Tubeless tire technology has become almost ubiquitous in road cycling with almost all popular tire brands pivoting toward tubeless ready tire options. The not-so-secret fact is that many riders still use tube setups, even with TLR tired due to the simplicity and easier maintenance. Pirelli has embraced this with the P Zero Race RS which promise to be light and fast tires specifically for tube setups. With a retail price of $89.91, the P Zero Race RS utilizes the same SmartEvo compound and FSC certified natural rubber as other P Zero tires but has optimized the tires for tube setups. Pirelli offers the tires in 700×26 to 700×30 sizes as well as black, tan and cream color sidewalls to match any bike setup.
The Pirelli P Zero Race RS Tube tires combines Pirelli’s fast rubber compounds with a tube-specific design for easy installation and lower weight.
| Retail Price | $89.91 |
| Rating | 9.5 / 10 |
| Measured Weight (in g) | 240 (700×28) |
| Likes | + Fast and grippy in dry and wet conditions + Tube-specific design makes installation a breeze + Good puncture resistance and durability for training or racing |
| Dislikes | – Wear indicator is less obvious than Continental tires |
| Where to Buy (US) | Pirelli |
FIT & FINISH
Visually, the Pirelli P Zero Race RS tires have a nearly slick tread with race-car inspired side graphics. The tread design looks identical to the other P Zero with a combination of angled lines that are unique to the Pirelli brand. The side graphics look like something you’d find on a F1 car with large P Zero lettering and curved accent lines on each side for this black side wall version. Pirelli offers the tires with black, tan or cream colored side walls with their retro and classic models. With the other side wall colors the line is replaced with a contrasting brighter color patch around the branding. Tire sizes are limited to 700×26, 700×28 and 700×30 which should be compatible with older rim brake bikes.
One of the advantages of this tire being tube-specific is that you don’t have the extra weight and material needed for tubeless tires to seal against a rim. That makes this tire lighter and should also pay off in more flexible sidewalls that are easier to mount on a rim. The casing on these tires is 120 TPI which isn’t as high as some other brands but still gives the tire a supple feel. One of the other technologies of this tire is the TechBelt Road structure which has a puncture-resistant nylon reinforcement layer underneath the tread which should make these tires good for racing and training use. As far as the weight advantage, Pirelli recommends using their own lightweight SmarTUBE RS TPU inner tubes but you can use any inner tube.
THE RIDE
Having recently attempted to review the Pirelli Cinturato and giving up after breaking multiple tire levers and a lot of cursing trying to mount them, we were a bit nervous to review another Pirelli tire. Thankfully, these tube-specific P Zero Race RS tires have a soft sidewall instead of the stiff bead required with tubeless setups that require airtight installations. We were able to simply slide the tires over our Dura-Ace C50 wheelset without the need for tools. It’s actually even easier than the Continental 5000 tires we typically use which usually require a little extra pressure to fully seat.
Once the tires were on our Trek Madone SL8 we took them on short and fast weekday rides as well as longer weekend rides. The smooth tread and high-tech rubber compound offer low rolling resistance and nice grip even in damp coastal conditions. We were lucky enough to not have any punctures and the slow wear rate has us optimistic that we’ll get a good amount of miles out of the tires. The all-black finish and F1 style graphics also give the tires a sleek and iconic look that should pair well with any bike color.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Pirelli P Zero Race RS tires to be fast and supple road tires. We’re happy to see Pirelli offer a tube-specific setup so riders that prefer tubes don’t have to carry the extra weight and stiffness of TLR tires. Pirelli has used the same construction and 120 TPI casing to give the Race RS tires a soft ride and good puncture resistance for training or race use. We liked the black tire finish and F1 style graphics that give the tires an iconic look. Installation was also one of the easiest we’ve experienced as the tube-specific design has soft side beads instead of the stiff designs TLR tires require for sealing. That said, the Pirelli P Zero Race RS are high performance tires for riders who prefer tube setups.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by Pirelli. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.