Best Quality Road Bike Tyres 

If you're after a set of quality tyres for your roadie that'll do it all then look no further, we've found some of the best brands! 

Not that we like to bang on about it, but tyres are pretty important. Actually, they’re really important because when you think about it, they’re the only thing stopping your bike from sliding out in a corner and handing you a one-way ticket to road rash central – or worse – and play a big part in how your bike rides.

And not all tyres are created equal, which is reflected in the fact that some will cost you RM30 each while others can be ten times that. As ever, there’s a happy medium to be found somewhere in between those two prices and fortunately for most of us who don’t have the finances to fork out for a set of dedicated training tyres and then spend double that again on race rubber, then there are some tyres out there that can do everything pretty well.

With that in mind, here are six tyres that’ll set you up for all your summer riding needs. These are tyres pitched as all-rounders, so not necessarily the lightest or fastest in their respective ranges, but they’ll do everything pretty well, and even (fingers crossed) keep you going when that inevitable downpour starts. They all also go up to at least 25mm in width, and a few offer 28mm versions as well, should you want to follow the trend for wider tyres – and why wouldn’t you?

1. Schwalbe One

The idea of one tyre for training, racing and anything else you fancy doing is a good one, and Schwalbe have given it a really good go with their One range.

Available in 23, 25 and 28mm widths, they come in at 205g per tyre for a 23, and so they’re nice and light, and Schwalbe’s V-Guard fibre coupled with the SnakeSkin sidewall puncture prevention technology means you shouldn’t be stopping every 20 miles in the lanes to change the tube.

Speaking of tubes, if you’re not a fan they come in a tubeless version too. That adds a bit of weight (305g for a 23) but should increase the puncture protection again, as there’s no tube to pinch and the sealant is there to fill any minor cuts. You can also run them at a slightly lower pressure to improve comfort and Swiss national champion Martin Elmiger (IAM Cycling) rode the One Tubeless at Paris-Roubaix.

Whether you choose the regular or tubeless version, both use a triple compound called Triple Star that Schwalbe claim is more cut-resistant but also offers good grip, a combination we can all get behind. Even so, if you’re after something slightly more robust, then we can also vouch for the Durano as an excellent long-life training tyre, even if it forgoes some of the One’s speed.

2.Continental Grand Sport Race

Continental reckon their Grand Sport Race rubber has the widest appeal in all their road range, spanning winter/training, sportive, race/triathlon and even veering into time trials, according to the German firm’s ‘Clincher Application Guide‘.

The three sizes – 23, 25 and 28mm – weigh in at between 230-270g, meaning that while they’re not super light racing rubber, they won’t be adding a huge amount of extra to your best racing wheels.

They use the Puregrip compound that, while not as plush as the top-of-the-range Black Chili compound used on the flagship Grand Prix 4000S II, still offers plenty of quality with a 180tpi casing and Conti’s NyTech puncture protection. If you fancy a little more surety when it comes to flats, there’s also the Grand Sport Extra that comes with a double layer of NyTech and a 3-ply sidewall, while if you want to shed a little weight then the Grand Sport Light is a claimed 220g but only comes in a 23mm width.

While not a pure racing tyre by any means, the Grand Sport Race is another all-rounder for anyone who doesn’t want to fork out set of training tyres and then drop yet more cash on race-day rubber as well. But if you want something a bit more exalted, there’s always the excellent GP 4000 II tyres to consider, while the GP 4 Season is something of a  deluxe training tyre.

3. Michelin Pro4 Service Course

Offering very balanced performance, Michelin’s Pro4 Service Course is ideal if you’re after something that’ll do everything well rather than excelling in one specific area.

The casing is 110tpi, with the outer layer being what Michelin call their HD-Protection ply (high density textile crossed reinforcements) which supposedly gives ten per cent better resistance to punctures than competitors. It’s also dual compound, a rubber mix aimed at rigidity in the centre for durability and a softer compound focused on grip on the edges with cornering in mind.

As it happens, grip is one of the main focuses of the Service Course, although Michelin also have the Pro4 Grip, which is basically a version of the Service Course with better grip and a little more puncture protection. All in all, the Pro4 is made up of six tyres, with the Endurance (a superb training tyre), lightweight Comp Service Course, featherweight Comp Limited Service Course and Tubular Service Course also available.

Back to the regular Pro4 Service Course we’re focusing on here, however, and Michelin offer these in 20, 23 or 25mm widths, weighing a claimed 185g, 200g and 215g respectively, so if you’re wanting to go super wide you’ll have to look somewhere else. You can also get the 23mm tyre in seven different colours, if you like that sort of thing…

4.Vittoria Diamante Pro

With a 220tpi nylon casing and coming in at 210g, Vittoria definitely fancy their Diamante Pro clinchers as a race capable all-rounder.

Much like the Michelin Pro4 Service Course on the previous page, grip is a central focus for the Diamante Pro tyres. Instead of a dual compound, Vittoria have given the Diamante a slick centre to help it roll well, and complimented that with a tread pattern that runs around the shoulder of the tyre to increase cornering grip. They also use the ISOgrip rubber compound which sits right at the top end of Vittoria’s tech.

Puncture-wise, the tyres include the PRB (Puncture-Resistant Belting) 2.0 breaker layer that sits just underneath the tread to help resist anything that manages to make its way through the outer rubber.

There are two options – 23 or 25mm, weighing a claimed 210g and 220g –-and there’s also the Diamante Pro Light if you’re after something with a little less heft. They weigh in at 170g for a 23mm tyre but come in a little more expensive.

5. Challenge Strada Open Tubular 

Although they’re only available in 25mm, the Stradas are one of Challenge’s best all-round tyres.

The Italians have added in a layer of their puncture protection strip (PPS) which brings the overall weight up to 285g, but they’re definitely the sort of tyre to consider if you’re after one rubber to rule them all.

Casing is a very supple 300tpi, but being backed up by the PPS should mean there is still little to worry about in the puncture stakes. The single PPS tyres have the strip between the outer rubber and inner layer, but Challenge also do tyres with an additional PPS on the inside if you’re deeply concerned about keeping flats at bay.

And don’t be thrown that they’re called ‘open tubulars’ – they’re still clinchers. Challenge uses open tubular to describe clinchers that have been made using the same techniques as their popular tubular tyres. If you don’t like the tan sidewalls, then there’s also an all-black version.

6. Panaracer Race Type A EVO2

The catchy-sounding Race Type A EVO2 from Panaracer is another tyre designed with solid puncture protection but also with the aim of keeping weight low. These are a claimed 210g for 23mm, but also come in 25 which boosts that number up to 240g.

They come with Panaracer’s PT Shield bead-to-bead protection, leaving no exposed section of the outer without a degree of puncture coverage, and the Superfine AX casing is also designed to be tough enough to fend off sidewall cuts while offering a really supple ride.

As for grip, the ZSG Dual EVO2 compound that makes up the main part of the tyre is designed to be grippy for the corners but is slicker and harder in the centre to strike that balance between confidence when leaning the bike over and straight line speed – something we appreciated when we reviewed the Type A.

If you’re after something a little more durable in the Panaracer range, then Type D EVO2 weighs 230g or 260g for a 23mm or 25mm tyre, and uses a proprietary casing designed to offer additional protection.

All in all, these are reliable and well-documented bike tyre brands so you really can't go wrong. Give any of them a try and hit those roads hard today! 

Original source: http://roadcyclinguk.com/gear/six-of-the-best-summer-tyres.html/1