Would and have, comfort adds to pleasure of riding and therefore performance! It may depend slightly on the roads you ride, but most pavement has at least sections where you thank yourself for riding the fatties.
already have. i like them but i will probably swap them for 32mm soon. want some more speed although i am not entirely sure that it will even help with speed but i want to test it myself. the issue is that just one small loop won't really give you accurate result because the wind might be different enough to ruin the data.
No, never. In fact I'm considering going narrower - from 700x28 to 700x25. I have ridden wide tyres and I hate to feel the bicycle dragging with the excess rubber. And I was never too pleased about seeing what looked like a black donut everytime I checked the front of the bike. But I understand that older people who can't ride fast anymore turn their priorities to comfort and opt for wide tyres. (Gullibility is a factor too, but I won't elaborate on it.)
Someone in Pirelli's Marketing Department showed some pure brilliance with this! Well done Pirelli! They figured out that the vast majority of people ride bikes because it is fun. Yes, we like to go fast, but for the majority of us there is a point where the cost of going faster outweighs the fun of riding (like paying $3000 more to shave off 200g, when I am 30lbs overweight anyway). 40mm road tires will make me 1-2 minutes per hour slower than 28mm tires, but I will be much happier for that hour (and the next three hours after that!). On top of that, I can now stop agonizing whether I should get two wheelsets for my gravel bike - 40mm slicks will likely cover 90% of the surfaces I ride now. Take my money Pirelli!!
Since I don't race or for time (it's all about cardio, fun and discovery), I cannot believe how comfortable, fun and empowered I feel riding wider tires. I've been riding 40 and 45 on all my bikes. Good video.
I’m in Norway, and on the shoulder seasons (between proper winter tires, with studs, and road tires), I have for a while stuck 40 mm semislicks on my gravel bike, following the logic that the risk of punctures (which is significant with all the gravel that is strewn on the winter roads, as well as debris) will slow me a lot more than a rolling resistance penalty will. The added resistance is also much more predictable.
Glad to see this product come out, I have been thinking that a Gravel bike with another set of wheels is the way to go for most people for a long time, might as well use a fast 35-40mm tyre if you can at that point as 1 minute over an hour is irrelevant, and comfort, grip, and puncture resistance easily win over a 1minute/hour of speed.
Yes! This is my preferred setup for cycling trips. Gravel bikes are more comfortable on the body and can easily accommodate skinnier tires. I don't dare put a wider than spec'd tire on my road bike. That bit of flex and some mud or grit will rub away on your road frame.
That is exactly how I set up - Gravel bike (Lauf Seigla) 2 wheelsets, 35 slicks on one, 45mm with proper tread on the other. Also, tire choice is super dependant on the specifics of how any individual rides - the nuances of what kind of mud, preferred roads, how wet the general climate, average ride length, etc. And if you keep your bike handling on point, you can make up 1min/hr just by not braking as much as your mates.
I'm slowly progressing up the comfort zones with wider tires. Originally started on 23mm stepped up to 25mm didn't notice a big difference until fitting 28mm tires. What a huge improvement in comfort! My road bike can take 32mm which is my next step up. Comfort is king at 68!
It seems to me that this is a similar question as the "one bike for all uses" we all have asked about. If it's for the rest of my life (and I'm late 70s) I would pick the 40s as soon enough (maybe already?) I'll worry less about snappy handling and accelerating out of corners and just enjoy long distance (at any pace!) rides on any surface in comfort. So... I think there is a place for both the smaller tires as well as the 40s, assuming you have one bike that fits them all... which brings me back to the other question....
I went through the same phases, starting on 25mm, trying out 28mm, now riding 32mm. I even gave up on mudguards, when commuting in winter, so I could fit the 32mm tyres. The extra comfort is worth the lost watts, if you asked me. On 32mm tyres I just ride longer and farther than I would on 25mm tyres, let alone 23mm tyres.
Depends. My Coersa's 28c measure actually 31 mm on 23c wide internal rim. Most of the aero bike frames won't even accomodate bigger tire than 32c. The asctual tire shape and real world measurements must be taken into account when opting for the right size and right tire pressure.
Guma 571x23 mm Continental ( prednja ) blak čili 190 g...izlizana na 170 g i prošla 31200 km !!!! Rekord koji niko neće oboriti !!!! Imala je unutrašnju dodatni zaštitu ....antiplt... 4000 S2 .....poslije je došla 5000 GP ....i rekli su da je lakša i brža !!!!.
32mm on the summer bike with Roval cl 2 wheels feel just about perfect, I have 40mm Schwalbe G one RS on the gravel winter bike on Zipp 303s, they are slower but very confidence inspiring on wet muddy roads. I’m also 100kg - I think weight to tyre volume is a factor to consider.
Another key issue is the inertia to speed the tires up and also slow them down. I also winter train on wider heavier tires but when it comes to sprinting or closing the gap, it just takes a lot more work. Over a long 3-4-5 hour day it’s incredibly draining but great for training.
I think 35 is the best width for the winter. 40 - doesn’t fit anything and certainly wouldn’t allow a mudguard. Looks like Connor could do with a set of those for Christmas…
I’ll never forget the moment I experienced the true difference narrow tires can make. A friend lent me his road bike with 23mm tires, while everyone else in the group was cruising comfortably on 28-32mm ones. As I tucked in behind them, drafting effortlessly, I quickly realized I couldn't see the road ahead clearly-and that’s when it hit me. Every bump and crack in the pavement felt like a jolt through my entire body. The others, however, barely seemed to notice the rough terrain, gliding along as if it were perfectly smooth.
I found going from 23 to 25 the jolts will basically disappear. It's surprising how much difference it makes. I think 28 or 30mm are better but the difference in comfort going from 25 to 28 isn't as noticeable as going from 23 to 25.
I've kept most of the bikes I've owned over the last 20 years. The oldest being a 2002 Giant OCR. It runs on 23mm at 110psi. My daily rides are all on 32mm tubeless tires that I run at 35 to 40 psi. Every once in a while, I get out on the OCR just to remember how much narrow, high pressure tires suck.
My first proper road bike was a 2006 Giant OCR C3, I still have it on a smart trainer in my bike room. I took it out for a ride once; 5 miles felt like a century on it. I'll stick to my new Atheos with 30mm.
Do you need to run the 23mm tires at 110? I run mine at 80psi and weigh ~165lbs on a lugged steel frameset. Also, aluminum road bikes generally feel like crap, with the exception of late 90's early '00 cannondales. Steel forks act as suspension.
Very good video. I still have 25s, but then I'm 60 years old and a total dinosaur! My second bike still has 23's! Both Cannondale Super 6's. At this stage in the game, I'm just happy to be riding my bike.
I've been running on 36mm for 4 years now. Watching this video leaves me feeling vindicated that I was right all along. 36mm at 45psi is so much more comfortable, so much more grip but not the full hog of weight running on 40mm rubber. I'm convinced that for the majority of us something between 32mm & 36mm is about right.
4:22 New Bmc road machine has 40mm tire clearance, so is Specialized Roubaix Sl8. A lot of other endurance bikes can accommodate 38mm, like new Giant defy and Trek Domane, fitting 40mm tire on them isn’t a big problem.
Went from 25 to 32 this year, best decision ever! I commute all year long, feels much more confident in the rain, and its also really fast in the sun. Also didn't had any puncture (yet).
GCN slowly realizing that going fastest isn't everything and riding bikes just rules. 5 years will pass and we'll get a video on belt-drive internal gear hubs being so easy to maintain.
My hub geared hybrid needs a new chain, hope to convert to belt drive. It will never completely replace derailleur gears for me (heavy and fixed gear range) but I can see me favouring a hub geared belt drive bike in the winter.
When I get my Specialized Roubaix SL8 in the New Year I will be equipping it with Pirelli P Zero Race TLR 40mm tyres. Been looking into these tyres for sometime now. Prioritizing comfort and endurance over speed and time. Yes, there was a significant time gain on this short distance but over 200 miles that difference would reduce substantially. Effort can be sustained longer when stress is relieved throughout the entire bike set up.
@@BlackTopAdventureCo i rode from Spain to Norway last spring on 35mm tyres (37c) and meet a guy who crossed France faster than me but he said he would never do that again anymore. On the other hand i was slower than him but had so much joy that i could keep going on until i stop at Norway i realized i could keep going. At the end of the day is not a race and is not about who get to the finnish line faster but the one who makes It the further and enjoy the ride the most.
Why get an sl8 if you are prioritizing comfort and endurance. A wider tire doesn't compare to an easier frame geometry when it comes to comfort over long distances.
Got my bike new in 1982 with 25mm tires. The trend later got me on 23mm tires. Wanted to go on dirt roads so I squeezed in some 42mm tires. Then down to 35mm tires. 35mm was nice but clumsy around town. Probably the narrow rims didn't help with that. Now I've fitted 28mm Panaracer Gravel King SS tires that measure @ 29mm inflated. My verdict is: Very good on dry roads even rough ones (no wet yet). Responsive and comfortable. Gravel ride was fast, with much better than expected dry traction even with 60psi in them. Very good bump compliance even when encountering small stones. Excellent off camber traction for their width. Rough single-track they were out of their league for sure. With these I have high confidence wherever I ride if I stay within the limits of course.
Currently using Ultradynamico Cava Race in 42 on my road/all-road/randonneur bike. For a slow guy like me, it’s absolutely perfect. A good mix of comfort and performance. I sometimes feel that roads are shittier than gravel path 😂 so it’s good to have big tyres when performance is not key.
@@lechprotean It's not too bad, apparently the sidewalls are less protected, though. If you want the strongest tyres try Pirelli Cinturato velo, Gatorskins, or hard tyres like Schwalbe Marathon. Based on Bicycle Rolling Resistance...
I’ve been riding René Herse 38mm road (extralight casing; 350g) and 32mm (265g). Before that I rode the 28mm (230g) tires on bikes that had rim brakes. As to the 38mm vs 32mm, I’ve never noticed a difference in performance. The 85g weight difference is not even noticeable and, for those who are fussed about aero, bear in mind that your down tube is usually wider than 38mm so the fact that your tires are wide is irrelevant.
Yes aero don't matter for back tire but it matter for the front, it's about how the shape penetrate the air flow and create the separation that benefits the rear area of the bike
My 2015 Synapse came with 28. A year later I put 32’s on. There is maybe one or two mm of clearance around both tires, but I haven’t had any issues with them. I use the road bike to stay in shape for hockey and mountain biking. Haven’t felt the need to upgrade the old bike yet.
28mm or 40mm? 32mm! Great video, lads! But a 7k loop is not comparable to a long ride, where fatigue becomes greater with every passing kilometer. The sweet spot is between your two test sizes based on my 44 years of riding experiencing many different tire sizes on lots of different bikes and wheels. Heck, Tadej won the Giro and Tour on 30's.
Loved this video, however as we know the rule of 105 is massively important for aerodynamics, it would be so interesting to repeat this test using a set of the zipp XPLR 303 wheels that have a 40mm external width, to see if the wider tires can be made equally fast as the skinny ones with the right rim
105 rule is overblown in the context of hysteresis. If you can have both great but in my experience a bigger less aero tire rolls faster over bumpy roads.
@tomrodriguez9052 is correct, is not relevant on the gravel bike as it is in the TT bike. And there are not no many rim options that wide. But... for the looks I think matching the wide of rim and tire is the best.
Today i tested out for the first time 28mm tubeless pirelly racing tlr sl coming from tubular 26mm (same model tire), and wow the difference is so huge. The comfort riding today, and ironically had my ftp test today, felt so soooo good. I really felt the whole grip of the rear tires when riding, felt very comfy descending!
I’d love a set to put on my gravel bike for winter road rides, and runs 30s on my summer bike, which are fantastic. I’m old and slow anyway, so comfort trumps speed for me! 😂
Unless I missed it, you didn't mention the pressure on each tire (tyre), but I think that may be a factor in its speed and comfort. I suspect the best results depends on the surface. For ultra smooth surfaces, skinny tires at higher pressures are going to be faster. For rougher surfaces, wider tires at a lower pressure will be more comfortable (and possibly faster).
I'm using the P zero's 40mm as my new winter tyre with a HUNT 4 Season Gravel Wheelset for my cyclocross bike. Tyres are quite heavy with tubeless sealant and Vittoria tire inserts! They give a lot of confidence. At 3.3 and 3.1 Bars the bike is also quieter over bad sections of road. They are faster and more grippy than my 40mm Schwalbe Almotion (with latex tubes, 3.8 Bars) tyres I used many winter years. But in the realm of road bike tyres they are on par with Pirelli Cinturato Velo, so "slow".
@DR_1_1 Vittoria Air-Liner Gravel. They allow me to continue my ride in the winter when the tubeless sealant fails to seal. The foam expands when tyre pressure is lost. In the winter I don't want to deal with punctures.
I got the Continental 5000gp AS TR 35MM! Its an all season tubeless tire.. ITS AMAZIIINGGGG 😍 So much comfort and marginal speedloss. Such a fine tire, love it!❤ ❤❤
A big part of tire width, is your width. I'm 6'-4", 240lbs. I ride 35mm road tires. More breaking surface to slow my large mass down. More comfortable ride. Allows me to hit (very) short sections of gravel/dirt in a pinch. I also feel waaaay better running tubeless on something this wide, whereas I don't think I'd risk tubeless on anything narrower.
I am just a sunday rider from middle of the Finland, but last spring I made decision change my 28mm GP5000 to 35mm GP5000 and I have not regret for that. For me 35mm are just great. Enough speedy and much more comfort.
For comparison: 40 mm tyre lap time: 1,027 seconds 28 mm tyre lap time: 1,009 seconds. That is a 1.75% time difference. 40mm tyre: 334 W * 17m 07s = 343 kJ 28mm tyre: 331 W * 16m 49s = 334 kJ That is a 2.62% energy expenditure difference.
@@robduncan599 I'm not sure what you mean - energy isn't the same. 40 mm tyres take more power, more time and thus more energy. Where did I get it the wrong way round?
The limiting factor for tire sized used to be frame shape or brake calliper size/type but with tubeless disc brake tires most of those are going away and we can play with all kinds of tire sizes and maybe even tire shapes. My favourite has become 30mm for the way they feel for me. 30 some years ago I rode City Slickers on my mtn bike when I was using it for road rides. They are about 48mm.
Based on advice from Dylan Johnson, all the gravel racers whose aero gravel frames can’t accommodate Conti 50mm Race Kings are selling their frames to get something which can. That means there should be plenty of nice frames available at fire sale prices which can accommodate the Pirelli 40s for those who may want a plush yet aero road rig.😊
High end gravel is just turning into XC MTB with drop bars. Look at Leadville this year and not just Keegan Swenson but most of the top riders were on XC race bikes with drop bars.
since I have multiple bikes, I am not falling for this trend. 25mm are more aero and I can 'survive' 4 hours riding those. When I want a 'fast' ride I choose my road bike and skinny tyres, when I expect worse surfaces I just go on a gravel bike - 42mm semi slick is even better than these.
If you’re curious, you should check out the Bicycle Quarterly tests of this stuff. Turns out that snappy feeling of 23mm tires is the sensation of energy wasted throwing your bike and self up and down, rather than rolling smoothly horizontally while the larger tire flexes over the little bumps. There’s a reason the pros ditched the narrow tires-they’re slower.
Depends where you ride. It's the like argument that everyone needs discs because the pros use them. And yet people think they need them...because the pros use them
When I started racing, we all rode 18mm tubs... Wolber Pro SP1 to be exact. TT's were ridden on Soyo Pro's which were superlight, superfast, 120psi and 17mm!
As ollie stated, the 40mm version has a slightly different construction with a thicker tread and already tested higher rolling resistance. so this is more of test of different tire construction than on tire width. it would have been more interesting to choose a tire that is identical between the different sizes (f.e. a grand prix 5000 all season 25 vs. 35) so rolling resistance stays the same. the time difference would be much smaller. on crappy roads even cancel almost out.
Was riding 35c terrano zero, now 32c ride armour. The zeros were brilliant in the corner's especially when the cycle paths and the roads had been gritted. Also very smooth.
18 seconds is significant ? Noticeable, yes ! But significant ? On a longer ride it would mount up, probably ? Reduced impact/vibration etc might offset the tiredness ? Somewhat ? At my less race speed velocities the larger comfort tire makes no appreciable difference to my travel time
I did once change the road wheelset on my hardtail mtb (old 100/135 frame so the wheelset can fit in), tyres were 28mm Continental Ultra Sport III. On the smooth road, there's significant advantage but in the mixed condition, I still prefer at least gravel-width tyre, maybe somewhere from 38mm - because it is more comfortable and you won't have to check pressure every single ride.
For racing I would us 23 mm tires and for mountain biking tires I would use 2.2 inch tires. For gravel I would narrow that down to 35 mm tires. Awesome videos! 🎉
My Cinelli disc time trial wheels came with a big box of brass weights. On a flat course with turns you want a heavy wheel to fight winds and pull you through corners if you stop pedaling. A light wheel slows and out of a corner you will be forced to stand up and crank to get back up to speed. Heavy is the bomb.
Around 10 years ago, Jan Heine stated 38mm was ideal; the tires are not too "squishy " when climbing. When Josh Poertner was the techical director at ZIPP and was working with tour level pros, his research showed wider tires with lower tire pressures were "always faster".
Spring mass system. If your system weight is low, pick a narrower tyre. If high, go for wider. Road bikes lack damped suspension movement, so picking the correct width for the system weight is more critical.
Been running GP5000s in 35mm for 6 months of so now, ride feel is great. from my perspective they have only improved ride performance and comfort, still feel faster than lower quality 28mm I was on before.
I've decided that my Vitus Substance VRS will be my main road bike from now on, running 40c tyres it came with. Can run them tubeless at 25psi for the crap UK roads, 46/30 by 11-34 gearing is much more usable in hilly areas than the overgeared road bike I have, and it means I can take that singletrack shortcut home if needs be. Lets face it, it's more an "all roads" bike than a true gravel bike anyway. Slower...?meh...my neck will thank me for it, less whiplash going over tarmac ridges in the road from tree roots below and pothole city everywhere. UK roads aren't fit for skinny tyres, it's whey there's so many annoying SUV's kicking about, they've realised a wee car on skinny tyres can't cope either....
Already got some of these lined up for when the better weather arrives next year! For me it's all about comfort as I have serious wrist problems so hoping these will soak up those potholes 🤞
I am waiting for my new 3T Strada Italia to arrive and I alredy ordered these P Zero 35mm tyres. Can't wait to get my bike and to try and compare it with my todays 3T Strada with 30mm tyres
Just wait until road cyclists find out that suspension makes you faster (depending on surface conditions). 😂 It's funny how traditional pro road cycling was built on the mantra "less comfort = more speed" (the slimmest tires, the highest pressure, the hardest saddle, the pedal clips with the least play are the best, "granny" gears are for losers, harder training is always better training, etc), and that legacy still holds it back today.
The Industry won't stop trying to push tubeless road. If you get sucked into this load of crap they know there is a better chance you will try tubeless setups as well. IMO that is the motivation here.
I have a road training wheelset for my Giant Revolt. GP5000 AS TR in 700x35. Love ‘em. Chris King hubs, Light Carbon WR50 50mm deep 25mm ID hooked carbon rims. Sapim X-Ray spokes. Comfy and fast rolling.
@ I was thinking about buying an endurance bike; now I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s a crappy value proposition for me. I’ve got Strava and a Garmin and a power meter - I’m not really giving anything up with the Revolt compared to other roadies. I race my Revolt in local club gravel events. My gravel wheelset has Pathfinder Pro’s in 47mm.
8:36 "But, it's not all about pure speed". WRONNNNNNNG, that was the whole point of this test!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We already know the 40s will be more comfortable and may provide more confidence.
I don’t feel like doing the math this morning, but is the gearing difference between 28 and 25 is that big? I’d be surprised if it’s more than a tooth on the cassette. Maybe Ollie can put on his science glasses and tell us?
No word on tire pressure? Or did I miss it? Rule of thumb is still, given equal tire pressure, wider has less resistance, thus faster. Up to a point, where air resistance would be a factor, not to mention weight, which is soon a real issue.
If you keep the same pressure, the bigger tyre will have a harder ride and more vibration. I found that out the hard way. Use one of the internet calculators for the optimum pressure for speed according to your weight and the tyre size. The fastest pressure for a particular tyre seems to be the most comfortable as well.
Well with the roads in this country, especially narrow country lanes, it makes sense. I think what people forget is that wider tires make the wheel diameter larger, so it rolls over things better.
My first real bike is a gravel 40mm, and while it may be slower than pure race it is so much more enjoyable when training. Even on asphalt because the roads are bad where i live so it feels just nicer. Also to just pop onto a gravel road shortcut with comfort and confidence is fun.
There aren't any 23mm roadies anymore. Until approx. 2010 23 mm was common, after that it was 25mm, since approx 2020 28mm has been the 'standard' and nowadays a lot of people are switching to 30mm but many still on 28mm. It has been an evolution due to more clearance (enabled by disc brakes), wider (and still light) rims, better rubber compound combined with improved tire carcass designs, and last but not least, tubeless. It seems, for pro road racing, 28-32mm is more or less the optimal at this moment. Tires aren't getting much wider as they weigh more and the added comfort isn't really a must for most road racers. So unless wider tires prove to be faster, it is what it is.
@@l.d.t.6327 Contemporary road bike tire design seems to be a process of balancing speed / rolling resistance, comfort, and puncture resistance. Road racers are primarily interested in speed, so rolling resistance should be an overwhelming priority, with puncture resistance and comfort taking a back seat. Most pro road racers will sacrifice a bit of comfort if it leads to better race results with the narrower tires, and are less bothered than common folks about punctures and flats, as they generally have spare bikes and a team of skilled bike mechanics for real time support. Non-racing cyclists will generally prefer comfort and puncture resistance as the primary factors in choosing a tire, especially for longer distances and time in the saddle. If you look at old videos and photos of pro cyclists of the 1980's and earlier, it is obvious that comfort wasn't a priority for these guys, and they generally rode on 18-20mm tires pumped up to 100+ psi. That was generally thought to increase speed (and prevent pinch flats on such narrow tires).
I'm using 32mm on my Focus Izalco Max, coming from 23 mm on a previous bike and 25 mm that come with my current bike. I cannot compare to 28mm, since I haven't really used them, but comparing the 32mm with the 25mm, I can only say that I don't fear any more going on a bad road by mistake: the 32mm were a game changer. I will probably not go for anything wider on road bike because I also have a gravel bike, but I also don't feel the need to add more confort, the 32mm are great.
38m for me! I have a ton of mixed terrain near me so it’s a great all rounder. But I don’t do a ton of racing so I just keep them on the rare occasion when I do race
Schwalbe already released the fastest fat slick. The Big One. Designed for beach racing it's huge 2.3" with little round dimple knobs barely a mm high. Put Em on my 29er ht and it's flies. Tubeless weighing 500g. Gets lots of looks and questions. The narrower gravel version is much more popular considering the marketed direction for this tire I think they discontinue used it then reissued a slightly different one. Really glad I got them because before these most 29er slicks were behemoth commuter or urban freeride type tires both weighing double and just completely different performance. Smooth packed rail trails are where these really fly. Effortless speed. Very fun.
I had 35mm slicks on an old Cannondale aluminum mountain bike that I would use for traveling around town on short errands. I got much more comfort and much more enjoyment out of that setup than I would have with something that had a real tread. They only truly failed in the little bit of snow that we get in the winter.
Nice video. Comfort is great! But for me, when I grab my roadbike, its a sport activity. So i appreciate nippy and dynamic feeling while riding. If I seek comfort I can grab my Gravel bike :)
I have been running some form of 35mm tires on my road wheels for my gravel bike and really enjoy them. Lately, I been running the Pirelli P Zero Road TLR. Great tire. I had considered the 40's, but they are so hard to find, I did not want to get stuck if something happened to one, and not being able to find a replacement.
Would you put 40mm tyres on your bike? Or have you done so already? Let us know! 🛞👇
Would and have, comfort adds to pleasure of riding and therefore performance! It may depend slightly on the roads you ride, but most pavement has at least sections where you thank yourself for riding the fatties.
Never wider than 25 mm
already have. i like them but i will probably swap them for 32mm soon. want some more speed although i am not entirely sure that it will even help with speed but i want to test it myself. the issue is that just one small loop won't really give you accurate result because the wind might be different enough to ruin the data.
Yes, I’m about to fit 40mm Pirelli tyres on my gravel Bianchi bike.
No, never. In fact I'm considering going narrower - from 700x28 to 700x25. I have ridden wide tyres and I hate to feel the bicycle dragging with the excess rubber. And I was never too pleased about seeing what looked like a black donut everytime I checked the front of the bike. But I understand that older people who can't ride fast anymore turn their priorities to comfort and opt for wide tyres. (Gullibility is a factor too, but I won't elaborate on it.)
Someone in Pirelli's Marketing Department showed some pure brilliance with this! Well done Pirelli!
They figured out that the vast majority of people ride bikes because it is fun. Yes, we like to go fast, but for the majority of us there is a point where the cost of going faster outweighs the fun of riding (like paying $3000 more to shave off 200g, when I am 30lbs overweight anyway). 40mm road tires will make me 1-2 minutes per hour slower than 28mm tires, but I will be much happier for that hour (and the next three hours after that!). On top of that, I can now stop agonizing whether I should get two wheelsets for my gravel bike - 40mm slicks will likely cover 90% of the surfaces I ride now.
Take my money Pirelli!!
Love my 40c gravel king slicks for this reason
So, if the goal is not to go fast, there is no need to buy the latest model expensive bike to go fast. No need for unnecessary group sets and squads 👍
the cheapest way to save 600g is to leave one a watter bottle at home, youre welcome
Fun starts over 30km/h. Sorry, it's too hard to maintain this speed with 40mm tyre.
I went from 25 to 28 mm tires on my road bike. Im 73 and ride about 3500 miles a year. Comfort factor increased greatly
it's amazing how good it feels!
Remember the days we time trialed on 19 and 20 mm tires... we got beat to heck
I’m 60 and switched from 25-28 big difference .
@ I would have gone to 30 but they wouldn’t fit
Now try going from 28 to 32, comforts will double.
Since I don't race or for time (it's all about cardio, fun and discovery), I cannot believe how comfortable, fun and empowered I feel riding wider tires. I've been riding 40 and 45 on all my bikes. Good video.
I’m in Norway, and on the shoulder seasons (between proper winter tires, with studs, and road tires), I have for a while stuck 40 mm semislicks on my gravel bike, following the logic that the risk of punctures (which is significant with all the gravel that is strewn on the winter roads, as well as debris) will slow me a lot more than a rolling resistance penalty will. The added resistance is also much more predictable.
Oh that's a good point!
The excitement I get when GCN drop a new video about tyres is quite ridiculous
we just can't help ourselves!
@ keep them coming
It's spelled tires! 😅
@@nathancanaan777 Yeah, if you're from the USA, but the British spell it with a "y". Smart people know this 😆
@asbjrnkristiansen429 i know. I was just pretending to be a stupid american
Glad to see this product come out, I have been thinking that a Gravel bike with another set of wheels is the way to go for most people for a long time, might as well use a fast 35-40mm tyre if you can at that point as 1 minute over an hour is irrelevant, and comfort, grip, and puncture resistance easily win over a 1minute/hour of speed.
Yes! This is my preferred setup for cycling trips. Gravel bikes are more comfortable on the body and can easily accommodate skinnier tires. I don't dare put a wider than spec'd tire on my road bike. That bit of flex and some mud or grit will rub away on your road frame.
That is exactly how I set up - Gravel bike (Lauf Seigla) 2 wheelsets, 35 slicks on one, 45mm with proper tread on the other. Also, tire choice is super dependant on the specifics of how any individual rides - the nuances of what kind of mud, preferred roads, how wet the general climate, average ride length, etc. And if you keep your bike handling on point, you can make up 1min/hr just by not braking as much as your mates.
I'm slowly progressing up the comfort zones with wider tires. Originally started on 23mm stepped up to 25mm didn't notice a big difference until fitting 28mm tires. What a huge improvement in comfort! My road bike can take 32mm which is my next step up. Comfort is king at 68!
It seems to me that this is a similar question as the "one bike for all uses" we all have asked about. If it's for the rest of my life (and I'm late 70s) I would pick the 40s as soon enough (maybe already?) I'll worry less about snappy handling and accelerating out of corners and just enjoy long distance (at any pace!) rides on any surface in comfort. So... I think there is a place for both the smaller tires as well as the 40s, assuming you have one bike that fits them all... which brings me back to the other question....
I went through the same phases, starting on 25mm, trying out 28mm, now riding 32mm. I even gave up on mudguards, when commuting in winter, so I could fit the 32mm tyres. The extra comfort is worth the lost watts, if you asked me. On 32mm tyres I just ride longer and farther than I would on 25mm tyres, let alone 23mm tyres.
Agreed, the Randoneurs friend actually. I've gone with the Cinturato velo @ 32mm, but will go up a size should they ever actually wear out.
Depends. My Coersa's 28c measure actually 31 mm on 23c wide internal rim. Most of the aero bike frames won't even accomodate bigger tire than 32c. The asctual tire shape and real world measurements must be taken into account when opting for the right size and right tire pressure.
Guma 571x23 mm Continental ( prednja ) blak čili 190 g...izlizana na 170 g i prošla 31200 km !!!!
Rekord koji niko neće oboriti !!!!
Imala je unutrašnju dodatni zaštitu ....antiplt...
4000 S2 .....poslije je došla 5000 GP ....i rekli su da je lakša i brža !!!!.
Try ass savers as mud guards then
32mm on the summer bike with Roval cl 2 wheels feel just about perfect, I have 40mm Schwalbe G one RS on the gravel winter bike on Zipp 303s, they are slower but very confidence inspiring on wet muddy roads. I’m also 100kg - I think weight to tyre volume is a factor to consider.
Another key issue is the inertia to speed the tires up and also slow them down. I also winter train on wider heavier tires but when it comes to sprinting or closing the gap, it just takes a lot more work. Over a long 3-4-5 hour day it’s incredibly draining but great for training.
30/32mm are probably best of both worlds.
We said the same about 28mm when we were railing 23mm! 😂
Running 32mm for road riding currently. They are fantastic.
At least are under uci regulations for ciclocross …
I think 35 is the best width for the winter. 40 - doesn’t fit anything and certainly wouldn’t allow a mudguard. Looks like Connor could do with a set of those for Christmas…
Maybe the best of both worlds is somewhere at 32/35 mm?
I’ll never forget the moment I experienced the true difference narrow tires can make. A friend lent me his road bike with 23mm tires, while everyone else in the group was cruising comfortably on 28-32mm ones. As I tucked in behind them, drafting effortlessly, I quickly realized I couldn't see the road ahead clearly-and that’s when it hit me. Every bump and crack in the pavement felt like a jolt through my entire body. The others, however, barely seemed to notice the rough terrain, gliding along as if it were perfectly smooth.
That's why I can't recognize my friends coming from opposite direction ☹️
I found going from 23 to 25 the jolts will basically disappear. It's surprising how much difference it makes. I think 28 or 30mm are better but the difference in comfort going from 25 to 28 isn't as noticeable as going from 23 to 25.
I've heard MTB and Gravel guys talk about this effect, but I never knew what they were getting at until now.
That's because you have a carbon frame. I ride 25mm at 7 bar on an steel frame and is pretty comfortable.
@docmccoy9813 7 bar seems a bit much. Did you check Silca's tire pressure calculator?
I remember testers running on 18mm telling me that 20mm would never catch on.
I remember my friend told me the road tyres were 18mm pumped to 120psi. That was in the 80s.
18c would be run at a much higher pressure. Closer to 200psi. 120psi is where you'd run a 23c typically.
So the roads were much better in the 80s.
Even track cycling is using much wider than 18 and 20mm :)
I once rode 200kms on 18s... and I've never been the same.
I've kept most of the bikes I've owned over the last 20 years. The oldest being a 2002 Giant OCR. It runs on 23mm at 110psi. My daily rides are all on 32mm tubeless tires that I run at 35 to 40 psi. Every once in a while, I get out on the OCR just to remember how much narrow, high pressure tires suck.
My first proper road bike was a 2006 Giant OCR C3, I still have it on a smart trainer in my bike room. I took it out for a ride once; 5 miles felt like a century on it. I'll stick to my new Atheos with 30mm.
Do you need to run the 23mm tires at 110? I run mine at 80psi and weigh ~165lbs on a lugged steel frameset. Also, aluminum road bikes generally feel like crap, with the exception of late 90's early '00 cannondales. Steel forks act as suspension.
Very good video. I still have 25s, but then I'm 60 years old and a total dinosaur! My second bike still has 23's! Both Cannondale Super 6's. At this stage in the game, I'm just happy to be riding my bike.
happy and riding a bike - perfect!
Is there someone still supplying 23's? :)
I've been running on 36mm for 4 years now. Watching this video leaves me feeling vindicated that I was right all along. 36mm at 45psi is so much more comfortable, so much more grip but not the full hog of weight running on 40mm rubber. I'm convinced that for the majority of us something between 32mm & 36mm is about right.
4:22
New Bmc road machine has 40mm tire clearance, so is Specialized Roubaix Sl8. A lot of other endurance bikes can accommodate 38mm, like new Giant defy and Trek Domane, fitting 40mm tire on them isn’t a big problem.
Went from 25 to 32 this year, best decision ever! I commute all year long, feels much more confident in the rain, and its also really fast in the sun. Also didn't had any puncture (yet).
GCN slowly realizing that going fastest isn't everything and riding bikes just rules. 5 years will pass and we'll get a video on belt-drive internal gear hubs being so easy to maintain.
we'll get Alex to start filming that now!
My hub geared hybrid needs a new chain, hope to convert to belt drive. It will never completely replace derailleur gears for me (heavy and fixed gear range) but I can see me favouring a hub geared belt drive bike in the winter.
Good one. I've never seen a rohloff video from them given the fact that they are here for over 30+ years.
When I get my Specialized Roubaix SL8 in the New Year I will be equipping it with Pirelli P Zero Race TLR 40mm tyres. Been looking into these tyres for sometime now. Prioritizing comfort and endurance over speed and time. Yes, there was a significant time gain on this short distance but over 200 miles that difference would reduce substantially. Effort can be sustained longer when stress is relieved throughout the entire bike set up.
❤ exactly this comment is my approach at cycling ❤
@@BlackTopAdventureCo i rode from Spain to Norway last spring on 35mm tyres (37c) and meet a guy who crossed France faster than me but he said he would never do that again anymore. On the other hand i was slower than him but had so much joy that i could keep going on until i stop at Norway i realized i could keep going. At the end of the day is not a race and is not about who get to the finnish line faster but the one who makes It the further and enjoy the ride the most.
Why get an sl8 if you are prioritizing comfort and endurance.
A wider tire doesn't compare to an easier frame geometry when it comes to comfort over long distances.
@gitnjur he said Roubaix SL8 not Tarmac SL8. So he’s getting an endurance geometry.
@@HKRoad oof, my bad.
Hello. In autumn and winter I ride the Continental Grand Prix 5000 AS TR with 32mm. Fast and yet comfortable. NICE.
Got my bike new in 1982 with 25mm tires. The trend later got me on 23mm tires. Wanted to go on dirt roads so I squeezed in some 42mm tires. Then down to 35mm tires. 35mm was nice but clumsy around town. Probably the narrow rims didn't help with that.
Now I've fitted 28mm Panaracer Gravel King SS tires that measure @ 29mm inflated. My verdict is: Very good on dry roads even rough ones (no wet yet). Responsive and comfortable. Gravel ride was fast, with much better than expected dry traction even with 60psi in them.
Very good bump compliance even when encountering small stones. Excellent off camber traction for their width.
Rough single-track they were out of their league for sure.
With these I have high confidence wherever I ride if I stay within the limits of course.
Currently using Ultradynamico Cava Race in 42 on my road/all-road/randonneur bike.
For a slow guy like me, it’s absolutely perfect. A good mix of comfort and performance.
I sometimes feel that roads are shittier than gravel path 😂 so it’s good to have big tyres when performance is not key.
one thing with ud cava race is puncture protection. I would love to see some long term results from riding bad roads on a tyre like that
Cava Race in grey is gorgeous.
@@lechprotean It's not too bad, apparently the sidewalls are less protected, though.
If you want the strongest tyres try Pirelli Cinturato velo, Gatorskins, or hard tyres like Schwalbe Marathon.
Based on Bicycle Rolling Resistance...
I’ve been riding René Herse 38mm road (extralight casing; 350g) and 32mm (265g). Before that I rode the 28mm (230g) tires on bikes that had rim brakes. As to the 38mm vs 32mm, I’ve never noticed a difference in performance. The 85g weight difference is not even noticeable and, for those who are fussed about aero, bear in mind that your down tube is usually wider than 38mm so the fact that your tires are wide is irrelevant.
Yes aero don't matter for back tire but it matter for the front, it's about how the shape penetrate the air flow and create the separation that benefits the rear area of the bike
At 64 I am more about comfort, safety and enjoyment and less about speed.
40mm for the win!
Hey Conor, I actually ride 40’s on my cyclocross Trek Boone! I ride a little gravel, but mainly road, so it’s more of road tire. I love it!
My 2015 Synapse came with 28. A year later I put 32’s on. There is maybe one or two mm of clearance around both tires, but I haven’t had any issues with them. I use the road bike to stay in shape for hockey and mountain biking. Haven’t felt the need to upgrade the old bike yet.
28mm or 40mm?
32mm!
Great video, lads! But a 7k loop is not comparable to a long ride, where fatigue becomes greater with every passing kilometer. The sweet spot is between your two test sizes based on my 44 years of riding experiencing many different tire sizes on lots of different bikes and wheels. Heck, Tadej won the Giro and Tour on 30's.
Loved this video, however as we know the rule of 105 is massively important for aerodynamics, it would be so interesting to repeat this test using a set of the zipp XPLR 303 wheels that have a 40mm external width, to see if the wider tires can be made equally fast as the skinny ones with the right rim
105 rule is overblown in the context of hysteresis. If you can have both great but in my experience a bigger less aero tire rolls faster over bumpy roads.
Dylan Johnson did some wind tunnel studies, getting ready for Unbound, and found that rule of 105 not that true at all.
@@tomrodriguez9052 for knobby gravel tires.
@tomrodriguez9052 is correct, is not relevant on the gravel bike as it is in the TT bike. And there are not no many rim options that wide. But... for the looks I think matching the wide of rim and tire is the best.
Today i tested out for the first time 28mm tubeless pirelly racing tlr sl coming from tubular 26mm (same model tire), and wow the difference is so huge. The comfort riding today, and ironically had my ftp test today, felt so soooo good. I really felt the whole grip of the rear tires when riding, felt very comfy descending!
try 32, the comfort will double.
I’d love a set to put on my gravel bike for winter road rides, and runs 30s on my summer bike, which are fantastic. I’m old and slow anyway, so comfort trumps speed for me! 😂
Unless I missed it, you didn't mention the pressure on each tire (tyre), but I think that may be a factor in its speed and comfort. I suspect the best results depends on the surface. For ultra smooth surfaces, skinny tires at higher pressures are going to be faster. For rougher surfaces, wider tires at a lower pressure will be more comfortable (and possibly faster).
I'm using the P zero's 40mm as my new winter tyre with a HUNT 4 Season Gravel Wheelset for my cyclocross bike. Tyres are quite heavy with tubeless sealant and Vittoria tire inserts!
They give a lot of confidence. At 3.3 and 3.1 Bars the bike is also quieter over bad sections of road. They are faster and more grippy than my 40mm Schwalbe Almotion (with latex tubes, 3.8 Bars) tyres I used many winter years. But in the realm of road bike tyres they are on par with Pirelli Cinturato Velo, so "slow".
Tyres inserts are for tubes!
@DR_1_1 Vittoria Air-Liner Gravel. They allow me to continue my ride in the winter when the tubeless sealant fails to seal. The foam expands when tyre pressure is lost. In the winter I don't want to deal with punctures.
Now running 30mm p zero race tubeless at 65psi. So comfortable compared to my previous 25/28mm tyres, and feel just as quick.
Would love to see you add 30mm and 32mm tests to the data! Still a cracking vid though.
I got the Continental 5000gp AS TR 35MM! Its an all season tubeless tire.. ITS AMAZIIINGGGG 😍 So much comfort and marginal speedloss. Such a fine tire, love it!❤ ❤❤
My rear 28mm finally wore out so I went and put on 30mm and it's been really nice. The front is still 28mm as there still plenty of tread.
throw the 28 on the back and wear it out then replace with 30 to match the front.
I have renovated Giant Peloton from 1997 with tyre size 20 ! This is "zero comfort" option, but from time to time I love to go for a ride !
35’s sound tempting!
I run GP5000 AS TR’s in 700x35. Love ‘em.
I run them, they’re great and the wet grip is phenomenal but they are heavy and you can definitely feel it when accelerating.
vittoria corsa pro control 34mm, thank me later
@@hutchy_4297also PRO ONE in 34c or CHALLENGE STRADA BIANCA PRO in 36c
I run the Goodyear Zipp 35s and have never been faster or more comfortable on my bike.
A big part of tire width, is your width. I'm 6'-4", 240lbs. I ride 35mm road tires. More breaking surface to slow my large mass down. More comfortable ride. Allows me to hit (very) short sections of gravel/dirt in a pinch. I also feel waaaay better running tubeless on something this wide, whereas I don't think I'd risk tubeless on anything narrower.
Great review!!! I’m still in the 25mm group, I’m sure it’s all psychological🤔
I am just a sunday rider from middle of the Finland, but last spring I made decision change my 28mm GP5000 to 35mm GP5000 and I have not regret for that. For me 35mm are just great. Enough speedy and much more comfort.
Very nice!
For comparison:
40 mm tyre lap time: 1,027 seconds
28 mm tyre lap time: 1,009 seconds.
That is a 1.75% time difference.
40mm tyre: 334 W * 17m 07s = 343 kJ
28mm tyre: 331 W * 16m 49s = 334 kJ
That is a 2.62% energy expenditure difference.
The difference is massive.
You got it the wrong way round ? If energy was same 40mm would be even slower ?
@@robduncan599 I'm not sure what you mean - energy isn't the same. 40 mm tyres take more power, more time and thus more energy.
Where did I get it the wrong way round?
@@dcataj5085 oh no, your 12 followers on Strava will see how 2% sloweryou're are, the pain, disgrace
that loss probably mostly because of added weight,if they gonna be same weight it would be exactly same time
The limiting factor for tire sized used to be frame shape or brake calliper size/type but with tubeless disc brake tires most of those are going away and we can play with all kinds of tire sizes and maybe even tire shapes. My favourite has become 30mm for the way they feel for me. 30 some years ago I rode City Slickers on my mtn bike when I was using it for road rides. They are about 48mm.
Based on advice from Dylan Johnson, all the gravel racers whose aero gravel frames can’t accommodate Conti 50mm Race Kings are selling their frames to get something which can. That means there should be plenty of nice frames available at fire sale prices which can accommodate the Pirelli 40s for those who may want a plush yet aero road rig.😊
Dylan Johnson*
But what did backwards baseball cap Dylan say? We all know he’s the real brains behind the scenes. 🤔
Thomas?
High end gravel is just turning into XC MTB with drop bars. Look at Leadville this year and not just Keegan Swenson but most of the top riders were on XC race bikes with drop bars.
Just road my 28mm panaracers, after a rainy day. It was muddy even icy where water pools up. They handled everything very nicely
I love my 25mm. Maybe 28mm is the widest I'd go. I miss the feeling of my 23mm tires, but 25mm helps prevent pinch flats.
since I have multiple bikes, I am not falling for this trend. 25mm are more aero and I can 'survive' 4 hours riding those. When I want a 'fast' ride I choose my road bike and skinny tyres, when I expect worse surfaces I just go on a gravel bike - 42mm semi slick is even better than these.
If you’re curious, you should check out the Bicycle Quarterly tests of this stuff. Turns out that snappy feeling of 23mm tires is the sensation of energy wasted throwing your bike and self up and down, rather than rolling smoothly horizontally while the larger tire flexes over the little bumps. There’s a reason the pros ditched the narrow tires-they’re slower.
23 mm is lighter = always faster on climbs and good surface
Depends where you ride. It's the like argument that everyone needs discs because the pros use them. And yet people think they need them...because the pros use them
there was something so "nice" about the way an old-school narrow tyre felt when pumped up to 8bar/120psi!
When I started racing, we all rode 18mm tubs... Wolber Pro SP1 to be exact. TT's were ridden on Soyo Pro's which were superlight, superfast, 120psi and 17mm!
As ollie stated, the 40mm version has a slightly different construction with a thicker tread and already tested higher rolling resistance. so this is more of test of different tire construction than on tire width. it would have been more interesting to choose a tire that is identical between the different sizes (f.e. a grand prix 5000 all season 25 vs. 35) so rolling resistance stays the same. the time difference would be much smaller. on crappy roads even cancel almost out.
Was riding 35c terrano zero, now 32c ride armour. The zeros were brilliant in the corner's especially when the cycle paths and the roads had been gritted. Also very smooth.
18 seconds is significant ? Noticeable, yes ! But significant ? On a longer ride it would mount up, probably ? Reduced impact/vibration etc might offset the tiredness ? Somewhat ? At my less race speed velocities the larger comfort tire makes no appreciable difference to my travel time
17 seconds on a more than 1000 seconds ride, only two runs is definitely not what I call statistically significant ...
One of the best looking ID Buzz Van's on the road!
I guess it could be funny to test 20 on a mountain bike .
Funny indeed, and quite brutal, if crank length wouldn’t be changed as well.
Fair is fair
Either what?
@@LifeCycle1978 rien
I did once change the road wheelset on my hardtail mtb (old 100/135 frame so the wheelset can fit in), tyres were 28mm Continental Ultra Sport III. On the smooth road, there's significant advantage but in the mixed condition, I still prefer at least gravel-width tyre, maybe somewhere from 38mm - because it is more comfortable and you won't have to check pressure every single ride.
For racing I would us 23 mm tires and for mountain biking tires I would use 2.2 inch tires. For gravel I would narrow that down to 35 mm tires. Awesome videos! 🎉
40mm "road" tires are great for road centric gravel riding.
My Cinelli disc time trial wheels came with a big box of brass weights.
On a flat course with turns you want a heavy wheel to fight winds and pull you through corners if you stop pedaling. A light wheel slows and out of a corner you will be forced to stand up and crank to get back up to speed. Heavy is the bomb.
The Specialized Roubaix SL8 has clearance for 40mm tyres
I was just writing exactly the same.
The new BMC Road machine does as well.
Around 10 years ago, Jan Heine stated 38mm was ideal; the tires are not too "squishy " when climbing.
When Josh Poertner was the techical director at ZIPP and was working with tour level pros, his research showed wider tires with lower tire pressures were "always faster".
Conner is so genuine
Spring mass system. If your system weight is low, pick a narrower tyre. If high, go for wider. Road bikes lack damped suspension movement, so picking the correct width for the system weight is more critical.
Good point. Not everyone is as skinny as the GCN presenters.
Been running GP5000s in 35mm for 6 months of so now, ride feel is great. from my perspective they have only improved ride performance and comfort, still feel faster than lower quality 28mm I was on before.
I've decided that my Vitus Substance VRS will be my main road bike from now on, running 40c tyres it came with. Can run them tubeless at 25psi for the crap UK roads, 46/30 by 11-34 gearing is much more usable in hilly areas than the overgeared road bike I have, and it means I can take that singletrack shortcut home if needs be. Lets face it, it's more an "all roads" bike than a true gravel bike anyway. Slower...?meh...my neck will thank me for it, less whiplash going over tarmac ridges in the road from tree roots below and pothole city everywhere. UK roads aren't fit for skinny tyres, it's whey there's so many annoying SUV's kicking about, they've realised a wee car on skinny tyres can't cope either....
Already got some of these lined up for when the better weather arrives next year! For me it's all about comfort as I have serious wrist problems so hoping these will soak up those potholes 🤞
3:50 OMG that tire! In the car!... 😉
A proper mindfuck isn't it
I love the 40mm slicks I have on my bike. Feels great cornering on fast descents.
Side note; @4:30 the spare leaning against the VeeDubs rear wheel makes it looks a bit A-Team van rorty
That'll be Ollie who planned it!
I am waiting for my new 3T Strada Italia to arrive and I alredy ordered these P Zero 35mm tyres. Can't wait to get my bike and to try and compare it with my todays 3T Strada with 30mm tyres
Just wait until road cyclists find out that suspension makes you faster (depending on surface conditions). 😂
It's funny how traditional pro road cycling was built on the mantra "less comfort = more speed" (the slimmest tires, the highest pressure, the hardest saddle, the pedal clips with the least play are the best, "granny" gears are for losers, harder training is always better training, etc), and that legacy still holds it back today.
I agree... Millennials are too soft and pathetic, these days.
The Industry won't stop trying to push tubeless road. If you get sucked into this load of crap they know there is a better chance you will try tubeless setups as well. IMO that is the motivation here.
I always wondered why they don't use a fork with suspension in the Paris-Roubaix race
@@fjp3305 Maybe UCI rules?
@@DR_1_1 Yep
I have a road training wheelset for my Giant Revolt. GP5000 AS TR in 700x35. Love ‘em. Chris King hubs, Light Carbon WR50 50mm deep 25mm ID hooked carbon rims. Sapim X-Ray spokes. Comfy and fast rolling.
I bought a pair of these to also try on my Revolt. Have a Defy with 28mm and want to see if I can close the gap and sell maybe even sell the latter.
@ I was thinking about buying an endurance bike; now I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s a crappy value proposition for me. I’ve got Strava and a Garmin and a power meter - I’m not really giving anything up with the Revolt compared to other roadies. I race my Revolt in local club gravel events. My gravel wheelset has Pathfinder Pro’s in 47mm.
8:36 "But, it's not all about pure speed". WRONNNNNNNG, that was the whole point of this test!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We already know the 40s will be more comfortable and may provide more confidence.
That's British media for you.
Just mounted 35 mm Pirelli Centurato Velo tires on my endurance road bike. They made a noticeable improvement in cornering and comfort
Larger tyres = larger circumference = taller gearing (harder work for any given gear) . On my bike, with my legs, 25s are faster and nimbler than 28s.
I don’t feel like doing the math this morning, but is the gearing difference between 28 and 25 is that big? I’d be surprised if it’s more than a tooth on the cassette. Maybe Ollie can put on his science glasses and tell us?
Any increase is too much for my legs.
I am running GP5000 35 and love them.
No word on tire pressure? Or did I miss it? Rule of thumb is still, given equal tire pressure, wider has less resistance, thus faster. Up to a point, where air resistance would be a factor, not to mention weight, which is soon a real issue.
If you keep the same pressure, the bigger tyre will have a harder ride and more vibration. I found that out the hard way. Use one of the internet calculators for the optimum pressure for speed according to your weight and the tyre size. The fastest pressure for a particular tyre seems to be the most comfortable as well.
You do not inflate 40 mm at the same pressure as 28 mm... unless the former is with tubes and the latter tubeless?
@@philiphumphrey1548 I don't use these calculators anymore, since their numbers are always lower than the recommended pressures on my tyres...
Love these tyre videos and as I’m likely to be buying the Canyon mentioned I’m delighted I might be able to squeeze more out of it.
No mention of the wheel difference or tyre pressure. Tubes or tubeless? The 40's looked very mushroomed on those rims so not aero dynamic.
I don't think a road wheel exists that would fit a 40 and not mushroom.
Well with the roads in this country, especially narrow country lanes, it makes sense.
I think what people forget is that wider tires make the wheel diameter larger, so it rolls over things better.
On tougher surfaces you can gain 18sec with 28mm and up to 10 minutes with "no puncture" 40mm
I ride 38 mm roadtires on my Trek Checkpoint and they are great!
Give it 3 years and we'll all be back on 23C tyres. The marketing departments will spin another yarn.
Doubt it, honestly. 26 to 32-ish mm seems to be the perfect range for performance *road* riding. On the track, maybe.
A penny farthing becoming the latest and greatest at the pinnacle of gravel racing in 2025 is more likely than that 😂
No…23 were a nightmare,>>30 are here to stay.
My first real bike is a gravel 40mm, and while it may be slower than pure race it is so much more enjoyable when training. Even on asphalt because the roads are bad where i live so it feels just nicer. Also to just pop onto a gravel road shortcut with comfort and confidence is fun.
Are the 23mm roadie snobs gonna go around telling everyone who rides wider than 25mm road tires "you shoulda just bought a gravel bike" 😂😂😂
There aren't any 23mm roadies anymore. Until approx. 2010 23 mm was common, after that it was 25mm, since approx 2020 28mm has been the 'standard' and nowadays a lot of people are switching to 30mm but many still on 28mm. It has been an evolution due to more clearance (enabled by disc brakes), wider (and still light) rims, better rubber compound combined with improved tire carcass designs, and last but not least, tubeless. It seems, for pro road racing, 28-32mm is more or less the optimal at this moment. Tires aren't getting much wider as they weigh more and the added comfort isn't really a must for most road racers. So unless wider tires prove to be faster, it is what it is.
@@l.d.t.6327 Contemporary road bike tire design seems to be a process of balancing speed / rolling resistance, comfort, and puncture resistance. Road racers are primarily interested in speed, so rolling resistance should be an overwhelming priority, with puncture resistance and comfort taking a back seat. Most pro road racers will sacrifice a bit of comfort if it leads to better race results with the narrower tires, and are less bothered than common folks about punctures and flats, as they generally have spare bikes and a team of skilled bike mechanics for real time support. Non-racing cyclists will generally prefer comfort and puncture resistance as the primary factors in choosing a tire, especially for longer distances and time in the saddle. If you look at old videos and photos of pro cyclists of the 1980's and earlier, it is obvious that comfort wasn't a priority for these guys, and they generally rode on 18-20mm tires pumped up to 100+ psi. That was generally thought to increase speed (and prevent pinch flats on such narrow tires).
I'm using 32mm on my Focus Izalco Max, coming from 23 mm on a previous bike and 25 mm that come with my current bike. I cannot compare to 28mm, since I haven't really used them, but comparing the 32mm with the 25mm, I can only say that I don't fear any more going on a bad road by mistake: the 32mm were a game changer. I will probably not go for anything wider on road bike because I also have a gravel bike, but I also don't feel the need to add more confort, the 32mm are great.
I use my specialized diverge gravel bike as a commuter as well - currently has cinturatoH on - so this looks like a good option!
38m for me! I have a ton of mixed terrain near me so it’s a great all rounder. But I don’t do a ton of racing so I just keep them on the rare occasion when I do race
Schwalbe already released the fastest fat slick. The Big One.
Designed for beach racing it's huge 2.3" with little round dimple knobs barely a mm high.
Put Em on my 29er ht and it's flies. Tubeless weighing 500g.
Gets lots of looks and questions. The narrower gravel version is much more popular considering the marketed direction for this tire I think they discontinue used it then reissued a slightly different one.
Really glad I got them because before these most 29er slicks were behemoth commuter or urban freeride type tires both weighing double and just completely different performance.
Smooth packed rail trails are where these really fly. Effortless speed. Very fun.
I had 35mm slicks on an old Cannondale aluminum mountain bike that I would use for traveling around town on short errands. I got much more comfort and much more enjoyment out of that setup than I would have with something that had a real tread. They only truly failed in the little bit of snow that we get in the winter.
Thanks for the video
Exciting video, thank you.
Your id.Buzz looks cool!
I'll stick to my 28's on my road bike. If I want to ride wider slick tyres I'll put my 2,25" SuperMoto's on my MTB.
Nice video. Comfort is great! But for me, when I grab my roadbike, its a sport activity. So i appreciate nippy and dynamic feeling while riding. If I seek comfort I can grab my Gravel bike :)
You need to come back another day and do the laps in reverse order, 28mm first, to even it out 😂
I just replaced 28s with 35s. Roads where I live are almost degraded to gravel adjacent in areas. First ride was awesome.
I have been running some form of 35mm tires on my road wheels for my gravel bike and really enjoy them. Lately, I been running the Pirelli P Zero Road TLR. Great tire. I had considered the 40's, but they are so hard to find, I did not want to get stuck if something happened to one, and not being able to find a replacement.
I love it! And I am 100% sure that it Will be amazing on my Grizl when just going on the tarmac
Tubeless 44s! Love 'em.
I run 47mm 650b and I love them. They're fast enough for the person using them
Great video, thank you. Yes 40 is the future