Bike tires are one of the most important parts of a bike. The reason for this is that they are the only part of the bike that is unprotected that comes in contact with the road.
The result of this is that it wears down the most on the bike and having something like a puncture can complete stop your bike ride and leave you stranded.
Because of the significance, it is suggested that bike users should always opt for the best road bike tires whey they want to buy one.
Cyclists will know that when you ride you can literally feel the road through the tires.
You can easily gage whether the road you ride is smooth or rough through the response you get while riding, so a good tire will also make your ride either comfortable or un-comfortable.
To guarantee the safety of bike riders, tire manufacturers take drastic measures to make sure that they create top quality tires that can help the cyclists as much as possible, we have found you the best tires on the market.
Table of Contents
Continental Gatorskin Bike Tire – Best Road Bike Tire
Continental GatorSkin DuraSkin is the number one market leading tire and is known world wide for its legendary puncture protection and durability. It shouldn’t be a surprise this is number 1 on our list as the best road bike tire.
As far as racing tires look no further if you are out looking for one. The carbon black mixture is what they call “The Gatorskin”, made with a tough mixture, it is comfortable if you commute to work as well as going for road races.
The Poly x breaker really is a game changer Continental brings their car expertise to the bicycle tire section. Polyester has been used effectively for years in Continental’s car tires and been tried and tested numerous times.
The extremely resilient polyester fiber is woven tightly crosswise. In this way, a very high fabric density is achieved.
Which not only makes the Breaker more resistant to external objects but is also especially resistant to punctures. The protection is accomplished without disturbing rolling resistance.
The Duraskin is a sidewall defense coming from the high quality polyamide fabric covering the core casing of the tire from scuffs and cuts under the poorest conditions.
Pros
Poly x Breaker Puncture resistant technology
Best selling tire on Amazon
Dura skin sidewalls for extra protection
Cons
Customer service is not the best
MICHELIN Lithion 2 Road Tire
Another great road bike tire the Michelin Lithion 2. weighing 10 grams lighter, with 25% more grip than previous Michelin Lithion tire model and with a two-tone Silica based tread with smooth centre and chevron shoulder rubber.
The tire is made for a High Density Casing and a unique overlapping ply designed carcass with a cord density of 66 TPI (240 threads/dm2), which gives the perfect balance between efficiency, a comfortable ride, puncture resistance and off-road casing durability.
This tire also has flexible beads (foldable tires) a puncture protector and an under tread anti-puncture reinforcement (Lithion tire model).
The last feature is a High Protect Rim System. This is a protective strip that protects the bead area against wear from the rim.
Pros
Protective rim system
Michelin Lithion 2 has punctured protector
It featured flexible beads
Cons
Difficult to install
Continental Grand Prix 4000S II
When looking at road tires of any kind, there are a very limited amount of companies out there that are esteemed or well respected more than Continental.
With a storied history that dates back over 130 years, Continental has continuously been a high-end and professional-grade road tire to which a lot of their competitors are compared to as an overall benchmark for the general quality within any of their given classes.
One of the greatest qualities about the Grand Prix 4000 S II is its use of the company’s patented “Black Chili compound” which is mostly in a large part accountable for this road tire being able to deliver such all-around great riding qualities.
The Grand Prix 4000 S II may not essentially be the fastest bike tires we found however, it came very close.
A similar thing can be thought about the mileage of this tire which, while it is not the outright best in its category, it is still well within the tour to shorter “marathon” range and possibly longer depending on the conditions of the road.
That being said, the toughest protection the Grand Prix 4000 S II has is the “Vectran Breaker layer” this uses a smooth liquid like crystalline polymer to provide astounding puncture protection at an incredibly lightweight.
Pros
Is made of their patented Black Chili Compound
Has Vectran Breaker
Comes in 7 different styles
Cons
Expensive when compared to other puncture resistant tires
Continental Grand Prix 5000
We have included a bonus “tubeless” tire on our list as one of their unique selling points is that the punctures repair it self.
We included the best tubeless tire which in our honest opinion it is the Continetal grand Pix 5000 is the best tubeless tire.
The predecessor (GP 4000) came about around 14 years ago and it is renowned for being the best all-around road bike tire available on the planet.
Now with the GP 5000 they have just made it better when it seemed impossible on how they can make such a tire even better.
The GP 5000 has got a more clear-cut tread pattern on the new tire, and this is down to Continentals’ moulds now being laser cut rather than the machine. This is said to improve cornering grip.
Durability
The new GP 5000 tubeless tire has a whopping 17% percent lower rolling resistance than the 4000. And this is due to the new re-improved Black Chili compound, and a higher 180 TPI, that’s Threads Per Inch carcass.
This tire has more cushion and comfort as well as working on grip and rolling resistance, the new continental tire design has had its ears open to the ever louder conversation around comfort.
As a result on this for the first time ever, it has embedded what they call ‘Active Comfort Technology’. This sits below the Vectran Breaker, and apparently without affecting rolling resistance, diminishes buzz and vibration.
Another excellent feature of these tires is that they are grippy without being sticky.
The GP500 is an all-season all-rounder. A one of a kind exceptional creation that manages to tick all the boxes and still be masterful enough across puncture resistance, grip and rolling resistance.
In summary this is the best tubeless tire for an number of reasons and some pros and cons are below
Pros
It is made of black chilli compound
Provides excellent grip
This has a Vectran breaker
Cons
Expensive when compared to other tubeless tires
Continental Tour Ride Urban Bicycle Tire
The Continetal Tour Ride Urban Bike tire is another great tire by this brand. and we have a real all round tire here.
A tread for every single type of surface, the essential breakdown protection belt and a high mileage composite ma sure the Tour Ride is a reliable option for many carefree miles.
Profound, aggressive tread pattern promises high mileage, predictable traction and excellent puncture protection.
Also the reinforced sidewalls protect the casing from environmental effects.
Pros
Uses a puncture protection system
Featured a high compound mileage
It has a high-density casing
Cons
Long delivery times as its shipped from the UK
Vittoria Rubino Pro III Fold Tire
At the top of our list and possible the best road bike tires for the money is Vittoria Rubino Pro 111 Fold tire.
Because of the great performance of this tire, it is considered as all around tire that does everything for you.
The tire is appropriate for every rider and it can be used in season and out of season.
This tire has lots of features that make it different from its counterparts on the market. For example, it is extremely comfortable, sturdy and highly secured.
Those are the most significant criteria that you will need to watch out for when purchasing a tire and the Vittoria Rubino Pro 111 Fold tire has them all
This tire has a superior casing, and the casing was designed with nylon material.
It features a technical thread pattern, strong puncture protection, as well as durable tread compound. All vitally needed in a good road bike.
Pros
Robust 150 TPI nylon casing
Long life tread compound
Effective puncture protection
Cons
users has reported the ride can feel bumpy after long extended journeys
Schwalbe Marathon HS Wire Bead Tire
It was has been rumoured among the cycling community said that Schwalbe Marathon GG RLX Wire tire will never die.
This is because it has an anti-aging features. Schwalbe marathon bead tire is tough because it is composed of 3mm thick layer.
This means it can protect you the cyclist. The thickness also makes sure that it lasts the owner for an extended period of time because of the increase in durable features.
The newly advanced smart guard puncture protection belt is made of distinctive flexible special rubber that particular resistance to thorns and shards.
Pros
Anti aging features
Smartguard puncture protection system
Effective puncture protection
Cons
Tires are not lightweight
Tried tubeless road tires two years ago–was not impressed. Flats wouldn’t seal and the best I got was having about 30 psi to ride home. I had a flat in the front tire and didn’t even know it ’till I started the race to the top of Pikes Peak, the race I looked forward to all year, and within a few hundred feet of the start, the sealant on the front tire, which I didn’t even know had gotten a puncture, let go.
Thankfully I was so close to the start they let me change wheels and restart. Not doing this again. Until the sealant is effective, I’m staying with my clinchers.
Very interesting story Michael, glad you were okay after that incident! and yes tubeless tires are only good if you have a really good reliable sealant. If you can’t find a suitable sealant as you said stick to the clinchers