Pirelli has some big news about their P Zero Race TLR road tires, they are now available in 35 and 40mm sizes. They are the same great tires, but in a larger size for those looking for even more volume for road, all-road, and even hard pack gravel races.
Tires have steadily grown over the last decade or so, going from 23mm to 25mm, and most pros riding 28mm or wider these days. Even looking at my own tire inventory, I was hard pressed to find anything smaller than a 28mm, with my road tires maxing out at a pair of 32mm Continental GP5000TL.
The new sizes are aimed at riders that are looking to go fast on roads that are maybe not quite as smooth, but not as rough or loose that you’d need something like a gravel tire with actual tread to it. This is great for gravel racers that are looking for more speed on smoother courses.
The P Zero Race TLR was Pirelli’s top of the line race tire until the RS was released earlier this year with a new SmartEVO²compound. The Race TLR continues with the SmartEVO compound and tubeless-ready SpeedCORE casing. While the newer compound might be Pirelli’s highest performance blend, the former is still their best all-around compound, blending speed, grip, and durability. The compound was created using advanced polymers that were developed on the motorsports side and proven on the WorldTour circuit. The SpeedCORE uses a thin, air-tight rubber compound layer infused with aramid particles, improving puncture resistance and air retention, while remaining flexible for grip.
Another interesting feature is included in all Pirelli P Zero Race TLR models, including the new RS, is the use of FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship Council) natural rubber. FSC is a globally recognized authority devoted to responsible forest management. The group certifies the materials are sourced ethically, benefiting the lives of local communities and workers, and preserves biodiversity in the forest they work in. All tires with FSC-certified material feature the FSC tree logo on the sidewalls, with the material having been managed separately from non-certified material throughout the entire supply chain. Dedicated monitoring systems had to be added at the entry and exit points of the Bollate, Italy plant that produces all of the P Zero Race TLR family of tires, including the RS. These were just part of the updates to the facility when it was modernized and converted to producing bicycle tires.
The new tires weigh in at a claimed 400g for the 35mm version, and 460g for the 40mm. Our test samples of the 40mm weighed in at 455g and 461g. The new tires are now available from your favorite Pirelli dealer. Pricing runs at $94.90 for both sizes.
I’ve been running the Race TLR for over a year now, and mounted up the RS version for the summer, including a 135-mile event on some of New Jersey’s not so perfect roads. We’ll have a full review of both coming soon, along with getting some time in on the 40mm for some fall gravel riding.
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