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Types and grades of Pirelli tires for road use
Posted at: Jan 5, 2022
Pirelli is also famous as a manufacturer of high-end tires for automobiles. In this article, I've summarized the differences between Pirelli's road bike tires for each series and model, their weights, and how to choose the right tire for each application.
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Tire weight is listed for black tires. Colored tires may have different weights.
Pirelli’s range of tires for the road
P ZERO
The main line of Pirelli’s series of tires for road use is the P ZERO series.
There are three lines: P ZERO RACE for racing, P ZERO RACE for training, and P ZERO VELLO for time trial and other speed-oriented applications.
| Model | Type | 20C | 23C | 25C | 28C | 30C | 32C | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P ZERO RACE | Clincher | - | - | 205g(26C) | 225g | 245g | - | |
| P ZERO RACE CLASSIC | Clincher | - | - | 205g(26C) | 225g | - | - | |
| P ZERO RACE TLR SL | Tubeless ready | - | 230g(24C) | 245g(26C) | 275g | - | - | |
| P ZERO RACE TLR | Tubeless ready | - | 245g(24C) | 270g(26C) | 295g | 320g | - | |
| P ZERO RACE TUB SL | Tubular | - | - | 275g(26C) | - | - | - | |
| P ZERO RACE TUB | Tubular | - | - | 275g(25mm) | 305g(28mm) | - | - | |
| P ZERO ROAD | Clincher | - | 215g(24C) | 235g(26C) | 255g | - | - | |
| P ZERO VELLO TT | Clincher | - | 165g | 180g | - | - | - | |
| P ZERO VELLO 4S | Clincher | - | 205g | 220g | 250g | - | - | |
| P ZERO VELLO TUB | Tubular | - | - | 275g(25mm) | 305g(28mm) | - | - |
The top grade P ZERO RACE has three types of tires in its lineup: clincher, tubeless, and tubular. However, the P ZERO ROAD is only available in clincher, and the P ZERO VELLO is only available in clincher and tubular.
Instead, CINTURATO VELO is lined up as a popular grade road tire for tubeless.
P7 Sport
The P7 series of Pirelli road bike tires are the entry level clincher tires. The P7 series is the entry level model of Pirelli’s clincher tires for road bikes, offering both light weight and long life at a price that is quite affordable compared to the P ZERO series.
| Model | Type | 20C | 23C | 25C | 28C | 30C | 32C | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P7 Sport | Clincher | - | 250g(24C) | 280g(26C) | 310g | 330g | - |
This is the cheapest tire among Pirelli’s mainly high-end tires, and the many size options make it an easy model to choose.
CINTURATO VELO
A tubeless tire for road use bearing the name CINTURATO, which is also the name of a series of tires for automobiles. The new ETRTO is available in a wide range of sizes from 24C to 35C.
The price is a little more affordable than average for a tubeless ready tire, and the large size range makes it one of the best buys for tubeless ready tires.
| Model | Type | 20C | 23C | 25C | 28C | 30C | 32C | 35C | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CINTURATO VELO | Tubeless ready | - | 290g(24C) | 290g(26C) | 320g | - | 350g | 380g |
How to choose a Pirelli tire for road use
Pirelli has a relatively large number of models of tires for road use, but there are actually not many choices when divided into clincher, tubeless ready and tubular.
Basically, it comes down to which one you choose based on the following three points.
- emphasis on performance
- lightweight
- daily use
P ZERO RACE for the best performance
The top grade P ZERO RACE is, of course, the best performing road tire.
The Pirelli P ZERO RACE is naturally the best performing road tire. It costs about 1.5 times more than the top grade of other manufacturers, so it is not easy to afford.
P ZERO VELLO for light weight
If speed and light weight are important to you, choose P ZERO VELLO, which is almost 20% lighter than other models and much lighter than other manufacturers’ lightweight tires. 165g for 23C is about 20g lighter than other manufacturers’ lightweight tires, so you can expect to save about 40g front and rear. You can expect to save about 40g front and rear.
P ZERO ROAD is recommended for everyday use
Pirelli’s entry-level road tire is the P7 Sport, but since the price difference is only about $20, we recommend the P ZERO ROAD, which is about 20% lighter and offers a better all-round driving experience.
The P7 Sport is also a lightweight tire with a low price for a long-life tire, so it is an excellent cosmetic tire, but if you dare to choose a tire from Pirelli, a high-end tire manufacturer, you will be more satisfied with the P ZERO ROAD, which is in the same line as the higher grade tires.
The P7 Sport is a good choice for commuting and other situations where cost is the most important factor.