Record 25mm
Dugast Pista Latex Silk 22mm
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 tubular aluminium rim using Continental rim cement in multiple cured layers, and inflated to 150psi.
In this test, we found that there was a small improvement in Crr when using Dugast Pista Latex Silk 22mm tyres over the next fastest tyre, a Vittoria Pista Oro. 1.7w at 55kph is the equivalent of around 30cm per lap of a 250m velodrome, or would be worth 70m during a 55km hour record.
There is a much greater penalty when using Continental tubular tyres, as a Continental Tempo 22mm has nearly double the Crr of a Dugast Pista Latex Silk, 14w slower at 55kph for a pair of wheels.
In this test of four separate brands it was clear that Continental tubular tyres are not equal to the best Dugast, Vittoria and Veloflex tubular tyres.
Some, not all, of this difference will be because Continental tubular tyres are constructed without a latex tube inside (unlike the others tested), which increases Crr. The faster tyres are also very lightweight and unlikely to be suitable for years of riding or on poor outdoor velodrome surfaces.