Road Bike Tire Test: Continental Aero 111 32
Contents and Test Summary
- Introduction
- Manufacturer Specifications
- Size, Weight, Thickness
- Rolling Resistance: 9.7 Watts
- Puncture Resistance: 42 Points
- Static Wet Grip: 88 Points
- Conclusion: 5.0 / 5 Highly Recommended
- Comments
- Continental Aero 111 32
(100% is best)
Continental developed the Aero 111 in collaboration with DT Swiss and Swiss Side, and it's designed to cut through the air like never before. The tread design is entirely new, featuring 48 precision-formed, vortex-generating cavities that create controlled turbulence and keep airflow attached to the rim longer. According to Continental, this reduces aerodynamic drag and improves crosswind stability.
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The Aero 111 was released in 2024 in 26 and 29 mm sizes, but with the accelerating pace towards larger bicycle tires, the 32 mm size was recently added to the lineup. We already have a pretty good understanding of the Aero 111's performance, as we tested both the 26 and 29 mm sizes in 2024, right after their release. The biggest surprise then was the Aero 111's wet grip, which came in surprisingly high for an aero tire.
Today's review of the 32 mm Aero 111 comes with another surprise: the Black Chili compound has improved further over the past 2 years. We've found the 32 mm Aero 111 now rolls just as fast as the Grand Prix 5000 S TR, offers roughly the same puncture resistance, and delivers superior wet grip.
This is our test of the 32 mm Continental Aero 111, and you can find our full test results and conclusion below.
Manufacturer Specifications
| Manufacturer Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Continental |
| Model | Aero 111 |
| Year | 2026 |
| Tire Type | Tubeless |
| Supplied By | Bought in store |
| New or Used | New |
| Mileage | 0 km |
| Price Range | Very High |
| Buy At | Ad Amazon.com |
| Manufacturer part number | 0102103 |
| EAN | 4019238326635 |
| TPI | 2/220 |
| Compound | Black Chili |
| Bead | Folding |
| ETRTO | 32-622 |
| Size Inch | 28" |
| Specified Width (mm) | 32 |
| Specified Weight | 310 grams |
| Max Air Pressure (psi) | 94 |
| Made In | Pro Data |
| Available Sizes |
26-622 (700x26c) 29-622 (700x29c) 32-622 (700x32c) |
Continental Aero 111 32 Test Results
Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements
| Size, Weight and Thickness Measurements | |
|---|---|
| Specified Weight | 310 grams |
| Measured Weight | 310 grams |
| System Adjusted Weight (tire + valve + rim seal) |
330 grams |
| Measured Width | 31 mm (un-round) |
| Measured Height | Pro Data |
| Tire Circumference | Pro Data |
| Total Tire Thickness Center | 2.3 mm |
| Total Tire Thickness Sidewall | Pro Data |
| Unmounted Casing Width | Pro Data |
| Unmounted Tread Width | Pro Data |
| Tread Cover (Tread / Casing Ratio) | Pro Data |
| All size measurements are taken at high air pressure on a 18 mm inner width (unless otherwise stated) rim. | |
Rolling Resistance Test Results
| Rolling Resistance Test Results | |
|---|---|
| Inner Tube | None (20 ml sealant) |
| Measured Width | 31 mm (un-round) |
| Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 22-24 = 132 psi/9.1 bar 25-27 = 120 psi/8.3 bar 28-30 = 108 psi/7.4 bar 31-32 = 100 psi/6.9 barUltra High Air Pressure (100 psi / 6.9 bar) |
Pro Data |
| Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 22-24 = 110 psi/7.6bar 25-27 = 100 psi/6.9 bar 28-30 = 90 psi/6.2 bar 31-32 = 83 psi/5.7 barExtra High Air Pressure (83 psi / 5.7 bar) |
Pro Data |
| Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 22-24 = 88 psi/6.1 bar 25-27 = 80 psi/5.5 bar 28-30 = 72 psi/5.0 bar 31-32 = 67 psi/4.6 barHigh Air Pressure (67 psi /4.6 bar) |
9.7 Watts CRR: 0.00291 |
| Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 22-24 = 66 psi/4.6 bar 25-27 = 54 psi/4.1 bar 28-30 = 60 psi/3.7 bar 31-32 = 50 psi/3.4 barMedium Air Pressure (50 psi / 3.4 bar) |
Pro Data |
| The Road Bike section is a multi tire size section, air pressures have been adjusted to the measured casing width. All numbers are for a single tire at a speed of 29 km/h / 18 mph and a load of 42.5 kg / 94 lbs. Use the formula: RR (Watts) = CRR * speed (m/s) * load (N) to calculate rolling resistance at a given speed and load. |
|
Puncture Resistance Test Results
| Puncture Resistance Test Results (higher is better) | |
|---|---|
| Total Puncture Score Tread | 42 Points |
| Total Puncture Score Sidewall | Pro Data |
| Tread Puncture Force Sharp Needle | Pro Data |
| Tread Puncture Force Blunt Needle | Pro Data |
| Tread Total Tire Thickness | 2.3 mm |
| Sidewall Puncture Force Sharp Needle | Pro Data |
| Sidewall Puncture Force Blunt Needle | Pro Data |
| Sidewall Total Tire Thickness | Pro Data |
Static Grip Test Results
| Static Grip Test Results | |
|---|---|
| Wet Grip Average | 88 Points |
| Wet Grip Center | Pro Data |
| Wet Grip Edge | Pro Data |
| Grip in points = coefficient of friction * 100 Road bike grip test rim width = 19.0 mm (unless otherwise stated) |
|
Conclusion
- Continental Aero 111 32
(100% is best)
While the 26 and 29 mm Continental Aero 111 came up a bit short in rolling resistance, the 32 mm Aero 111 now outperforms the Grand Prix 5000 S TR in all our tests. We know Continental's Black Chili compound is in continual development, and it looks like they found new ways to improve it with the 32 mm Aero 111. We also tested the newly released 35 mm Grand Prix 5000 S TR earlier this year, and we came to the same conclusion.
Unfortunately, we don't know whether those improvements trickle down to the smaller sizes released earlier. If you want to make sure performance is as expected, going with the tested size might be the safest bet. Continental recommends the Aero 111 as a front tire with a GP 5000 S TR on the back, and that also makes sense based on our test results.
The main competitor to the Aero 111 is Pirelli's P Zero Race SL-R, but it isn't available in the 32 mm size yet. The Aero 111 rolls a bit slower than the Pirelli SL-R but offers better tread puncture resistance and wet grip.
Compare on our comparison section:
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RATING:
5.0
/ 5
TEST VERDICT:
Highly Recommended