Pirelli has released two new tube tires, the P Zero Race and P Zero Road. These two new tires see updates to the blend and casings, Pirelli claims to be the best road bike tires it has ever produced, with the Italian brand and claims to perform better than all other clincher-type tires, including the tubular .
Pirelli launched its first motorcycle tire in 2017 and has since refined its range to improve performance. These two new tires are the first update of the Genesis P Zero series. The P Zero Race is its fastest tire, fit for racing through a three-year development with the Pirelli-sponsored Worldtour teams BikeExchange, TREK Segafredo and AG2R Citroën. The P Zero Road is a more durable exercise tire that prioritizes protection and durability over priority and speed and grip.
The big update is the launch of Pirelli’s new SmartEvo connection that we saw earlier on the P Zero tubeless racing tires that Pirelli released last year. It is claimed that the new compound gives better grip in wet conditions while still maintaining the low rolling resistance. The more enduring P Zero pad gets a harder Evo connection to extend tire life. The tread pattern on the Race version is the same compressed Z tread pattern as other race-oriented Pirelli tires, while the Road iteration has a more shortened pattern.
Both the Race and Road tires have the same 120-ton casing and use Pirelli’s TechBelt technology, which adds a layer of high cut – resistant material under the tread to repel leaks.
Pirelli presents the P Zero Race in 26, 28 and 30 mm sizes with color options of red, yellow, white logos or a classic (brown wall) for the two smaller sizes. The road version has no color adjustment or classic sidewall options and is large in 24mm, 26mm and 28mm. For a racing tire, the size of the range is on the larger side, but Pirelli offers the width (WAM) and outer diameter (RAM) of the tires when mounted on the ETRTO fields 17c, 19c and 21c, so that customers have the clearance can check.
On the box, Pirelli offers a very extensive list of recommended tire pressures to drive the P-Zero Race and Road, based on weight, rim width and tire size. Pirelli also offers suggestions regarding the refinement of the tire pressure based on the driving conditions and driving preferences to achieve the best performance of the tires.
The new P Zero Race in a 26mm tilts the scales at an alleged 205g, which is about a 5g saving on Pirelli’s original P Zero in a 25mm. Our test specimens in a 28 mm, weighing 225 g, weigh 230 g and 227 g on our scale. Pirelli gives a weight of 345 g for the P Zero Race in its largest 30 mm size. The P Zero Road with its more durable connection has the weights of 215g, 235g and 255g respectively for the 24mm, 26mm and 28mm. Again, this is about 5g of saving compared to the current P Zero 4S all-weather band that Pirelli offers.
Pirelli priced the P Zero Race at $ 69.90 / € 59.90 / £ TBC and the endurance P Zero Road at $ 49.90 / € 39.90 / £ TBC.
Technical specifications: Pirelli P ZERO Race tire
- Price: $ 69.90 / € 59.90 / £ TBC
- Type: tube type clamp
- Size: 26mm, 28mm, 30mm
- Weight (claimed): 205g, 225g, 245g
- TPI: 120 tons
Technical specifications: Pirelli P ZERO Road tire
- Price: $ 49.90 / € 39.90 / £ TBC
- Type: tube type clamp
- Size: 24mm, 26mm, 28mm
- Weight (claimed): 215g, 235g, 255g
- TPI: 120 tons