The Difference Tyres Make Will Blow Your Mind

The supernerds on superbikes are BACK! This time, they’re putting tyres and inner tubes to the test to see just how much they impact your bike's performance. To find out, they’re tackling an epic 11-kilometre climb in the South of Spain. The results might just blow your mind… 🚴💨

⏱️ Timestamps: ⏱️
00:00 How big a difference do tyres make to performance?
00:33 Our 3 Tyre Set Ups: Entry-level, Performance, Pro-Level
01:42 The Plan 🤓
03:29 Our Climb
04:36 Race Time!
05:55 Specs: Pirelli P4 Sport Tyres (Entry-Level Tyre)
06:44 Pirelli TM Road Tyres (Performance Tyre)
08:13 Pirelli P ZERO Race RS Tyres (Pro-Level Tyre)
09:37 How are the supernerds getting on?
12:28 Debrief & Takeaways

Useful Links:

What tyre do you use? 🛞 What did you think of this challenge? 🤓 Let us know in the comments!

Watch more on GCN Tech...

🎵 Music - licensed by Epidemic Sound 🎵
Epicness - Daniel Fridell
Flyways - Dye O
Funked Up, Cranked Up - Def Lev
Mash - Wildflowers
Peak - AGST
Fight Club - Cushy
Data Rawk - Def Lev
Octobre - Magnus Ludvigsson
San Pedro - Sugoi
After Six - Ceen
Dawn Wall - Def Lev
Thunder, Rain, Downpour, Interior, Window Open 02 - Epidemic Sound
Robot Movement, Medium, Electric - Epidemic Sound

#gcntech #gcn #cycling #roadcycling #roadbike #bike #bikes #bikelife #biketech #tyres #tires #tire #performance #speed #fast #fastbike #race #climb

📸 Photos - © Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & © Sprint Cycling Agency

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[gcntech]

What tyre do you use? 🛞 What did you think of this challenge? 🤓 Let us know in the comments!

[cxbkpmf]

Alex Van Der Poel laying down a mega-Watt kick to drop Simon Pogacar whilst Ollie Ganna goes into time-trial mode to close the gap... Milan San Remo part deux 🤣

[chrisridesbicycles]

The number one takeaway (once more): Alex is a beast at the moment.
Would be interesting to flip around the tubes and see how much is the tire and how much is the TPU tube.

[aluminati]

Great vid. In my humble (40years of riding) experience, tires are the cheapest, most efficient upgrades you can give yourself on the bike.

[michaelplantarich]

Definitely proves that tire setup matters. I love the super nerds on super bikes series, hope it continues!

[ElementoryMyDearWatson]

i really enjoy the banter and camaraderie

[donparker]

Always enjoy the GCN psudo-science, discussions and banter amongst the journalists. It would be interesting to see the 3 tire types tested on a wheel-on trainer using same bike, same wheel, same drive train with a constant speed or power output to isolate the rolling resistance differences.

[tonysadler]

All those who are dissing the test - Calm down, it's for fun videos, interesting fun entertainment, fun you know what fun is - wait a minute, it's Roadies commenting on performance figures and kit! - I'll stick to my mountain bike. As far as I'm concerned - brilliant video, brilliant effort by you all - and thank you, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[ktube]

Real nerd here too, I have Cinturato Velos I use on my one bike I ride and don't want a flat on, and if I switch to gp5k I am 1.7mph faster with same watts. All tubeless and all same size on same wheels. It's noticeable. And it's not linear it gets bigger the faster you go, I checked on a commute on a known route.

[poweredbycaffeine_]

I've been using the P Zero Race and smart tubes for 3 years. Light and fast and almost as important a breeze to get on and off the wheel for the 2 punctures I've experienced in that time.

[AleksiJoensuu]

I agree, better tyres are awesome and they just make everything better. When you swap from sluggish tyres to something better, the whole bike feels quicker. Or if you swap to worse ones, it feels like it's constantly resisting you.

Additionally, a BIG transformation for me was going to 32mm road tyres. Just because of the comfort alone. I don't know if they are the very fastest, but I can guarantee *I personally* was faster when I had the comfort to keep pedaling efficiently over small bumps and rough surfaces, instead of having to use part of my effort to keep some of my weight off my saddle. Getting a comfortable riding position is another awesome upgrade for the same reason. Less effort wasted fighting against your own body, more effort spent on turning the cranks.

But the best value performance upgrade might still be form fitting clothes, depending on what you're wearing now. They might even be free, if you just realize you should pick the less baggy clothes in your closet.

[ChinaCycling]

While I believe the data, one rider with 2 bottles, one with 1 bottle and one with no bottle is making it too easy for people to nit-pick. Peak torque video coming in 3...2.... 🙈

[StacyODell]

I'd love to see a comparison between the three of you with the same sets of tires on terrible UK roads to see who flats when. Then we can get a more complete picture to make a proper tire choice for our needs. Might be some good zone 2 endurance training for Alex too. Although if the tires live up to their durability claims, Si may expire before his tires do. 🙂

[nycdrummingstar]

It took me a couple of views, but I realized that this video is probably one of your biggest masterpieces

[Silidons]

I just think it's great Pirelli made a new clincher, I'm someone who still runs tubes. Don't want the tubeless faff.

[Glenn-nfut]

Alex has IMPRESSED this year - sort of quiet in the background type but his legs are doing the talking these days - chapeau - Ollie has SLIPPED in form this year - and Si is royally pissed he is off the pace - so expect him to be chomping at the bit to close the GAP

[SeattleMarko]

Great work!!! You need to interview the Bicycle Rolling Resistance folks. Still rolling on latex tubes, and have a butyl as a spare.

[stephenribchester]

Last year after seeing a few vids on how better tyres make a big difference decided to try it after getting back on the bike. Usual route is 22 miles with a few short sharp climbs and was taking me a consistent 1hr 38min. Swapped schwalbe lugano, butyle for GP5000 and latex. Next time out 1hr 32min. Was also a much smoother ride which was the main reason for buying. I think weaker cyclists can get more out of a tyre upgrade than stronger people because I was able to keep the momentum going on the climbs and not dragging myself over the top.
Tyre upgrades? Worth every penny.

[scherzoo]

Another "science" video from GCN. I can hardly wait :) :) :)
Surely all variables have been taken into consideration and neutralised!
Such as the fact that the Pinarelo bike is the most aero of the three, but also seems to be the smallest size of the three.
What kind of aero gain in this regard, in terms of watts?
The aero position of the riders is also relevant.
Did you at least had the same rims? Same depth? Same width of tires?

[Mr.SlipperyX]

the start was fucking great, way to bring it back