In this article I’m going to give you a list of the best semi-slick road bike tires.
A semi-slick tire is a tire which has a minimalistic tread pattern to decrease rolling-resistance as much as possible. Basically all road bike tires are either slicks or semi-slicks, with semi-slicks reserved for 4-season tires, commuter and touring tires, and riding on something else than smooth tarmac.
The difference between a slick and a semi-slick when looking at the tread pattern, makes the least difference of all cycling differences. It’s easy to understand the impact between a knobbed mountain bike tire, and a semi-slick one. But there aren’t any knobbed road bike tires (with a tire width up to 28mm). Knobbed cyclocross tires usually start at a width of 33mm, which is a tire width you can’t use for your standard road bike frame with respect to frame clearance.
What you do see is that semi-slick road bike tires in general offer more durable compounds, and more puncture resistance, with single or dual breakers being used. And a semi-slick tire does offer a bit more grip, especially in wet conditions.
Here’s the overview of my top picks for the best semi-slick road bike tires.
Continental Sprinter Gatorskin
If you’re looking for puncture protection that comes in a tubular package, the Continental Sprinter Gatorskin is your best bet.
It offers the same DuraSkin layer wrapped all around the tire as does the Continental Grand Prix 4-Season. Where it differs is both the breaker and the compound.
The Sprinter Gatorskin has a 3-layered 180 TPI all-weather casing and the SafetySystem breaker is made from kevlar reinforced nylon.
The tire is available in a black 22 or 25 mm width.
- The most puncture resistant tubular tire on the market
- It's a somewhat stiff tubular tire meant for off-season riding
Continental Ultra Sport III
The Continental Ultra Sport III is a budget-friendly slick tire for commuters and road bikes.
It offers a no-frills tire in an affordable package, and one of the cheapest big brand tires money can buy
It’s a solid option for people who understand they get what they pay for.
- Extremely budget-friendly, no-frills commuter tire.
- None for its price-point
Michelin Dynamic Classic
I’ve seen vintage road bike resellers dress their entire lineup with Michelin Dynamic Classic tires. The reason for this is that it’s a perfect match for any vintage road bike at probably the lowest cost for a tan wall road bike tire.
In the quality department this tire will not be top of its class, but it does come in an affordable package. And with prices ever going up that’s always a good thing.
- Cheap, great for retro builds
- Not the most durable
Panaracer Pasela ProTite
Panaracer makes very nice mid-level priced tires. And they also offer some of the best-looking ones for retro builds. I choose the Panaracer Pasela ProTite over the normal Pasela, because it’s lighter, comes in a folding version and has better puncture protection.
The ProTite bead-to-bead protection covers is a tightly woven fabric covering the entire width of the tire, and sits in a mid-tier casing, offering a great combination of puncture protection, and low weight.
In general the Pasela ProTite are lightweight and true skin walls, that’ll look great on your bike.
- Fantastic all-round tire, very light, true skin wall tires. Go-to option for retro commuter builds.
- None
Panaracer RiBMo
At 26 x 2 inches and 560 grams the Panaracer RibMo is among the lightest tires for its size on this list. Its minimal tread pattern moves it into the direction of being a slick tire, perfect for fast urban commuting.
The Panaracer RiBMo uses their proprietary ProTite technology, which is an extra puncture-resistant layer which runs the entire length and width of the tire. And they offer a more durable, commuter-friendly compound.
The conclusion is this tire will make your bike feel fast and nimble for many many miles at a reasonable enough price.
- Ultra-light slick tire, affordable, durable, and supple, japanese build quality
- None
Pirelli Cinturato
If you ask me, Pirelli Cinturato’s understated design is one of the best on this list. This tubeless-ready tire is far more robust than the P Zero on this list, going in the direction of a gravel tire.
A kevlar-reinforced breaker offers bead-to-bead protection, besides a smaller one sitting underneath the tread. The more durable 60 TPI casing is heavier, but will last you longer. Called Armour Tech, it’s the solution of choice for making these tires truly all-weather condition tires, offering great grip and puncture resistance all through the year.
That added protection does mean they will tip the scales at 300 and 340 grams for the 26 and 28 mm versions. So it’s no weight-weenie tire.
- Fantastic grip, durability, and puncture-protection for a 4-season tire, very fast.
- A bit on the heavy side
Vittoria Corsa Control
If you want a bit more puncture protection but still have Vittoria emblazoned on your sidewall, the Vittoria Corsa Control will suit your needs.
It’s obviously heavier than its other namesake, but with it comes extra protection. It has an extra tread inserted into the tire, which adds control and durability for less than optimal road conditions like cobblestones and rougher roads.
It’s also a perfect companion for those who don’t mind riding in wet conditions. So choose this tire over the normal Corsa if rough and wet is what you like.
The Vittoria Corsa Control is also the only tan-wall road bike tire on this list that comes as a tube. So if you have a very premium vintage road bike or a very premium set of modern-day wheels you can take advantage of everything tubes have to offer as well.
- Added puncture protection, tan option available, tube
- None
Vittoria Rubino Pro Control
The Vittoria Rubino Pro Control is the stiffer, heavier and more puncture protected version of the standard Rubino.
It’s a training tire with bead-to-bead protection besides an enhanced puncture protected layer. Its nylon casing is meant to withstand the elements of all seasons.
Available in standard sizes 23 to 28 mm as a 60 TPI folding tire.
- Solid puncture protection with a bead-to-bead protection layer, and breaker.
- None for its price-point
Road Bike Tires Weight Rating
I’ve always been fascinated by bicycle tires, and road bike tires offer some of the most premium pieces of rubber you can put on your rims. It’s a good place to save quite a bit of weight without paying a really large amount of money. It’s not like there are titanium or carbon tires, which are traditionally materials to make bicycle products lighter that are very expensive.
The lightest 700C tire I’ve looked at is the Veloflex Record, which is a track tire sitting at 135 grams for a 23 mm version. The heaviest tire I’ve taken into account is the Schwalbe Lugano II Endurance weighing 490 grams for the same 25 mm tire width.
In the following graph you can find the weight ratings for each tire. The weight ratings represent a relative percentage irrespective of tire width and only looking at 700C versions of the respective tire. The numbers are compared against each other resulting in a percentage of 0 for the relative heaviest tire and 100 for the relative lightest tire.
Road Bike Tires Puncture Protection Rating
Nobody likes a flat tire. It’s one of the most jarring things to break the flow of a ride. That’s why puncture protection is an important factor when considering a certain bicycle tire.
Puncture protection sits at the other end of the tire weight, suppleness and possibly grip. The more rubber you add to a tire, and the more layers of protection sit underneath it, the more weight you add, and the stiffer your tire gets. That’s why racing tires have the most minimal protection, and touring or 4-season tires the most.
The puncture protection ratings you see here are a function of TPI, in combination with tire weight, and puncture protection technology added to the tire. From sidewall protection, multiple breakers and tire belts.
Specifications semi-slick road bike tires
Name | Size | ETRTO | Weight (gr) | Tread color | Sidewall color | Compound | Puncture protection | Tire bead | TPI | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Continental Sprinter Gatorskin | 700Cx25 | 25-622 | 275 | Black | Black | BlackChili | DuraSkin / SafetySystem Breaker | tubular | 3/180 | |
Continental Sprinter Gatorskin | 700Cx22 | 22-622 | 265 | Black | Black | BlackChili | DuraSkin / SafetySystem Breaker | tubular | 3/180 | |
Continental Ultra Sport III | 700Cx28 | 28-622 | 295 | Black | Black | PureGrip | foldable | 3/180 | ||
Continental Ultra Sport III | 700Cx25 | 25-622 | 270 | Black | White | PureGrip | foldable | 3/180 | ||
Continental Ultra Sport III | 700Cx23 | 23-622 | 255 | Black | Yellow | PureGrip | foldable | 3/180 | ||
Continental Ultra Sport III | 700Cx23 | 23-622 | 255 | Black | White | PureGrip | foldable | 3/180 | ||
Continental Ultra Sport III | 700Cx23 | 23-622 | 255 | Black | Black | PureGrip | foldable | 3/180 | ||
Michelin Dynamic Classic | 700Cx20 | 23-622 | Black | Tan | foldable | |||||
Michelin Dynamic Classic | 700Cx25 | 25-622 | Black | Tan | foldable | |||||
Michelin Dynamic Classic | 700Cx28 | 28-622 | Black | Tan | foldable | |||||
Panaracer Pasela ProTite | 700×25 | 25-622 | 250 | Black | Amber | ZSG | ProTite Shield / 400D Lite Extra Cord | foldable | 66 | |
Panaracer Pasela ProTite | 700×28 | 28-622 | 270 | Black | Amber | ZSG | ProTite Shield / 400D Lite Extra Cord | foldable | 66 | |
Panaracer RiBMo | 700Cx25 | 25-622 | 340 | Black | Black | Mile Cruncher | ProTite Shield / 800D Strong Cord | foldable | 66 | |
Pirelli Cinturato | 700Cx26 | 26-622 | 300 | Black | Tan | SmartNET silica | Armour Tech | tlr | 66 | |
Pirelli Cinturato | 700Cx28 | 28-622 | 340 | Black | Tan | SmartNET silica | Armour Tech | tlr | 66 | |
Pirelli Cinturato | 700Cx26 | 26-622 | 300 | Black | Black | SmartNET silica | Armour Tech | tlr | 66 | |
Pirelli Cinturato | 700Cx28 | 28-622 | 340 | Black | Black | SmartNET silica | Armour Tech | tlr | 66 | |
Pirelli Cinturato | 700Cx32 | 32-622 | 360 | Black | Black | SmartNET silica | Armour Tech | tlr | 66 | |
Pirelli Cinturato | 700Cx35 | 35-622 | 410 | Black | Black | SmartNET silica | Armour Tech | tlr | 66 | |
Vittoria Corsa Control | 700Cx25 | 25-622 | 265 | Black | Tan | Corespun K | Protection Belt | foldable | 320 | |
Vittoria Corsa Control | 700Cx25 | 25-622 | 265 | Black | Black | Corespun K | Protection Belt | foldable | 320 | |
Vittoria Corsa Control | 700Cx28 | 28-622 | 280 | Black | Black | Corespun K | Protection Belt | foldable | 320 | |
Vittoria Corsa Control | 700Cx28 | 28-622 | 280 | Black | Tan | Corespun K | Protection Belt | foldable | 320 | |
Vittoria Corsa Control | 700Cx30 | 30-622 | 280 | Black | Tan | Corespun K | Protection Belt | foldable | 320 | |
Vittoria Rubino Pro Control | 700Cx23 | 23-622 | 290 | Black | Black | Nylon | Protection Belt | foldable | 60 | |
Vittoria Rubino Pro Control | 700Cx25 | 25-622 | 300 | Black | Black | Nylon | Protection Belt | foldable | 60 | |
Vittoria Rubino Pro Control | 700Cx28 | 28-622 | 340 | Black | Black | Nylon | Protection Belt | foldable | 60 |
Johan van Seijen
FoundeR Restoration.bike
Johan van Seijen is the founder of restoration.bike. His passion for cycling in general, and restoring older bikes turned into a website to share his knowledge with a broader audience. Starting out on his father’s road bike and riding classics as the Amstel Gold Race and Liege Bastogne Liege he has shifted his attention to trail, XC, and gravel riding since. No matter how much he loves writing about everything related to cycling, nothing beats actually using his ever-expanding bicycle collection.
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