This section doesn’t currently include any content. Add content to this section using the sidebar.

Image caption appears here

Add your deal, information or promotional text

Tyre Aerodynamics

The Parcours wheel range features an internal rim profile that is fully tubeless-ready. With an internal width of 19-20mm (depending on model), it is also the perfect match for a wider tyre – this allows riders to choose to run a lower tyre pressure, giving a smoother, more comfortable ride whilst also reducing rolling resistance.

As part of our wind tunnel testing, we wanted to quantify the aerodynamic impact of choosing to run a wider tyre. In our previous testing, the main hurdle was the point at which a wider tyre caused the airflow around the wheel to stall, massively increasing the overall drag.

We tested a number of the most popular tyre choices over two test sessions (one in 2018, the other in late 2019).  All tyres were tested on our Chrono front wheel (77mm depth)

Aerodynamic Comparison

The chart above shows a combination of our existing data from our 2018 test results with the results from the updated tyre selection in 2019. Where a tyre has been updated by the manufacturer since our 2018 test, we have excluded the slower version (in all cases this was the 2018 model).

An interesting observation was that older model tyres (tested in 2018) would inflate to 10-12% wider than their stated width, when fitted to our Chrono front wheel (internal rim width 20mm). However, the newer tyres would only increase by < 5% versus stated width. Given the reduction in frontal area, this likely had an impact on aerodynamic performance.

Prior testing also showed that, when a weighted average taken across the yaw angles tested, there is no material difference between a 23mm and 25mm tyre (both wheel depths tested were <2s/40km). With maximum rim widths across the range varying from 27mm to 29mm, this would fit with the often-quoted Rule of 105%. This states that the rim must be at least 105% the width of the tyre in order to recapture airflow from the tyre and control or smooth it.

An additional point to note is that, across the entire wheel range, the yaw angle at which the airflow begins to stall shifted from the 7.5 to 10 degree range to greater than 12.5 degrees. This indicates that the updated rim profile performs better in a stronger crosswind. It was also interesting to note that the 25mm tyre delayed the stall point on all rim depths.

Overall Ranking

We then combined the weighted average aerodynamic drag (as tested above) with the rolling resistance (as tested by Bicycle Rolling Resistance) to give an overall performance figure for each tyre.

TYREAERO DRAG (W)ROLLING RESISTANCE (W)TOTAL (W)
Vittoria Corsa Speed G+ 2.0 TLR (25mm)
15.0W12.6W27.6W
Continental GP5000TL (25mm)16.0W14.9W30.9W
Schwalbe Pro One TLE (25mm)14.2W18.8W33.0W
IRC Formula Pro RBCC (25mm)17.2W22.0W39.1W
Specialized S-Works Turbo Cotton (24mm)22.7W18.6W41.3W
Pirelli PZero Velo (25mm)20.9W22.1W43.0W
Vredestein Fortezza Senso 18.0Wnana

Notes:

  • Aero drag shown at 30mph.  Adjusted from previously published data to reflect Parcours/NTU research on front wheel yaw angles
  • Rolling resistance shown at 100psi, adjusted to 30mph
  • Rolling resistance data is unavailable for Vredestein Fortezza Senso tyre

Conclusions

These results clearly show that whilst reducing rolling resistance has been the headline goal for tyre manufacturers when releasing new models, aerodynamics have also not been dismissed. In fact, the three highest-performing tyres were all released in the past 12 months.

There are a couple of additional points to note:

  • In order to maintain consistency with previous tests, all data shown is at 100psi. However, when using rolling resistance figures at a more-realistic 80psi (as per our recommended inflation levels for a 25mm tyre on the Chrono front wheel) does not impact the rankings above. The overall deficit to the leading tyre is however reduced in each case by between 5 & 15%
  • Older model tyres (tested in 2018) would inflate to 10-12% wider than their stated width, when fitted to our Chrono front wheel (internal rim width 20mm). However, the newer tyres would only increase by < 5% versus stated width. Given the reduction in frontal area, this likely had an impact on aerodynamic performance
  • Tyres included were based on availability at the time of testing. In the case of both the Schwalbe Pro One TLE and Pirelli PZero Velo, the manufacturer in question does offer a tyre model with a lower rolling resistance:
  • Schwalbe Pro One TT TLE vs. Schwalbe Pro One TLE – taken purely visually, the tread pattern does appear very similar between the two tyres, albeit the TT version does have a slight “lip” at the point on the tyre where the colour changes. Were this not to have any aerodynamic impact, this would in fact make the TT TLE the overall fastest tyre (implied total of 26.7W vs. the 27.3W of the Corsa Speed G+ 2.0 TLR).
    However, prior testing (November 2018) has shown that there is likely to be an aerodynamic impact from this “lip”, so further testing would be required.
  • Pirelli PZero TT vs. Pirelli PZero Velo – given the difference in tyre tread, we do not believe it would be fair to take the PZero Velo aero data as a proxy for the PZero TT.
  • No consideration was given to the comparative durability (puncture-resistance) or grip of any tyre tested. These factors will very likely play a part in any rider’s decision

Search