Following current lab exams within the wind tunnel to discern the distinction in aerodynamic drag between key superbikes, wheels, and helmets, the tech group at Cyclingnews has been again within the lab, this time testing highway tyres. The group took 24 pairs of efficiency tyres to the pedalling effectivity lab on the Silverstone Sports activities Engineering Hub to search out out which highway bike tyres are the quickest.
The tyres on take a look at, in alphabetical order, have been as follows:
- Cadex Race GC
- Problem Criterium RS
- Continental Aero 111
- Continental GP5000 AS TR
- Continental GP5000 S TR
- Continental GP5000 TT TR
- Goodyear Eagle F1 R
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport R
- Hutchinson Blackbird
- Michelin Energy Cup TLR
- Panaracer Agilist Quick
- Panaracer Agilist TLR
- Pirelli P Zero Race TLR RS
- Pirelli P Zero Race TLR 4 Season
- Schwalbe Professional One Tubeless
- Schwalbe Professional One TT
- Specialised S-Works Mondo
- Specialised Turbo Cotton Hell of the North
- Specialised Turbo Cotton
- Specialised Turbo 2BR
- Vittoria Corsa N.EXT
- Vittoria Corsa Professional Management
- Vittoria Corsa Professional Velocity
- Vittoria Corsa Professional
Every tyre from the checklist was examined at two speeds, and repeated for consistency, with a benchmark chosen to ascertain a comparability.
Along with a collection of normal race tyres together with all these raced on the WorldTour, a collection of time trial choices, all-season tyres, and a few mid-tier units have been chosen too. An investigation into the impact of tyre strain on rolling resistance was undertaken too, with a full sweep from 90psi right down to 30psi with a single tyre. Lastly, a tubeless setup was in contrast with a butyl inside tube, a latex one, and a TPU tube to see how a lot every system prices by way of added resistance.
With such a big dataset produced it was doable to find out not solely which tyres have been sooner than others, but in addition pull aside some extra normal traits. Does worth correlate to efficiency? Are cotton-cased tyres sooner? Are cheaper tyres all the time slower than excessive finish choices? Is a TT tyre going to really make you any sooner?
For the solutions to all of these questions you’re going to need to dive into the article itself, however by way of outcomes it was a very good exhibiting from each Continental and Vittoria. The quickest total tyre on take a look at was the Vittoria Corsa Professional Velocity. The GP5000S TR was one of the best performing of the overall race tyres, and apparently carried out in a close to similar vogue to its TT counterpart, the GP5000 TT TR.
The gulf in efficiency from the quickest tyres on take a look at to the slowest was vital, a swing of 30 Watts on the most excessive, however that is evaluating a time trial tyre to an all-season possibility, so not the fairest comparability.
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Maybe most apparently, sure tyres seen within the WorldTour and at Grand Excursions examined with a 22-watt penalty at race speeds, which is a major detriment – or achieve – from one thing so simple as a tyre swap.
The exams additionally discovered that altering tyre strain inside a comparatively large margin had no tangible influence on efficiency, however that round eight watts could possibly be discovered and misplaced just by altering inside tube materials.
Whereas the sooner you go the larger the impact of aerodynamics, it’s definitely fascinating to notice that the distinction in efficiency between two WorldTour degree tyres might be over 20 Watts, which is two-thirds of the good points on supply when swapping from an entry-level non-aero bike to a contemporary superbike. Given tyres are a considerably cheaper improve to make, they’re maybe one to cross off the checklist earlier than diving into a brand new bike.
Cyclingnews shall be endeavor extra exams sooner or later, so be sure you keep tuned.
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