Pirelli P Zero Race TLR 28mm tyre review

Pirelli’s brand-new P Zero Race TLR is designed around the latest tubeless standards to ensure easier fitting and compatibility.

Available in four widths from 24mm to 30mm, this is an all-round tyre that features plenty of new technology in the pursuit of top-level performance.

An all-new 120 TPI TechWALL+ casing has been developed to boost puncture resistance and durability, while the SmartEVO rubber compound is said to offer big traction and rolling resistance benefits over Pirelli’s previous tyres.

The tyres are manufactured to the latest ETRTO tyre standards and are safe to use with hookless rims at pressures up to 73psi.

Fitting the tyres to various wheels with both hooked and hookless rims was easy; in most cases, a regular track pump was sufficient to inflate the tyres at the first time of asking. With sealant added, air retention was remarkably good and akin to an inner tube setup.

On the road, the tyres continue to impress. They feel noticeably faster than Pirelli’s previous Cinturato tyres and, in terms of on-road feel, are easily on a par with the best road bike tyres in the rolling-resistance stakes. The new rubber compound delivers reassuring grip when pushing the tyres hard into the corners, and puncture resistance is good.

Pirelli has adopted the WAM (width as measured) and RAM (radius as measured) standard introduced by 3T’s head of design Gerard Vroomen, so you can get a better idea of how the tyre will size up on your rims.

Pirelli supplies a list of the tyre's actual dimensions when fitted to different (internal) rim widths, giving you the real-world width of the tyre. Pirelli also offers recommended pressures.

When we tested the P Zero Race it was only available as a tubeless tyre, but Pirelli has now also launched two new tube-type tyres: the P Zero Race and P Zero Road.

Whether you're looking for one of the best tubeless tyres out there, or inner tubes are still your thing, Pirelli looks to have it covered here.