Pirelli P Zero Velo Folding Tire

In a return decades in the making, Pirelli have decided to re-enter the bicycle tire market with a bang. Pirelli is a halo name in the tire market, built upon years of race-tested development with superbikes and race cars. They’ve taken this know-how and applied it to the Pirelli P Zero Velo Folding Tire, which promises better grip, lower rolling resistance, and lower weight than the competition.

Pirelli’s claim to having the best road tire in the market isn’t unfounded. They start with their SmartNET Silica compound, a proprietary compound that is designed to be grippy in the wet and dry. Pirelli then modify it such that each silica molecule lines up parallel to the tire, with a claim that it lowers rolling resistance. They then use this compound in a 127 tpi casing, and use the same tread design as the renowned Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa superbike tires. This lightning-shaped tread enhances grip in the wet and allows for more even tire wear, and delineates the three different contact points of the tire. All of this combines to make a tire that weighs in at a svelte 195g for a 23c tire (210g for 25c, 230g for 28c).

Statistics provide credibility for anything, but we are proud to say that the tire performs as any tire carrying the Pirelli name should. The P Zero Velo not only grips as well as they claim, but rolling resistance feels pleasantly low in the real world, and is backed up by independent testing.

The Pirelli P Zero Velo Folding Tire is available in 23c, 25c, and 28c tires. This being the grey compound tire, this is designed to be their best overall high-performance road tire.