Tires in Review: Pirelli P Zero Velo 4S
We love talking about bikes and everything related to them. Our talk covers the spectrum; talking about how much we've carried in our cargo bikes, our favorite views on the Wasatch Crest trail, or geeky stuff like tire compounds. However, it's one thing to talk the talk, but it's another thing to get out there and ride. Fortunately enough, we have plenty of friends of the shop who put our favorite cycling parts and accessories through the wringer to see how they are in the real world.
The rider in question is Anne. Few riders in our Contender Bicycles Strava Group hit the road as much as she does, which means she goes through tires more quickly than the average person. And because they're often in the canyons, rolling resistance, grip, and reliability are paramount. Ann's tire of choice is the Pirelli P-Zero Velo 4S, and she's shared a few words as to why Pirelli is her go-to.
"I have really loved the Pirelli tires so far--they felt really smooth and secure descending the Cottonwoods, Millcreek, and Emigration canyons, which I do multiple times per week! I am regularly descending around 30-40 MPH and around lots of corners and less-than-smooth roads.
Regarding my front tire--I was visiting St. George and coming down from Veyo and got forced into the gutter by a car and ran over something that slashed my fairly new front tire. I changed the tube and stuck a $10 bill in there, folded up, and the tire held together enough to get me back down Snow Canyon safely. There was an indentation in the $10 bill from the slit in the tire, because the slit was so deep (almost all the way through, but the threads held it together enough.) The bike shops down there didn't carry Pirelli--I called a few--so I got a Continental tire so I could keep riding. My sense is that whatever got my tire would have cut through any similar type of tire.
I had a full tune-up in April 2019 at Contender after the winter riding indoors and had them put on a new Pirelli rear tire, and I was pretty amazed by how much more confident I felt coming down the canyons than I had in the fall. I think that a major part of that was getting the tune-up but I also felt the tires have performed really well. I rode 788 mi and climbed (and descended) 72,000 feet on them last month and am on track to do near the same this month. I have also done a couple of races (Porcupine Hill Climb and Farm Bureau RR) on them and felt they performed well enough. I have never been able to afford race wheels so am not overly fussy about that, but I don't notice any sluggishness from them. I haven't had any issues with them and will continue to use them unless something better comes along.
I am trying to think, but really I don't have any complaints. I was able to change the flat with a couple of tire levers and my hands, so that was good. Sometimes tires are so tight that it seems almost impossible, especially out on the road."
Later, Anne sent us an update after going back to complete set of Pirelli P Zero Velo 4S tires.
"I went on a ride up Big Cottonwood Canyon this morning. I noticed a difference descending having the new Pirelli tires on both wheels. They feel smoother and I noticed that I felt more in control compared to my ride down Big Cottonwood Canyon on Sunday. My time was the top 3 for women this year, and 19th for women for all time. Now I just need to crack the top 10!"
Have any questions about Pirelli's line of tires? Give us a call during business hours, or send us an email any time.
"I have really loved the Pirelli tires so far--they felt really smooth and secure descending the Cottonwoods, Millcreek, and Emigration canyons, which I do multiple times per week! I am regularly descending around 30-40 MPH and around lots of corners and less-than-smooth roads.
Regarding my front tire--I was visiting St. George and coming down from Veyo and got forced into the gutter by a car and ran over something that slashed my fairly new front tire. I changed the tube and stuck a $10 bill in there, folded up, and the tire held together enough to get me back down Snow Canyon safely. There was an indentation in the $10 bill from the slit in the tire, because the slit was so deep (almost all the way through, but the threads held it together enough.) The bike shops down there didn't carry Pirelli--I called a few--so I got a Continental tire so I could keep riding. My sense is that whatever got my tire would have cut through any similar type of tire.
I had a full tune-up in April 2019 at Contender after the winter riding indoors and had them put on a new Pirelli rear tire, and I was pretty amazed by how much more confident I felt coming down the canyons than I had in the fall. I think that a major part of that was getting the tune-up but I also felt the tires have performed really well. I rode 788 mi and climbed (and descended) 72,000 feet on them last month and am on track to do near the same this month. I have also done a couple of races (Porcupine Hill Climb and Farm Bureau RR) on them and felt they performed well enough. I have never been able to afford race wheels so am not overly fussy about that, but I don't notice any sluggishness from them. I haven't had any issues with them and will continue to use them unless something better comes along.
I am trying to think, but really I don't have any complaints. I was able to change the flat with a couple of tire levers and my hands, so that was good. Sometimes tires are so tight that it seems almost impossible, especially out on the road."
Later, Anne sent us an update after going back to complete set of Pirelli P Zero Velo 4S tires.
"I went on a ride up Big Cottonwood Canyon this morning. I noticed a difference descending having the new Pirelli tires on both wheels. They feel smoother and I noticed that I felt more in control compared to my ride down Big Cottonwood Canyon on Sunday. My time was the top 3 for women this year, and 19th for women for all time. Now I just need to crack the top 10!"
Have any questions about Pirelli's line of tires? Give us a call during business hours, or send us an email any time.
