New products 2018: Pirelli P Zero Velo road test - New road bike tyres from Pirelli

Is the transfer from motorsport to cycling a success? We were able to gather our first riding impressions on the Pirelli test track in Vizzola and on a longer lap in the surrounding area. The P Zero Velo is comfortably set up and rides smoothly, but always conveys a feel for the surface. Turn-in behaviour is neutral and the impression of cornering is secure. On the artificially watered test track, we cause the rear wheel to break away; the slip is not announced, but the tyre quickly recovers. The all-weather model 4S, with a deeper cut tread and different rubber compound, feels softer in direct comparison and cannot be persuaded to slip.

According to Head of Research and Development Piero Misani, Pirelli placed particular emphasis on good-natured handling and wet grip during development: "Our aim is for the driver to have confidence in the tyre. Only if they trust the tyre can they use the wide limit range." To keep rolling resistance and wet grip at a high level, Pirelli has worked on the rubber formula. The Italians call their new compound "Smartnet Silica", in which tubular nano-particles not only orientate themselves favourably in the direction of travel when the tread rubber is injected, but also form real cross-links with the polymers that form the basic structure of the compound.

The nano-particles in a tyre would together form a surface the size of a football pitch, explains Misani. Due to the strong bonds between the molecules, the cross-linking also improves the cut resistance of the rubber.

In the witches' kitchen
The compounds for all tyre types are developed at Pirelli's Milan headquarters. Pirelli allowed us to take a look behind the scenes. The laboratories are spread over several floors and are packed with technology. The latest acquisition in the chemical laboratory is a mixing robot that prepares the samples for chemical analysis fully automatically. Around 6,000 new mixtures are analysed every year, says Fabio Menni, the developer of the Smartnet compound. Electron scanning microscopes allow a view into the molecular structure. Tyres from other manufacturers are also examined here to uncover their secrets. In the test laboratory, bicycle tyres stand side by side with the amazingly light Formula 1 balloon tyres. Truck tyres are tested right next to them.

The pride and joy of the Pirelli testers is a handling test machine. Here, a wheel, guided by a robot, rolls on a kind of giant belt sander with steel drums around one metre in diameter. On a rough surface, the tyre completes a test programme that simulates cornering. The forces acting on the tyre and wheel are measured and compared with the driving impressions from the racetrack. We can see live how the power curves swing out strongly. From the wildly jagged lines of the recordings, the engineers make predictions about how the tyre will feel on the road. The tyres will initially be manufactured in France, but Pirelli will supply the compounds from its plant in Romania. Production capacity will also be available in Asia.

Already measured
We took a pair of test tyres with us from the presentation and immediately subjected them to the TOUR rolling resistance test. Result: The 25 millimetre wide P Zero Velo rolls very well, but does not set any new records. It is slightly inferior to the Continental 4000 2 S on smooth tracks, but is faster on rough tracks. Its performance is very similar to that of the Michelin Power.

Pirelli recommends 6 to 8 bar tyre pressure for the 25 mm tyre. We tested at seven bar. On the road, we found six bar to be more suitable in order to utilise the tyre's comfort potential. On a modern, 23 mm wide rim, the 202 gram tyre expands to a width of just under 28 millimetres. However, the tyre punctured with the low pressure. With an inner tube, the tyre pressure cannot be trimmed towards comfort without risk.

Piero Misani explains why tubeless was not an option for Pirelli when it was introduced: "When we started developing bicycle tyres two years ago, we were somewhat surprised at how little bicycle tyres are regulated compared to the motorbike sector. In view of the lack of standards, for example which rim width is permitted for which tyre type, it seemed risky for us to go straight for tubeless."

However, tubeless is a topic for the future, as is the expansion of the product range to include mountain bikes or the sponsorship of a professional team. It seems as if Pirelli is really serious about getting into cycling.

Test tyres:
P Zero Velo 25 mm
Folding tyre
202 grams
Recommended retail price: 42.90 euros, on sale from September 2017