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Let’s be real: clincher tires are becoming obsolete. Tubeless tires are the future. That’s why I’ve put together these best tubeless road tires based on my experience, 3rd party testing, and reviews of riders worldwide.
BEST OVERALL
The best road tire overall is the Continental GP5000 S TR. I can confirm from personal experience that I really enjoyed riding them. They provide a great balance between low rolling resistance, weight, puncture protection, and grip. Personally, I don’t ride them just because of their higher price. Buy them here or continue reading for more info.
Below, you’ll also learn how to choose tubeless road tires and what to look out for, and I’ll also give you some tips for installing them.
Let’s dive in.
What Are the Best Tubeless Road Tires?
The best road tubeless tires are the ones that meet your requirements. If you’re looking for fast tires, choose those with low rolling resistance.
Remember, however, that low rolling resistance goes hand in hand with poorer puncture protection and often shorter life.
So, if you’re looking for a tire for all-season riding, choose one that’s slower but will last longer, and you won’t have to worry about getting a puncture.
Find out more about choosing the right tubeless road tires…
Continental GP5000 S TR (Best Tubeless Road Tire Overall)
Main Features
- An excellent balance between low rolling resistance, grip, puncture protection, and longevity
- Hard to get on
Technical Specification
- Sizes available (700c): 25, 28, 30, 32mm
- Weight: 280g (28mm)
- Hookless compatible: Yes
- Max pressure: 94 PSI
- Colors available: Black, tan
The Continental GP5000 S TR is probably one of the best road tubeless tires ever made.
They have gained popularity worldwide due to their low rolling resistance, grip, and good puncture protection. I experienced these qualities for myself when I tried them on my bike.
They come in several widths and colors and are compatible with hookless rims.
The GP5000 series also includes additional tires. For example, the ‘All Season’ has even better durability and puncture protection.
Look, I personally don’t use these tires for only two reasons. The first is the higher price. The second is that I prefer the Czech manufacturer Tufo (more about them below).
Also available at rei.com and tredz.co.uk
Pirelli Cinturato Velo TLR 26 (Best Puncture-Resistant Tubeless Road Tire)
Main Features
- An excellent puncture protection
- Relatively high weight and rolling resistance
Technical Specification
- Sizes available: 26, 28, 32, 35mm
- Weight: 290g (26mm)
- Hookless compatible: Yes
- Max pressure: 116 PSI
- Colors available: Black, tan
If you don’t want to be limited by the terrain all the time, or if you’re afraid to ride gravel sections, for example, I recommend the Pirelli Cinturato Velo TLR 26.
Their great puncture protection (according to the Bicycle Rolling Resistance website, they had the best results ever) will give you plenty of freedom. They are also suitable for harsh winters.
These tires could be considered one of the most versatile, thanks to the range of widths. You can use them for road bikes as well as gravels and hybrids.
However, their downside is their high rolling resistance and weight.
Also available at amazon.com, rei.com, and tredz.co.uk
Vittoria Corsa Speed G+ 2.0 (The Fastest Tubeless Road Tire)
Main Features
- Designed for TTs, races, and fast-paced rides
- Low rolling resistance and weight
Technical Specification
- Sizes available: 23, 25mm
- Weight: 240g (25mm)
- Hookless compatible: Yes
- Max pressure: 116 PSI
- Colors available: Black, tan
The independent website Bicycle Rolling Resistance rated the Vittoria Corsa Speed G2.0 TLR as one of the fastest tires ever.
However, low rolling resistance goes hand in hand with poor puncture protection.
That’s why these tires are primarily suited for time trials or racing. Personally, I wouldn’t take them for endurance rides.
Also, note that their maximum width is 25mm. Could the engineers at Vittoria be trying to tell us something?
Also available at jensonusa.com and tredz.co.uk
Specialized S-Works Turbo 2Bliss Ready T2/T5 28
Main Features
- A good balance between low rolling resistance, grip, puncture protection, and longevity
- Relatively expensive
Technical Specification
- Sizes available: 26, 28, 30mm
- Weight:
- Hookless compatible: Yes
- Max pressure: 95 PSI
- Colors available: Black, tan
Specialized doesn’t just make bikes. It also does well in the tire segment.
Their Specialized S-Works Turbo 2Bliss Ready T2/T5, launched in 2023, is an excellent all-around choice.
These tires provide great grip, durability, relatively low rolling resistance, and good puncture protection.
In short, they offer good balance and are suitable for training and racing.
You can use them as an alternative to the more expensive Continental GP5000 S TR.
Also available at jensonusa.com and tredz.co.uk
Schwalbe Pro One TT TLE Addix 25
Main Features
- Low rolling resistance and weight
- Bad puncture protection
Technical Specification
- Sizes available: 25, 28mm
- Weight: 205g (25mm)
- Hookless compatible: Yes
- Max pressure: 130 PSI
- Colors available: Black, tan
Schwalbe Pro One TT TLE Addix 25 are a frequent choice, especially thanks to their low rolling resistance and bright tan walls.
Personally, I didn’t put that many miles on them, but they rolled great.
Unfortunately, their puncture protection, an important parameter for me, was not good. That’s why I decided not to use them anymore.
Also available at rei.com
A Note About Tufo Tires
I would like to mention my positive experience with the Czech manufacturer Tufo. Unfortunately, these are hard to find in the US. However, I can recommend them to European customers.
Personally, I ride the Tufo Comtura 4 TR. They provide great puncture protection and value for money (they are about 1/2 the price of the Continental GP5000 TR S). You can read my review here.
The Tufo Comtura Prima are more performance-oriented and have a great grip in wet conditions.
The main disadvantage of Tufo tires is that they are hard to get on.
| Tubeless Road Tires | Widths¹ | Weight | Hookless Compatibility | Max Pressure | Colors | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental GP5000 S TR | 25, 28, 30, 32mm | 280g (28mm) | Yes | 94 PSI | Black Tan | Check Price |
| Pirelli Cinturato Velo TLR 26 | 26, 28, 32, 35mm | 290g (26mm) | Yes | 116 PSI | Black Tan | Check Price |
| Vittoria Corsa Speed G+ 2.0 (TLR) 25 | 23, 25mm | 240g (25mm) | Yes | 130 PSI | Black Tan | Check Price |
| Specialized S-Works Turbo 2Bliss Ready T2/T5 28 | 26, 28, 30mm | 280g (28mm) | Yes | 95 PSI | Black Tan | Check Price |
| Schwalbe Pro One TLE 25 | 25, 28mm | 205g (25mm) | Yes | 130 PSI | Black Tan | Check Price |
¹Widths for 700c wheel size.
My Verdict
By switching to tubeless tires, you’ll enjoy more comfortable and faster rides and likely be less prone to punctures.
There are a large number of tires on the market. If I had to pick just three, they would be:
- Continental GP5000 S TR (also available at rei.com) is one of the best tubeless road tires ever made. It balances every important aspect and is suitable for training and racing.
- Pirelli Cinturato Velo TLR (also available at amazon.com)
- Vittoria Corsa Speed G+ 2.0 TLR (also available at jensonusa.com)
If you don’t know where to start, please read the following section.
How to Choose Tubeless Road Tires?
Below are valuable tips to maximize the value of your money when buying tubeless road tires.
1. Consider Your Riding Style and Where You Ride
Consider the type of riding you predominantly do. Are you focused on racing or endurance rides? Do you ride smooth roads or roads with potholes and lots of debris?
Additionally, think about the road conditions you encounter most often – smooth tarmac, gravel, wet roads, etc.
These things should influence your tire choice. That’s because different tires have different properties. Some are faster but more prone to puncture. You will learn more about this later.
My recommendations are as follows:
- Choose lightweight, low-resistance tires for racing or fast-paced group rides.
- Prefer puncture-resistance tires for riding to have the flexibility of riding through light gravel, roads with potholes, or roads with a lot of debris.
- Buy well-balanced tires for all-year riding and training.
2. Choose the Correct Tire Size and Width
Which tire width is the fastest seems like a never-ending story. Some say narrower tires (25mm) are faster than the popular 28mm because of narrower frontal area and better tire-rim transition, i.e., better aerodynamics.
One thing is certain: wider tires are more comfortable and provide better grip. So unless you are all about speed, I recommend 28mm tires or wider. Of course, only if they fit your bike.
Some riders even combine, for example, 25mm tires in the front and 28mm tires in the rear. Are you one of them? Share your experiences in the comments.
3. Find the Best Tire-Rim Transition
As I explain in this article about average speed, aerodynamics is super important. One thing that influences aerodynamics is your frontal area, which also includes your bike and tires.
I won’t dive into the discussion of what tire width is the fastest. But I want to talk about the tire-rim transition. This transition should be as smooth as possible to maximize aerodynamic benefits and follow the airfoil’s shape.
Additionally, your tire shouldn’t be wider than the rims. And here is where things get tricky. Tires may have a stated width of 28mm, for example. But once you inflate them, this width may differ. It’s mainly due to the internal rim width.
Narrower rim widths will result in bulkier tires and vice versa. That’s why finding the best tire-rim combination is difficult. It also means that some tires may be more suitable for certain rims than others despite having the same properties.
4. Important Tire Features
Below, I list important tire features.
Weight and Rolling Resistance
Weight and rolling resistance often go hand in hand. Lighter tires generally offer lower rolling resistance (usually measured in watts), improving speed.
However, tire compound and casting also greatly affect rolling resistance. The best place to find out specific values is the Bicycle Rolling Resistance website.
It’s also not true that higher pressures = faster riding. This article from Silca explains that too high pressures can do more harm than good. I recommend reading the whole article. However, its main conclusion is that you should adjust the tire pressure based on the weight of the system (your weight + the weight of the bike), the width of the tire, and the surface you will be riding on.
Remember that lower rolling resistance is usually associated with worse puncture protection.
NOTE: While tubeless tires may appear lighter at first glance due to tire sealant, tubeless rim tape, and tubeless valve, their weight is often similar to a clincher tire and tube combination.
Puncture Protection
Tires with enhanced puncture protection, like reinforced sidewalls or integrated puncture-resistant layers, are a great option if you don’t want to worry too much about getting a puncture.
For me, this feature is particularly important. I don’t care if I’m a few watts slower. I don’t want to puncture if I accidentally go through broken glass, sharp rocks, or debris in the woods.
Grip
The grip is generally important, but if you want to race at the limit, live in an area where it rains a lot, or where there are technical descents, for example, you should ensure your tires provide more than average grip.
It’s mainly determined by tire compound, tire pattern, width, and pressure. If you’re a more cautious rider, grip is not as crucial.
Ease of Installation
Ease of installation is important, especially if you don’t have much experience seating tubeless tires. Some tires are harder to fit than others.
My experience has been that the second stage (seating a tubeless tire on the rim) makes it easier to seat tires that were harder to put on the wheel and vice versa.
But still, you should avoid these mistakes when seating tubeless tires. I recommend reading my entire guide on how to do that properly.
Hookless Wheels Compatibility
Although for safety reasons (i.e., tire blowout), I do not recommend using hookless wheels and tires on road bikes, but if you have hookless wheels, you must choose hookless compatible tires.
Color
“It doesn’t matter how you ride, it’s how you look.” Some tires are available in multiple colors.
Black tires are the most common, but tan tires are also popular. Jumbo-Visma riders have even tested blue tires.
Price
More expensive tires usually perform better (e.g., thanks to lower rolling resistance). Personally, I need to have a lot of tires, so I tend to choose the best-value ones.
However, beware of using low puncture resistance tires when training. A puncture during training (when nothing is at stake) will cost you dearly!
Remember that you must use tubeless-compatible valves, rim tape, and tire sealant when using tubeless tires.
These parts make the entire system more expensive than using a clincher tire and tube. Depending on how expensive parts you use, they can increase the price of the system by half.
Tubeless Road Tires FAQ
This post is regularly updated to provide the most up-to-date product tips. If you find a product that is not up to date, please contact me.
Good selection 👍
Thanks, Remi.
– Petr