Getting a puncture is one of the most frustrating and common problems when commuting or leisure riding. It becomes a pain when you are trying to get somewhere on time or want to enjoy your ride. So, a puncture-proof tyre becomes a need to enjoy those times. It adds reliability to your rides when you are enjoying your best times. I am sorry to admit this, but a pneumatic tyre can never be truly puncture-proof. There’s always a chance to get a flat. You can also opt for solid tyres to protect yourself so you don’t have to fit tyres with ‘puncture protection’ or inner tubes filled with sealant.
1. Continental CONTACT Speed
Type: Clincher
Weight: 610g
Protection: Kevlar
Bead: Wire
Continental CONTACT Speed City Tyre is an ideal option for commuting and touring. It combines comfort and speed in a tyre that features double puncture protection. The tyre offers a good grip, a lightweight design, and it comes with a roughened slick tread to grip better on a variety of surfaces. Most of the tyres on the market use ‘gumwall’ sidewalls, which is thicker rubber and are lower performance. But CONTACT Speed uses ‘skinwall’ sidewalls where the only top surface carries a tread compound. Also, there is minimal rubber on the sidewalls, which reduces weight, increases comfort, and makes tyres more supple. Keep in mind that it is important to maintain at least the minimum tyre pressure with ‘skinwall’ sidewalls and scuffing curbs should be avoided.
The Micro diamond tread pattern provides a good grip on a loose surface and lowers rolling resistance. There are two anti-puncture layers placed under the tread. These tyres adjust quickly to the surface without raising rolling resistance noticeably. Safety System Breaker protects the tyre against foreign objects, which increases the lifespan of the tyre. The tyres also come with optional reflective sidewalls for increased visibility at night. Overall, this is a perfect option for commuting and touring. It runs noiseless and vibration-free despite the little profile.
What I like: Great puncture resistance, runs smooth, and durable
What I don’t like: Requires at least the minimum tyre pressure, scuffing curbs is not an option
See the Continental CONTACT Speed
2. Fincci Tyres – Pair
Type: Clincher
Weight: 600g
Protection: Anti-puncture Belt
Bead: Wire
Fincci is a UK local brand that offers budget-friendly tyres for cycle races, road racing, and touring bicycles. This pair is suitable for 700c road bike wheels and they offer anti-puncture protection up to 2.5mm. A steel wire cord bead is used for tyre reinforcement and a high traction tread makes the tyres fast rolling and comfortable. This tread will channel water through the grooves to the outer edges of the tyre, which helps maintain a good grip on wet surfaces. The tread also provides great grip on surfaces like pavement or tarmac roads. This could be the perfect replacement for your road bicycles with 700c wheels at an affordable price. You can combine this pair with the Continental Road Bike Inner Tubes for a perfect combination.
The Fincci tyres are about half the price of most options on the market and they are far easier to get onto the rims. They also have no real difference in performance compared to most high-end brands although time will be the big judge of that. So far, I’ve used them for commuting for a few months and they performed well in both dry and wet conditions. I never realized puncture-proof tyres were available at this price.
What I like: Super affordable, rolls fast, easy to get onto the rims, better than most bigger brands
What I don’t like: Not recommended for performance or competitions because of the weight
3. Michelin Protek Max
Type: Clincher
Weight: 730g
Protection: MAX Technology
Bead: Wire
The Michelin Protek Max tyre offers ultra-tough puncture protection and is suitable for cyclists racking up big mileage. It is certainly not the lightest option out there, but it’s a durable tyre that is also E-bike ready. The ride with these tyres is fairly comfortable but lacks grip and ride enjoyment for that extra durability. I rode the Protek Max tyres recently and was impressed by their all-around performance. The tyre performed well on both asphalt and trail and I can easily tell that it is designed for multi-purpose use. The ride quality was good, but again, they are a little heavy.
Protek Max tyres are also a little less efficient when it comes to rolling resistance. Unlike other Michelin tyres, it doesn’t use Michelin’s fantastic Pro4 Grip Service Course rubber, which enhances on-road performance. The bigger part of ride enjoyment actually comes from this rubber tread. However, there’s a good amount of puncture protection than other Michelin tyres and it is provided by a 5mm thick strip running under the tread. On the sidewalls, the tyres feature nice bright reflective stripes, which is particularly suitable for E-bike use. In addition to the standard 700c, 26-inch size, it also comes in 24 and 20-inch versions.
What I like: Impressive puncture protection, suitable for E-bikes, affordable
What I don’t like: A little heavy, the grip could be better, difficult to fit
See the Protek Max 700 x 35cm>
4. Continental Grand Prix 5000
Type: Clincher/Tubeless
Weight: 220g
Protection: Vectran
Bead: Folding
If you are a road rider and want fast, reliable, and resilient tyres, the Continental GP5000 clinchers tyres are the ultimate option for you. It is an all-season all-rounder and it’s one of those creations that manage to be a Jack of all trades. They provide superb puncture protection, good grip and rolling resistance. After testing them on UK roads, I found that these tyres roll well. Even on wet surfaces, I could easily push into the corners with confidence. However, I also found that they were a little tougher than thoroughbred race tyres. Nevertheless, these are all-around tyres with the benefit of a newly improved Vectran Breaker layer. This layer is a polymer that forms a multi-strand thread. It acts as a blockade against foreign objects like glass, thorns, or flint.
Along with a good grip and rolling resistance, the GP5000 also features a comfortable ride. Continental has embedded what they call ‘Active Comfort Technology’. This technology sits below the Vectran Breaker and it does not affect rolling resistance, dampen buzz, and vibration. Finally, the Grand Prix 5000 also comes in a tubeless version. Continental says it is compatible with all tubeless-ready rims as long as you use its own sealant.
What I like: Good grip, rolls fast, excellent puncture resistance
What I don’t like: A little tough to fit onto some rims, expensive
See the Continental Grand Prix 5000
5. Schwalbe Durano
Type: Clincher
Weight: 275g
Protection: Double Defence
Bead: Folding
Schwalbe Durano DD SnakeSkin is a more road bike-oriented tyre that is reliable even in winter conditions. This is a great option for enthusiastic riders because it uses its Double Defence design so you can ride fast and fearlessly. The tyre features a SnakeSkin carcass and a RaceGuard protection layer, which increases the tyre’s lifespan and makes you roll faster. The material used to make these tyres is Schwalbe’s Addix Performance rubber compound. This is a durable rubber compound that makes tyres supple and reliable for a long journey. These tyres can also be used with E-Road bikes.
This tyre is primarily built and optimised towards protection and durability. As the name suggests, it gives above-average puncture resistance and this protection runs under the tread. Also, there is an extra layer of fabric that runs from bead to bead. Schwalbe Durano comes in both folding bead and wire bead versions. The bead version is a little cheaper. One of the good things about these is that they are very easy to get onto the rims. However, the relatively narrow width makes these tyres somewhat harsher to ride. But nonetheless, they are practical, with good grip, and fun to ride.
What I like: Practical rubber with high levels of grip
What I don’t like: The ride is not super comfortable.
6. Continental GatorSkin
Type: Clincher
Weight: 310g
Protection: PolyX Breaker and Duraskin
Bead: Wire
As the name implies, this tyre is as tough as some gator’s skin. If you’re looking for the premier road tyre offering maximum puncture resistance, you found it. This tyre uses technology developed in the automobile industry to create a tough-as-nails casing that many road riders rely on daily while putting down miles. If you’re the type of rider who wants to ride with peace of mind and not worry about flats, try the GatorSkin out and you won’t be disappointed. It comes in a variety of sizes to suit any rider’s needs. No matter how long your next epic ride is this tyre will give you the performance you want, the peace of mind on the road, and miles of smiles.
When swapping onto a new set of wheels, make sure that you’ve got inner tubes to match. The floor pump and tyre levers are going to make the job go smoothly and keep an extra inner tube on you when you’re riding so you’re ready for a flat. Keep in mind that it’s not a full-on winter tyre. However, it is suggested that it can be used for some winter riding. There’s also a Gatorskin Hardshell version available with another layer of protection, which is even more durable.
What I like: Reasonable price, good grip, range of sizes
What I don’t like: Not an all-out winter tyre, a bit stiff
7. Challenge Strada
Type: Tubular
Weight: 240g
Protection: PPS Special Fabric
Bead: Aramid
Challenge Strada is a super-supple tyre designed for road racing. It’s not the quickest tyre on the market, but it can be an ideal option for rough roads. It rolls reasonably fast and it can even be used as a summer training tyre. The ride quality is great and this is the reason I prefer supple tyres over vulcanised tyres, which are harder. When you ride on rough roads, you feel that softer feel. I’ve been using these for road racing and also training. I’ve found that the cornering grip of these tyres is brilliant and I felt confident throwing the bike into corners. The grip is good in both wet and dry conditions, though on wet surfaces, I run slightly lower pressures.
A pair of Challenge Strada weighs around 500g. That’s not super heavy for 25mm tyres, but there are lighter options out there. For example, the Strada SC S weighs a little less, say 480g per pair. When it comes to puncture protection, I’ve had no issue with Challenge Strada. They stayed intact and cut-free even after months of regular riding. I am also excited to use these in the winter as they seem much grippier than the Continentals in the wet.
What I like: Great for UK roads, supple casing, sit wide for larger riders
What I don’t like: A little expensive, sidewalls discolour quickly
8. Panaracer Race D Evo 4
Type: Clincher
Weight: 252g
Protection: ProTite Belt
Bead: Folding
The Race D Evo 4 is a lightweight and reliable option for long-distance cycling. It gives a grippy and nimble performance as you hit the road. This tyre is equipped with a 3D casing and ProTite Belt. It is a super-supportive tyre and it will work hard to stop rips and ruptures so you can keep enjoying your journey. There is an all-contact shape tread for maximum traction and minimum rolling resistance. The Race D Evo 4 also features ZSG (Zero Slip Grip), which gives an above-average grip on both dry and wet roads. According to the manufacturer, the ZSG compound can increase the grip by 20 per cent and decrease the rolling resistance by 10 per cent.
The ride quality of Evo 4 is good and very supple even at high pressures. The bike I swapped these onto was previously using Grand Prix 5000, which is one of the best grippy options and I barely felt any difference. Both of the tyres provided good speed and grip with little to no difference in the ride quality. The downside of these tyres is that they can be difficult to fit on some wheels and they aren’t tubeless compatible. But if you are in the market for fast-rolling, grippy tyres with decent protection, Panaracer Race D Evo 4 is a good option.
What I like: The tacky compound really aids grip, available in both black and tan sidewalls
What I don’t like: Difficult to fit onto the rims
See the Panaracer Race D Evo 4
Puncture Resistance Road Tyres: Summary
| TYRE | TYPE | WEIGHT | PROTECTION | BEAD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental CONTACT Speed | Clincher | 610g | Kevlar | Wire |
| Fincci Tyres - Pair | Clincher | 600g | Anti-puncture Belt | Wire |
| Michelin Protek Max | Clincher | 730g | MAX Technology | Wire |
| Continental Grand Prix 5000 | Clincher/Tubeless | 220g | Vectran | Folding |
| Schwalbe Durano | Clincher | 275g | Double Defence | Folding |
| Continental GatorSkin | Clincher | 310g | PolyX Breaker and Duraskin | Wire |
| Challenge Strada | Tubular | 240g | PPS Special Fabric | Aramid |
| Panaracer Race D Evo 4 | Clincher | 252g | ProTite Belt | Folding |
Critical Road Bike Tyre Considerations
Choosing the right road tyre can be frustrating because there are countless options available in a wide array of shapes and sizes and working out what will work with your bike and what is the best option for you can be daunting. Mercifully, I’m here to talk you through all you need to know to make sure your next road bike tyre purchase is the right one for you.
Types
Before I get into what differentiates one tyre from another and talk a little bit about how they’re constructed, I’ll first cover the three main types of tyres; clincher, tubular and tubeless. I’m going to focus on clincher and tubeless tyres here as they’re the most commonly used tyres today.
- Clinchers: Clinchers are by far the most common type of tyres found on road bikes and something you’ll almost certainly be familiar with. They have an open casing, the house is a separate inner tube and the bead of the tyre then hooks onto the rim of the wheel. The primary advantage of clinchers is that they make fixing a flat easy. All you have to do to get the pointer tube is pry off one side of the tyre. This usually requires a tyre removal tool but with some tyres, you can do it with just your thumbs.
- Tubeless: A tubeless tyre works in much the same way as a clincher except as the name suggests, there’s no inner tube inside. Instead, a special airtight seal is used in conjunction with a special locking bead and matching rim that holds the tyre in place once seated. A sealant is then used to seal the whole system.
- Tubular: The final common type is tubular. These were once widely used but are now used by just the pros and dedicated amateurs. A tubular tyre is as the two common names suggest a tyre that is sewn up into a tubular shape that contains an inner tube. Unlike a clincher, tubular tyres are held in place on a special concave rim with even glue or a super-strong double-sided tape.
Size and Width
Aside from deciding whether you want to go for clinchers or tubeless, the biggest decision you make is about the width of your tyres. The likelihood is that you already have a set of tyres fitted to your bike. The easiest thing to do is to read the text that is either moulded or printed onto the sidewall. I’m going to cover the two basic values here that you need to understand. The vast majority of road tyres are 700c. It is the historic French standard and refers to the outer diameter of an inflated tyre.
Tyre width will almost always be quoted in millimetres for road bikes. It is sometimes suffixed with a letter C, for example, 25c but rests assured a 25c tyre is exactly the same thing as a 25mm tyre. Is also very rare to have road bike tyre measurements quoted in imperial measurements.
Determining exactly what the correct tyre width is for you is not so cut and dried. For many years, everyone ruled about 23mm and before that even narrower tyres. The technology has progressed and the benefits of wider tyres have been more widely acknowledged and 25mm tyres have become a de facto standard for road bikes. Despite prevailing wisdom and their higher weight, wider tyres are faster as well as more comfortable in almost all situations. More critically, for the average rider, you can run wider tyres at lower pressures without increased risk of punctures.
Model
Once you’ve determined the size and type of tyre you require, it’s now time to choose the model. All manufacturers will have specific models designed for specific purposes. It’s useful to understand how a tyre is constructed so that you can make the right choice.
Tyre Bead
The bead is the lip section of a tyre that hooks onto the profile of a rim. There are two types of tyre beats; folding and non-folding. Folding beads are generally made of Kevlar or similar durable material that as the name suggests allows the tyres to be folded. Non-folding tyres use a bead that is made from a steel wire and can’t be folded. Folding clinchers are more expensive but they’re also lighter and easier to get on and off the rim. Most high-quality road tyres will be folding.
Casing
The casing is the cloth fabric that is woven around the beads and creates the main body of the tyre. While the vast majority of real tyres use nylon-based fabric, higher-end tyre sometimes uses cotton or silk casings. Casings are measured by their threads per inch or TPI. Tyres with a low TPI will use thicker threads, which causes greater rolling resistance and makes the tyre more resistant to punctures. Meanwhile, tyres with a high TPI use finer threads for less rolling resistance and lower weight but will be more susceptible to punctures. The casing has a major effect on ride quality, with lighter weight and more malleable casings typically resulting in less rolling resistance more control and a smoother ride.
Tread
The tread is what contacts the road surface. This sometimes features a 3D pattern moulded into it. The tread pattern is a hotly debated issue of many claiming that road bike tyres have no need for tread. However, as the texture of any road surface is so varied, some tread patterns provide a measurable improvement in grip.
Sub-Tread Layer
Some tyres will have a sub-tread layer to defend against punctures. On cheaper tyres, this may be as simple as an additional layer of rubber beneath the tread. High-end tyres will typically have specifically designed fabric strips moulded beneath the tread. Tyres with very thick puncture protection will have very high rolling resistance and will feel a little bit less lively. These are best avoided if speed is your primary focus, but they’re great for commuting and winter training.
Traction
Softer compounds will offer superior traction but will wear quicker while harder compounds will stand up to more abuse but won’t have the same grip. Some manufacturers will use a mix of different compounds in one tyre to improve its all-around performance. You can choose a harder compound for the centre section of the tyre to reduce rolling resistance with a softer one on the outside to improve grip in corners.
Conclusion
Now that you understand the basics of how tyres are made and you can make a reasoned assumption as to the performance of any given tyre by looking at its spec sheet. Mercifully, you don’t need to pour over means of spec sheets to least get an idea of performance as most manufacturers include a visual graph guide with their tyres that indicates how well a tyre performs under certain conditions.
Common criteria a tyre will be measured against include rolling resistance, wet grip, durability, puncture resistance, weight, and comfort. The perfect road tyre would score well in all of these areas and be super light, totally resistant to punctures, and crazy-fast.
Unfortunately, such a thing doesn’t exist so buying a tyre will always involve a compromise. Choosing where you can afford to compromise and where you cannot, will determine the type of tyre you go for. For example, if you spend a lot of time riding on a broken road or riding through broken glass, you’ll most likely have to give up a bit of speed in favour of increased puncture protection. On the other hand, if all-out speed and efficiency is your goal, a lightweight tyre is your best option.