Still a relative newcomer to bikes, there’s no questioning Pirelli’s place in the overall tire world. As one of the most renowned global tire manufacturers, their treads are synonymous with speed on the track. And It hasn’t taken long for that renown to carry over into road, gravel and mountain biking. The Pirelli P Zero Race TLR 30c tires finally arrived for extensive testing this spring and have since that first mile have become the road racing tires to beat. But, for an even faster tire, check out the Pirelli P Zero Race TLR RS.
Pirelli P Zero Race TLR 30c Road Tire Features:
- SmartEVO Compound optimizes speed, grip and rolling resistance
- Great in any weather condition
- SpeedCore is Pirelli’s first tubeless tire made entirely in Italy
- Hookless rim compatible (see your wheel manufacturer to be sure)
- 127 TPI casing
- Weight: 330 grams (actual)
- MSRP: $99.90
Classic P Zero in road racing form
When it comes to tires for motorsports, the P Zero has long been the standard. Now, in the bike world, Pirelli has garnered attention and praise of the top cycling teams in the world and competitive riders as well. Mounted up to the Zipp 353 NSW Wheelset, the Pirelli P Zero Race TLR tires have been a dream since day one. I have also exclusively tested that combination aboard the Fezzari Veyo SL throughout the entire summer.
With every tire manufacturer now offering tubeless versions, there’s never been an easier time to switch from those old, clunky tubes to the smooth and comfortable experience of road tubeless. While it has taken some time to establish road tubeless standards, for the most part, all major tires are compatible with all the major brands. The biggest exception to this is when inner rim widths are 25mm or wider, sometimes those narrow 28’s just aren’t going to fit. As mentioned, the P Zero Race TLR’s were mounted up on the Zipp 353’s — all without any levers or trickery. They seated right up with a floor pump without using any trickery or four-letter words. I have an abundance of WTB Tubeless Tire Sealant, so that’s what I used (3 oz front/rear) and the combo has been fantastic. That sealant is a little thick, so you have to pour it into the tire before installation instead of through the valve.
As a reminder, the Zipp 353’s measure 25mm internal. With that width, the 30c P Zero Race TLR’s filled out to a whopping 33mm! I’m not complaining one bit about that extra width. In fact, my back is still singing praises to that wheel/tire combo because it provides endurance bike-level comfort on a racy bike like the Fezzari Veyo SL.
With a round tire shape and all-weather treads, the Pirelli P Zero Race TLR’s have made an outstanding partner on the curviest of mountain descents and around town alike. Tubeless allows me to run 55/60 psi. on these tires and not only is my lower-back stoked, but my inner Tour de France descender is too.
Rolling around the local roads, these tires are downright fast. I’m talking wicked-fast. The SmartEVO compound just dances over pavement — carrying speed for days. There’s just something special about this compound that makes me feel like a superhero. When it comes to fast, mountain descents, I can confidently angulate in and out of the sharpest turns with the utmost confidence because these tires simply GRIP the road.
After 500+ miles of snappy riding, these tires are just barely broken in and show no significant signs of wear. I haven’t been shy about rolling through some rough shoulders, potholes, choppy roads and even gravel. Throughout all that, I haven’t had a single flat, or even so much as a thorn or nail puncture (knock on wood). That latter fact is astounding because I’m notorious for nails or thorns in my road tubeless setups. In addition, this tire/wheel combo holds air quite well, without significant air loss after a week hanging in the garage.
As expected, dry conditions are a dream with the P Zero Race TLR’s. I haven’t had a ton of rain to ride in, but wet roads have yielded excellent grip in all my testing so far. These aren’t a 4-season tire specifically (check out the P Zero Race TLR 4S for that), but do hold their own on wet road and offer a level of suppleness that blows my mind every time.
Note: After publishing this review, Pirelli did issue a full recall of their 28c tires. That doesn’t apply to their 30c tires tested here.
Setup details: Tested entirely on the Zipp 353 NSW Wheelset aboard the Fezzari Veyo SL, my 173 lb. weight was happy with 55 psi front and 60 psi rear. I used 3 oz of WTB sealant in each tire.
The Good:
- Roll very fast — arguably the best rolling resistance I’ve tested
- Fill to a rounded profile for supreme grip
- Easy tubeless setup
- Holds air well between rides
- Made entirely in Italy
- Little signs of wear so far
The Bad:
- Pricey… very pricey
The Bottom Line: Pirelli P Zero Race TLR Tires
So far, I’ve got nothing but praises for these fast-rolling, easy-going tubeless tires. The SmartEVO compound seems to have found the Holy Grail of tire materials for sure. I’ve found them to be reliable, durable and easy to live with. The extreme comfort offered by the 30c width can’t be overlooked either — I’m sold on this tire width as the standard for all my road bikes.
Buy Now: Available from REI
8 Comments
I’m so happy that you’ve been riding on the Fezzari Veyo on a lot more of your reviews. I own that bike too (Ultegra di2 + ZIPP 303 Firecrest + Schwalbe Pro One TLR tires + ENVE SES aero handlebar). I’m super curious about how these Pirellis compare to the Pro On TLRs. Any experience?
It’s been awhile since I’ve ridden Schwalbe tires and it was before tubeless was so common. The Goodyear Eagle F1 30c tires are nice too, but don’t compare to the suppleness and overall ride quality as the Pirelli’s, in my opinion.
I had those tires in the 28c and really liked how they felt, until my rear blew off the wheel at speed. I was able to keep it upright so it wasn’t an issue, but the pucker factor was kegit. Month later, I see the recall notice and Pirelli / retailer made the return process incredibly smooth. I think it was a limited run in that size that was impacted, so you are good to go. I’d like to try these, but 30c won’t clear my brakes. So, I’m back on GP5000, but the Pirelli felt just a bit nicer in the corners and I think the puncture protection was better.
Whoa, glad you’re okay. And, interesting that there was a recall on the 28’s, I hadn’t heard that. You can’t go wrong with the GP’s, but it’s a bummer you had that experience with the P Zeros.
anche a me sono esplosi due pirrelli da 28 oggetto di richiamo a luglio. meno male che quello davanti è esploso nel box. Immaginate se accadeva in discesa!!! il richiamo ha riguardato tutta la produzione da marzo a giugno 23. mi dispiace ma io non mi fido più di questo costruttore. mi hanno fatto dei continental. mi sento più tranquillo.
I enjoyed riding Schwalbe Pro One TLR 28mm tires on 21mm ID rims. They were excellent performing tires but punctured often. I switched to Conti GP 5000s which have been a dream but $$$. I have a pair of Pirelli Cinerato Velo’s for spring riding and they are bulletproof so I really repect the brand. Thinking about trying the Races when the Contis give out.
Seated without any trickery? Mine were a bear to install. Had to let them sit in the sun to soften. Needed a lever to get the first bead on. Second bead was difficult.
It all depends on the tire/rim combo. I just installed the new Goodyear VectoR Z30 NSW on a set of 353 NSW wheels and you’d think they would be easy, but they were hands-down the most difficult tires to install and uninstall (yeah, I popped them on the wrong direction — it happens to the best of us).
These Pirellis and new P Zero Race TLR RS tires are both great tires on the road.