Remember: Never inflate your tires to the maximum number listed on the tire sidewall. The optimal tire pressure depends on your weight, the width of the wheel and your comfort vs. speed preference.
Continental Grand Prix 4000 S II
$74.95 1 of 8
Photo/Greg Kaplan
The Conti GP 4000 S II just might be the best all-around tire for racing and training, which is great if you own only one set of wheels. The Conti GP4000 S II tires are supple, comfortable, grippy and offer precise control for cornering, making them one of the most durable and versatile tires we've ridden.
Widths (mm): 20, 23, 25, 28
Claimed Weight (g): 185, 205, 225, 265
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Your Next TriathlonVittoria Corsa Speed Open TLR
$79 2 of 8
Photo courtesy of Glory Cycles
Vittoria's Corsa Speed Open TLR tires are designed like a tubular tire but have a standard, folding bead and are mounted like a clincher tire. Vittoria boasts that its proprietary graphene tread compound offers the lowest rolling resistance of any race tire. These tires are also tubeless-ready, which means they offer some measure of self-healing to thwart race-stopping flats and there's no need for a tube change if you get a puncture. Like most premium Vittoria tires, save these for race day.
Widths (mm): 23, 25
Claimed Weight (g): 225, 240
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Your Next TriathlonSpecialized S-Works Turbo
$55 3 of 8
Photo/Greg Kaplan
The S-Works Turbo Pro tire offers nearly the same low rolling resistance as Specialized's more-expensive, premium cotton-cased tire but at a slightly lower weight—and lower price! After thousands of miles of training and racing, we found the Specialized S-Works Turbo tire to be supple, versatile and durable.
Widths (mm): 22, 24, 26, 28
Claimed Weight (g): 200, 210, 220, 240
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Your Next TriathlonPirelli P Zero Velo TT
$65 4 of 8
Photo courtesy of Pirelli
Known for motorsport rubber, Pirelli has recently re-entered the cycling market after an almost 30-year absence. Pirelli claims its Silica compound technology offers good grip at all recommended inflation pressures and in all road conditions. The Velo TT tires are the lightest in P Zero range and are meant to be a race-day tire.
Widths (mm): 23
Claimed Weight (g): 165
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Your Next TriathlonContinental Grand Prix TT
$54 5 of 8
Photo courtesy of Continental
Used by multiple world time trial champion Tony Martin, the Continental Grand Prix TT provides road-tested speed. Clinchers have been shown to offer less rolling resistance than comparable tubular tires, and the Conti GP TT tires have put up some of the lowest rolling resistance numbers for race-specific tires.
Widths (mm): 23, 25
Claimed Weight (g): 180, 190
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Your Next TriathlonZipp Tangente Speed
$68 6 of 8
Photo/Greg Kaplan
The Zipp Tangente Speed tire is well-suited for any brand of race wheel, not just the ones made by the Indianapolis-based bike component manufacturer. While logging over 1000 race miles, our testers never once flatted on the Zipp Tangente Speed tires. Plus, the Tangente Speed tires are optimized for dry road conditions, ensuring you're at your fastest when conditions are ideal.
Widths (mm): 23, 25
Claimed Weight (g): 190
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Your Next TriathlonBontrager R4 Aero
$79 7 of 8
Photo/Greg Kaplan
Bontrager offers an interesting solution to the gap between the tire and the rim: a very small, wing-like fairing. We found the Bontrager R4 Aero to offer a firm ride and good grip in dry conditions, and when accelerating out of corners, it felt like this tire allowed testers to get up to speed quickly.
Widths (mm): 22
Claimed Weight (g): 170
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Your Next Triathlon
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