In this article I’m going to give you my list for the fastest tubeless road bike tires of today.
When you think of fast a lot of people immediately think of weight, believing that a reduction in weight increases speed. And that would indeed be true. However there’s also another distinction that needs to be taken into consideration, which is rolling resistance.
The tires which are lightest are almost without exception time trial tires. And none of those tires aren’t tubeless. An argument could also be made that you wouldn’t want to fit those tires on a bike for your everyday ride, because they’re definitely not the most comfortable ones as well.
So for this list of the fastest tubeless road bike tires, I looked for tires that are light and have a very low rolling resistance as well. If they also offer a plush ride and are somewhat durable, I would consider that to be a bonus.
So without further ado, here’s the list of the fastest tubeless road bike tires.
Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR
Continental is known for their light-weight tire offerings and the Continental Grand Prix 500 S TR is no exception. It’s the tubeless ready version of the standard Grand Prix 5000, which is a clincher tire.
The tubeless ready Grand Prix 5000 has the same excellent stats. A 220 TPI moderately supple tire, that comes in your standard 25 and 28 mm width versions. At 250 grams for the 25 mm and 280 for the 28 mm version, these tires are pretty light. And on top of that, this tire scores extremely high markers in the rolling resistance department. That means you can check both light and fast of your list of requirements, when you go for this tire.
A tan wall version is included among the sizes for those who want to mount them.
Simon von Bromley | Senior technical writer – December 21, 2021
Though the claimed decrease in rolling resistance versus the outgoing GP5000 TL appears to be too good to be true, the Continental GP5000 S TR nevertheless remains a benchmark tubeless road bike tyre.
It strikes an ideal balance of low rolling resistance, durability and puncture protection that makes it very hard to beat.
That it is now compatible with hookless rims and is available with a choice of black or transparent sidewalls, plugs what were arguably the only two chinks in its armour.
I’ll be sticking with my Vittoria Corsa Speed TLRs for time trials then, but for everything else on the road it’s hard to look past the GP5000 S TR
- Light, very fast-rolling race tire, tan wall option available
- None
Michelin Power Road
The Michelin Power Road is the first tubeless offering from this French company. The Michelin Power Road has more allround characteristics than other tires mentioned here.
That means that it’s slightly heavier, but in return you get a thin extra layer of rubber on the center tread for more durability and puncture protection. And truth be told, 305 grams for a 28 version is about average.
Every company obviously claims that they have the most robust and fastest rolling tires money can buy, and Michelin is no exception. Whether you believe them or not, the Michelin Power road is a perfect fit-and-forget tire for the average rider.
David Arthur | Contributor – April 5, 2021
Once on, they provide a tangible sense of low rolling resistance, zipping along at a nice speed. The tyres really deliver on the claims to be a good competition and training tyre.
Through the corners and along damp roads, I experienced high levels of traction and the casing has a supportive feel that keeps the tyre stable through corners. Casing and sidewall suppleness is a notch below the best but these are tough tyres – they coped with potholes and even gravel deviations.
- More durable than other race tires, solid allrounder
- None
Michelin Power Cup TLR Competition Line
When I started road cycling Michelin was my go to choice for fast, grippy tires, that would provide you with many puncture-less miles. Apart from tubeless not much has changed when looking at road tires, and the Michelin Power Cup TLR Competition Line might be my new favorite tire.
If you’re like me and you want to stand out from the crowd, you can do so by running different tires than any of the many Continental 5000 versions. And if you happen to like tan-wall tires as well, this one from the French brand might suit your style.
Michelin calls the compound it uses for this tire Gum-X. Now that doesn’t tell me anything, but a simple look at the casing, which boasts 4 plies of 120 TPI, tells me this tire has to have an above average puncture-resistance.
It’s not a 4-season tire, with a single breaker, low weight and good rolling-resistance, and focuses on performance for those of you who’re considering a tubeless setup as well.
Can it beat the Continental Grand Prix 5000 tubeless version? I don’t know, but it’s nice to know there’s a high-quality alternative.
Ashley Quinlan | Senior technical editor – August 27, 2023
On the whole, I’ve been impressed by the sense of speed and grip the Michelin Power Cup TLR provides. Although there are tyres that provide even more impressive overall ride feel – the Vittoria Corsa Pro stands out in this regard, while the Pirelli P-Zero TLR and Continental GP5000 S TR are also standard-bearers – the differences are very small.
I found the tyres generated plentiful grip, impressing especially when I wanted to lean hard on the front wheel on a well-paved descent. Confidence is key when descending and cornering at speed – the Power Cup TLR helped me build lots of it.
- Premium, fast-rolling alternative to the Continental Grand Prix 500
- None
Pirelli P Zero Race TLR
A pirelli P Zero in a race version and offering a tubeless setup, that has to be very promising.
Yes I know they are not the lightest tires, but they are some of the best-looking ones, and in terms of grip and road feel are pretty unmatched as well.
Combine that with a tried-and-true compound and a relatively easy tubeless setup and you get a very fast road bike tire. And in a tan version as well.
Just as Vittoria’s tubeless tires, Pirelli mushes the tread and aramid fibres in the casing together to further reduce rolling resistance. So it’s either an Italian thing, or they’re really on to something.
The tires have had some really promising rolling-resistance test, taking the top spot beating the likes of Vittoria and Schwalbe. Impressive.
Ashley Quinlan | Senior technical editor – August 25, 2023
It was among the easiest fitting experiences I’ve had. Despite the construction being almost equal in weight to the Goodyear Eagle F1 R, I found it easier to manipulate it over the bead, just needing one lever to finish off the job.
On the road, I could find little to criticise if speed, ride feel and grip are top of the tyre performance wishlist. The Pirelli P Zero Race TLR is one of the best all-round performance tyres available today. It offers a racy blend of low rolling resistance and ride quality, without sacrificing practical grip and puncture resistance.
- Impressive tech in a tubeless road tire that promises to have the lowest-rolling resistance of them all
- None
Vittoria Corsa Pro
Improving upon the Vittoria Corsa, the Vittoria Corsa Pro aims to reduce rolling resistance by integrating the center tread into the casing.
The cotton casing is known for its supple ride, grip and handling. However this tire is so new I’ve been unable to find any rolling resistance numbers yet to be able to compare them with the standard Corsa and see if this tire holds up to its promise.
That would be a thing indeed for the Vittoria Corsa is a benchmark tire when it comes to rolling resistance, which makes this tire, both in its tubular and tubeless version, an exciting addition to the Italian’s lineup indeed.
Simon von Bromley | Senior technical writer – August 30, 2023
Compared to my experience with previous-generation Corsa Speed TLR tyres, the Corsa Pro TLRs slipped on to a set of Hunt 54 Aerodynamicist Carbon Disc wheels with relative ease.
The combination of a traditional cotton casing and a seamlessly attached tread offers easy setup, fantastic ride feel and, in my opinion, looks brilliant too.
Disappointingly, though, it performed relatively poorly in our rolling resistance test. And while lab results don’t tell you everything about how a tyre performs in the real world, at this price it’s not unreasonable to expect top performance in all areas.
- Newer version of the excellent Vittoria Corsa promising reduced rolling resistance
- Couldn't confirm if this is indeed true
Specifications fastest tubeless road bike tires
Name | Size | ETRTO | Weight (gr) | Tread color | Sidewall color | Compound | Puncture protection | Tire bead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR | 700Cx25 | 25-622 | 250 | Black | Black | BlackChili | Vectran Breaker | tlr |
Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR | 700Cx25 | 25-622 | 250 | Black | Transparent | BlackChili | Vectran Breaker | tlr |
Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR | 700Cx28 | 28-622 | 280 | Black | Black | BlackChili | Vectran Breaker | tlr |
Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR | 700Cx28 | 28-622 | 280 | Black | Transparent | BlackChili | Vectran Breaker | tlr |
Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR | 700Cx30 | 30-622 | 300 | Black | Black | BlackChili | Vectran Breaker | tlr |
Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR | 700Cx30 | 30-622 | 300 | Black | Transparent | BlackChili | Vectran Breaker | tlr |
Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR | 700Cx32 | 32-622 | 320 | Black | Black | BlackChili | Vectran Breaker | tlr |
Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR | 700Cx32 | 32-622 | 320 | Black | Transparent | BlackChili | Vectran Breaker | tlr |
Michelin Power Cup TLR Competition Line | 700Cx25 | 25-622 | Black | Black | Gum-X | Tubeless Shield | tlr | |
Michelin Power Cup TLR Competition Line | 700Cx25 | 25-622 | Black | Cream | Gum-X | Tubeless Shield | tlr | |
Michelin Power Cup TLR Competition Line | 700Cx28 | 28-622 | Black | Black | Gum-X | Tubeless Shield | tlr | |
Michelin Power Cup TLR Competition Line | 700Cx28 | 28-622 | Black | Cream | Gum-X | Tubeless Shield | tlr | |
Michelin Power Cup TLR Competition Line | 700Cx30 | 30-622 | Black | Black | Gum-X | Tubeless Shield | tlr | |
Michelin Power Road | 700Cx25 | 25-622 | 275 | Black | Black | X-Race | tlr | |
Michelin Power Road | 700Cx28 | 28-622 | 305 | Black | Black | X-Race | tlr | |
Michelin Power Road | 700Cx32 | 32-622 | 350 | Black | Black | X-Race | tlr | |
Pirelli P Zero Race TLR | 700Cx26 | 26-622 | 275 | Black | Black | SmartEVO | TechBelt Road | tlr |
Pirelli P Zero Race TLR | 700Cx26 | 26-622 | 275 | Black | Tan | SmartEVO | TechBelt Road | tlr |
Pirelli P Zero Race TLR | 700Cx28 | 28-622 | 295 | Black | Black | SmartEVO | TechBelt Road | tlr |
Pirelli P Zero Race TLR | 700Cx28 | 28-622 | 295 | Black | Tan | SmartEVO | TechBelt Road | tlr |
Pirelli P Zero Race TLR | 700Cx30 | 30-622 | 315 | Black | Black | SmartEVO | TechBelt Road | tlr |
Pirelli P Zero Race TLR | 700Cx30 | 30-622 | 315 | Black | Tan | SmartEVO | TechBelt Road | tlr |
Pirelli P Zero Race TLR | 700Cx35 | 35-622 | 355 | Black | Black | SmartEVO | TechBelt Road | tlr |
Pirelli P Zero Race TLR | 700Cx40 | 40-622 | 375 | Black | Black | SmartEVO | TechBelt Road | tlr |
Vittoria Corsa Pro | 700Cx24 | 24-622 | 265 | Black | Cream | Corespun | Protection Belt | tlr |
Vittoria Corsa Pro | 700Cx26 | 26-622 | 275 | Black | Cream | Corespun | Protection Belt | tlr |
Vittoria Corsa Pro | 700Cx28 | 28-622 | 295 | Black | Cream | Corespun | Protection Belt | tlr |
Vittoria Corsa Pro | 700Cx30 | 30-622 | 300 | Black | Cream | Corespun | Protection Belt | tlr |
Vittoria Corsa Pro | 700Cx32 | 32-622 | 320 | Black | Cream | Corespun | Protection Belt | tlr |
Sources
Founder Restoration.bike
Johan van Seijen is the founder of restoration.bike. His cycling career has seen him at the starting line of classics such as the Amstel Gold Race and Liege Bastogne Liege. Realizing his racing capacity would fall short of what was needed he obtained a MS from the University of Amsterdam in engineering. His love for cycling changed into riding in an amateur capacity with his local cycling club TFC Weesp as a roadie and supporting MTB Noordwest as a mountain biker. He repairs, restores, and builds bicycles and shares his knowledge on YouTube, Facebook and this website.
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