Race-day tires are one of the most worthwhile ways to upgrade your bike. Not only do quality tires reduce both aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance, which means more speed for less effort, they also provide a modicum of comfort—not to mention, they help keep you upright on your bike.
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.
- Events
- Calculators
- Running
- Triathlon
Cycling Events
Triathlon Articles
- Fitness
- Sports
Outdoor Events
- Nutrition
Nutrition Articles
Health & Injury Articles
- Kids & Family
7 Triathlon Race Tires for 2018
Written by
Greg Kaplan,
Continental Grand Prix 4000 S II
$74.95
1 of 8
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
Widths (mm): 20, 23, 25, 28
Claimed Weight (g): 185, 205, 225, 265
Vittoria Corsa Speed Open TLR
$79
1 of 8
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
Widths (mm): 23, 25
Claimed Weight (g): 225, 240
Specialized S-Works Turbo
$55
1 of 8
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
Widths (mm): 22, 24, 26, 28
Claimed Weight (g): 200, 210, 220, 240
Pirelli P Zero Velo TT
$65
1 of 8
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
Widths (mm): 23
Claimed Weight (g): 165
Continental Grand Prix TT
$54
1 of 8
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
Widths (mm): 23, 25
Claimed Weight (g): 180, 190
Zipp Tangente Speed
$68
1 of 8
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
Widths (mm): 23, 25
Claimed Weight (g): 190
Bontrager R4 Aero
$79
1 of 8
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
Widths (mm): 22
Claimed Weight (g): 170
About the Author
A lifelong endurance sports athlete, Greg raced bikes on the road as a junior prior to changing his athletic focus to rowing. Upon retiring from elite rowing competition, Greg revisited his passion for racing bikes and also added some swimming and running into the mix, competing at the ITU Age Group World Championships on multiple occasions. He and his wife Shannon—also a rower, bike-racer, and triathlete—enjoy traveling, learning about wine and keeping up with their rescue cats when they are not training or racing.