Tubular or clincher tyres? Road cyclists can argue about this question more than about almost any other topic. Most amateur cyclists ride clincher tyres - if only because they have to fit their tyres themselves. Traditionalists, however, swear by the special feel of tubular tyres, and professionals also prefer them. But are they really right?
The tubular tyre is a construction from the early days of the racing bike. The inner tube is sewn into the outer casing of the tyre and glued to the rim. This cumbersome process has also become more important for hobby cyclists since the boom in carbon rims. This is because the closed profiles of tubular tyre rims are easier to produce from carbon than the open hooked rims for clincher tyres. As a result, there are far more carbon rims for tubular tyres than for clincher tyres.
Via the diversions of carbon rims, tubular tyres are back in fashion. This test of seven (folding) clincher and tubular tyres is intended to clarify whether they are also up to date in terms of riding performance. The spectrum of tyres tested ranges from wafer-thin time trial tyres for only three-digit kilometre performances to all-rounders with enough rubber for an entire Tour de France. This covers all applications that are of particular interest to ambitious cyclists and triathletes. Regardless of whether the aim is to conquer high mountain passes quickly, safely and puncture-free in the Ötztaler, to gain valuable minutes in an Ironman or to explore the maximum lean angle in a criterium - tyres are an important performance and confidence factor.
At a speed of 35 km/h, you need around 30 to 70 watts just to overcome the rolling resistance, depending on the road conditions, rider weight and tyre quality. This corresponds to up to a quarter of the drive power. At higher speeds, for example in time trials, the rolling resistance increases proportionally. After air resistance (or hill resistance), rolling resistance is the cyclist's number two enemy. Cornering grip and puncture resistance are other important factors.
We have tested the most important criteria using proven testing technology: Rolling resistance, puncture resistance and grip at the limit. Extensive driving tests round off the test programme.
SHORT & SHORT
The best competition tyres for normal roads are modern clincher tyres. They roll more easily and grip better on average than tubular tyres. The best clincher tyres are around 0.6 km/h faster than the best tubular tyres. This is more than enough to compensate for the weight disadvantage of hooked rims. The main advantage of tubular tyres is better puncture protection, but this is of little importance on normal roads.
The test results of these tyres can be found below as a PDF download:
- Wired tyres:
Continental Grand Prix 4000 RS
Continental Grand Prix Supersonic
Hutchinson Atom Tubeless
Michelin Pro3 Race
Schwalbe Ultremo R.1
Veloflex Record
Vittoria Open Corsa Evo Slick
- Loop tyres:
Continental Competition 22
Continental Podium
Hutchinson Carbon Comp
Schwalbe Ultremo HT
Tufo Elite Ride 23
Veloflex Extreme
Vittoria Crono Evo CS 22
Downloads:
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