00:00There are multiple ways to inflate your road bike tyres.
00:03Some of the most popular ways include the standard trusty butyl inner tube, TPU smart
00:08tubes and of course, tubeless.
00:11But out of these three different ways, what actually is the fastest set up?
00:16Well, to find out, we've come here to the Silverstone Sports Engineering Testing Facility
00:21where we're going to be using its rolling resistance rig.
00:25Then we can find out, out of the three, which really is the fastest out on the road.
00:35Now before we start any testing, we have to set some baseline parameters to ensure that
00:40all of the testing is fair.
00:42We'll be using the Pirelli PZero Race TLR tyres with the new updated Speedcore casing
00:49for the tubeless test and the Pirelli PZero Race tyres for both of the clincher setups,
00:55all of which will be in a 28c tyre size.
00:59These tyres sit at the top of Pirelli's road race offering and work as the perfect
01:04test bed for today.
01:06The tyres are made in the brand's Italian factory over in Milan and make use of the
01:10most up-to-date technologies, meaning they're perfect for anyone who wants to go fast without
01:16compromise.
01:18In fact, the latest TLR version features Pirelli's new Speedcore casing and it's claimed that
01:24this new technology has resulted in a 24% reduction in rolling resistance, so we should
01:30be in for some fascinating results.
01:33And to keep everything as fair as possible, I'll also be using Pirelli's own inner
01:38tubes, smart tubes and sealant.
01:41The tyres have been mounted to the same fast forward front wheels, all of which have been
01:45pre-set up and have had over 48 hours sat in the testing facility to ensure that they
01:50are fully acclimatised to that environment.
01:53I'll be using this digital Toppeak pressure gauge and Joe Blow floor pump to ensure that
01:59the pressures are all exactly the same, which for this test will be 6 bar.
02:05Then when the tyres are on the rig, each tyre will be run on a 10 minute warm up cycle.
02:11Then we'll run them at two speeds, 25kmph and 40kmph, each three times, which will give
02:19us some very accurate numbers to work off.
02:22We'll be monitoring the sidewall temperature, the environment temperature and of course
02:27those all important wattage numbers.
02:29So without further ado, let's get going!
02:41So, with the testing concluded, we now have some pretty interesting numbers to have a
02:56look at.
02:57We'll first start with the standard butyl inner tube.
03:00Of course, it still very much has its place in the market and poses a convenient and cost
03:05effective way of setting up your road wheels.
03:09The scores on the doors are as follows.
03:11At 24kmph it created 12.8 watts of rolling resistance.
03:17However, at 40kmph it created 24 watts of resistance.
03:23So, now that we have the first set of numbers, let's move on to those Pirelli Smart Tubes.
03:30It created 11.38 watts of resistance at 24kmph and 21.2 watts at 40kmph.
03:40So we have already seen a drop in resistance to the tune of nearly 3 watts.
03:46And that's just on one wheel.
03:49On to the tubeless setup, which makes use of those PZero Race TLR tyres and at 24kmph
03:56it created 11.2 watts of resistance and at 40kmph it created 20.88 watts.
04:05So compared to the standard inner tubes, the tubeless tyres have saved well over 3 watts
04:11per wheel.
04:12And compared to the Pirelli Smart Tubes, it has saved a third of a watt at 40kmph.
04:18I think these numbers paint quite an interesting picture.
04:22It shows that the standard inner tubes, although slower, still have a place in the market.
04:27But if you really do want to go fast, the PZero Race TLR tyres are the way to go.
04:33However, if you want to enjoy a clincher setup, then by using the Pirelli Smart Tubes you
04:38can increase the performance of the Pirelli PZero Race tyre to almost match that of the
04:44tubeless version.
04:45It's not just rolling resistance that makes you fast, but instead what the tyres feel
04:51like when you're out on the tarmac.
04:54Reducing feedback through the bike means that as a rider, you'll be less fatigued and
04:58be able to put out more power for longer.
05:02And in my experience, this is where tubeless makes a dramatic difference.
05:07The ability to run at lower pressure means you can achieve just that.
05:12Also, the measured widths of the tyres actually varied quite a lot.
05:17Despite all the tyres being 28C in size, the setups with the inner tubes and smart tubes
05:22measured at 27.7mm across the wheel, while the tubeless setup came in at 28.4mm.
05:29So for the least amount of rolling resistance, we were able to enjoy the largest contact
05:35patch with the road.
05:37A bigger contact patch results in more grip and comfort, and that is especially important
05:43when you want to increase your speed in the corners or just over some rough terrain.
05:48Another factor to consider is the weight.
05:51A standard butyl inner tube generally comes in at around 100g.
05:55However, the Pirelli Smart Tubes come in at about 35g.
06:01And it's a similar story with the Searlent too, because for the 40ml that you get in
06:06one of those little bottles, that comes in at about 45g.
06:11By reducing the weight of the wheels, especially right at the rim, you'll be able to take
06:16advantage of a faster accelerating wheel, making it easier to attack on the climbs and
06:21just beat your mates in the sprints.
06:24But this leads me onto another consideration that you should be thinking about, and that's
06:29puncture protection.
06:31Happily, these PZero race tyres are equipped with Pirelli's Speedcore technology, meaning
06:38that the tyres aren't just fast rolling, but they also contain some puncture protection.
06:43However, by opting for the TLR tyres, if you do get a puncture, then the Searlent will
06:49be able to take care of it, meaning that you can keep on riding.
06:53Whereas on the tube setup, you may have to stop to make a repair.
07:00So what can we take away from all of this information?
07:04Smart tubes make a lot of sense for those wanting a lightweight setup, and one which
07:08is almost as fast as a tubeless one.
07:12But if you're looking to go as fast as possible everywhere, from the results, the PZero race
07:18TLR tyres certainly steal the crown.
07:21They're the fastest rolling, they have the biggest contact patch with the road, aiding
07:24in grip and comfort, and in the event that you do get a puncture, well, you should be
07:30able to keep on riding.
07:31They certainly represent themselves as a high quality option.
07:36Quite frankly, if they are good enough for Trek-Segafrido's Mads Pedersen, then I've
07:41no doubt that they will perform for you too.
07:43Happily, these tyres sit within Pirelli's wider range of road tyres.
07:48So if you're after other performance tyres manufactured in Pirelli's purpose-built
07:52factory in Italy, where the highest standards of quality control and technical capability
07:58are harnessed, covering a multitude of different price points and offering different features
08:03for different conditions, then just head to the link below to discover what could be right
08:08for you.
08:09Let me know down below, given the results, which setup would you opt for?
08:15If you enjoyed the video, then please do drop it a like, subscribe to the channel for more
08:18content and I will see you again very soon.
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