Spring has sprung and it’s time to strip off your heavy winter rubber and snap on something more sprightly. Now that they won’t have to do battle with the grime that cakes our roads during the bleaker months, using something a bit lighter is an easy way to gain a little pace without having to work any harder. Here’s our guide to seven of the best fast tyres.
Vittoria Corsa Graphene Plus
What the makers say
Vittoria competition tyres benefit from millions of kilometres in racing experience. With the evolutionary G+ Isotech* compound and its leading Corespun casings, it is unsurpassed in its competitive performance.
What we say
Graphene is the world’s first two-dimensional material, as thin as a single carbon atom. Harder than diamond, incredibly conductive and over 100 times stronger than steel, it’s finding its way into everything from electric car batteries to printable electronic tickets. More importantly, it’s also helping fancy-pants racing tyres last way longer and pick up fewer punctures than regular race tyres, which probably only have a thousand miles or so in them before cuts from detritus on the road see them junked. That’s not much mileage for your hard-earned cash. We’ve always been massive fans of Vittoria’s Open Corsa Evo tyres. They’re very light, very grippy and silly fast. However, like all tyres as quick as these, most of ours have ended up fatally sliced long before their tread was fully spent. Vittoria’s newly updated tyres range sees some of this graphene wonder material thrown into the mix.
The weight has gone up a touch, although Vittoria claims rolling resistance has gone down slightly. Most crucially they seem to be pretty indestructible. Tackling gravel roads is not something we would have relished on the Corsa’s previous iterations, but with a few hundred kilometres of the rough stuff covered, they’ve barely a scratch on them. Designed with modern rim standards in mind, they’ve got a pleasingly rounded profile which helps soak up bumps and never feels squirmy. Instantly recognisable thanks to their trendy tan-coloured side walls, these tyres have been all over the early season one-day Classics races and are already notching up victories. While they might not be able to guarantee victory, they’ve certainly certainly done a good job of muscling their way to the front of the pack in the affections of the BikesEtc team.
Maxxis Mamushi 3C
What the makers say
Named for the venomous pit viper, the Mamushi is a race clincher with bite! The Triple Compound (3C) rubber provides excellent grip in all conditions, while SilkShield tread and sidewall protection provide excellent durability for a tyre in this weight class.
What we say
With their viperous green stripe around the circumference, you’ll want to make sure these match your bike’s colour scheme, though you could opt for the all-black version instead. Well known for making some of the best tyres in the mountain bike market, Maxxis is perhaps not so well known as a brand among roadies but these puncture-resistant numbers might well change that. Using a 170tpi casing allows them to flex enough to dampen vibration from the road but also makes them a bit tougher than tyres using the highest 320tpi casing some companies opt for.
£40, extrauk.co.uk
Panaracer Evo 3L
What the makers say
A lightweight race day tyre with supple casing. Each tyre is hand-made at the Panaracer facility in Japan and sports increased puncture resistance, extended longevity and unparalleled poor weather handling.
What we say
With their viperous green stripe around the circumference, you’ll want to make sure these match your bike’s colour scheme, though you could opt for the all-black version instead. Well known for making some of the best tyres in the mountain bike market, Maxxis is perhaps not so well known as a brand among roadies but these puncture-resistant numbers might well change that. Using a 170tpi casing allows them to flex enough to dampen vibration from the road but also makes them a bit tougher than tyres using the highest 320tpi casing some companies opt for.
£40, extrauk.co.uk
Continental GP4000s II
What the makers say
The legendary GP4000S tyre has been updated to include a broader range of sizes which now also benefit from the latest cutting-edge rubber compounding available in the bicycle tyre industry – Black Chilli. Featuring lower rolling resistance, higher mileage and maximum wet weather grip.
What we say
Like playing Van Morrison on the stereo at your barbecue, Continental’s GP4000 has long been the default tyre of choice for those with solid taste. They’re light, grippy, very fast and, compared to the competition, pretty tough. Unlike some more niche brands they’re also stocked almost everywhere too, so tracking down a pair is unlikely to be a problem. If you don’t mind giving up a little raciness, the GP 4-Season is a tougher tyre designed for mixed conditions, which given what passes for summer in the UK is also worth considering.
£50, cambriantyres.co.uk
Zipp Tangente Speed
What the makers say
Your tyres make the primal decision for the rest of the wheel system, both in terms of airflow and your connection with the road. We’ve taken everything that we learned from Firecrest rim shapes and updated our tyre technology to not only maximise airflow, but also optimise rolling resistance.
What we say
Zipp is famous for its insanely desirable, if very expensive wheels, and its tyres are intended to complement the company’s rim designs. That said, they’re equally happy working with any brand’s wheels. Constructed to pair well with broad rims, the Tangente’s sidewalls are designed to be aerodynamic, smoothing the flow of air across the junction between tyre and rim. Boasting among the lowest rolling resistance of any racing tyre, these are best saved for dry weather duties. This is partly due to the fact that the Tangente Speed does without the puncture belt found on Zipp’s other offerings.
£49, fisheroutdoor.co.uk
Schwalbe One
What the makers say
Used in the Tour de France in its tubular form, the One offers supreme performance. Featuring V-guard, an extremely cut-resistant high-tech fibre ensures an extraordinary high level of puncture resistance without increasing weight.
What we say
Schwalbe’s One tyre is up there with the fastest options on the market. While it might not be the absolute quickest, it’s significantly tougher than some more boutique options, making them a great choice for real-world conditions. It’s plain black surface hides a triple rubber compound, with faster-rolling hard rubber down the centre and softer, grippier material across the shoulders, which comes into play as you lean the bike over. Underneath this is a V-guard breaker belt that keeps nasties well away from your tubes.
£45, schwalbe.com
Challenge Criterium Open Road
What the makers say
Forever the choice of professional riders. Numerous victories have proven Criterium the top Pro racing tyre. The supple ride of an open tubular provides performance and comfort similar to that of a tubular; excellent traction and cornering, low rolling resistance and excellent shock absorption.
What we say
Making their tyres by hand in Italy allows Challenge to go about things a bit differently. Most tyres are vulcanised, which means heat and pressure are applied to bind the components together, which can cause the rubber to become harder and less supple. Instead, Challenge hand-glues its treads to the carcass. Rather than ‘clinchers’, Challenge refers to its top-end tyres as ‘open tubulars’, because they’re made in exactly the same way. The only downside is that while they’re light, fast and grippy, we found them extremely difficult to fit.
£52, paligap.cc
Arisun Vitesse C2 ULTRA
What the makers say
Designed for speed and weighing a stunning 205g. Using Arisun’s C2 PRO rubber compound, the smooth tread is designed for grip but its hard compound doesn’t compromise on rolling resistance, instead a super soft side compound provides amazing traction while cornering.
What we say
These tyres sport a harder than average compound running down their centre in order to extend their lifespan while also keeping rolling resistance low. Swing the bike into a corner and as it leans over, the softer rubber along the sides of the tyre come into play ensuring that there’s plenty of grip available when it’s needed. Once out of their packaging, they feel significantly stiffer than the other tyres on test although they go onto the rim easily enough. While this means the ride may not be the smoothest, they’re likely to be rolling long after more supple options have given up the ghost.
£40, neoscycling.co.uk