Road Bike Tire Test: Pirelli P Zero Race TLR RS SpeedCore 30
Contents and Test Summary
- Introduction
- Manufacturer Specifications
- Size, Weight, Thickness
- Rolling Resistance: 9.7 Watts
- Puncture Resistance: 43 Points
- Static Wet Grip: 80 Points
- Conclusion: 5.0 / 5 Highly Recommended
- Comments
- Pirelli P Zero Race TLR RS SpeedCore 30
(100% is best)
The Pirelli P Zero Race TLR RS has proven to be a formidable competitor to the Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR since its 2024 release, and it is our top choice if you highly value speed without compromising grip in wet conditions.
Ad Buy Pirelli P Zero Race TLR RS SpeedCore at Amazon.com
We have already tested the P Zero Race TLR RS in the 28, 32, and 35 mm sizes with black sidewalls, as well as the 28 mm size with retro sidewalls. The 30 mm size is relatively new for road bike tires, but it is rapidly gaining popularity among cyclists looking for a middle ground between 28 and 32 mm. The 25/26 mm sizes are a thing of the past for tubeless road bike tires, and we wouldn't be surprised if the newest (tubeless) road bike tires will no longer be available in those once-popular sizes.
After testing the 30 mm non-RS P Zero Race TLR (read our review) and the 30 mm Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR (read our review), we couldn't miss testing the more performance-oriented RS version of the P Zero Race TLR. We have already written enough about the Pirelli P Zero Race TLR RS, and we recommend reading our initial review of the 28 mm version if you want more information on the differences between Pirelli's other tires.
We tested the 30 mm P Zero Race TLR RS with black sidewalls and, as usual, will compare it with the 28 mm P Zero Race TLR RS, 30 mm P Zero Race TLR, 30 mm Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR, and a range of comparable tires from other manufacturers.
Manufacturer Specifications
| Manufacturer Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Pirelli |
| Model | P Zero Race TLR RS SpeedCore |
| 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 | 4197100 |
| EAN | 8019227419719 |
| TPI | 120 |
| Compound | SmartEvo 2 |
| Bead | Folding |
| ETRTO | 30-622 |
| Size Inch | 28" |
| Specified Width (mm) | 30 |
| Specified Weight | 310 grams |
| Max Air Pressure (psi) | 94 |
| Made In | Pro Data |
| Available Sizes |
26-622 (700x26c) 28-622 (700x28c) 30-622 (700x30c) 32-622 (700x32c) 35-622 (700x35c) |
Pirelli P Zero Race TLR RS SpeedCore 30 Test Results
Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements
| Size, Weight and Thickness Measurements | |
|---|---|
| Specified Weight | 310 grams |
| Measured Weight | 313 grams |
| System Adjusted Weight (tire + valve + rim seal) |
333 grams |
| Measured Width | 30 mm (un-round) |
| Measured Height | Pro Data |
| Tire Circumference | Pro Data |
| Total Tire Thickness Center | 2.4 mm |
| Total Tire Thickness Sidewall | Pro Data |
| Unmounted Casing Width | 79 mm |
| Unmounted Tread Width | Pro Data |
| Tread Cover (Tread / Casing Ratio) | Pro Data |
| All size measurements are taken at an air pressure of 100 psi / 6.9 bars 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 | 30 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 (108 psi / 7.4 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 (90 psi / 6.2 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 (72 psi /5.0 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 (54 psi / 3.7 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 | 43 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 | 2.4 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 | 80 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
- Pirelli P Zero Race TLR RS SpeedCore 30
(100% is best)
The 30 mm size is the fastest-rolling size of the Pirelli P Zero Race TLR RS, because its tread is relatively narrow at only 31 mm. To put this in perspective: the 28 mm size has a 30 mm-wide tread, and the 32 mm size has a 35 mm-wide tread. These small differences make the 30 mm size just a fraction faster than the other sizes.
The downside of the narrower tread is slightly less protection at the edge and reduced suitability for use on extremely wide rims (21 mm+).
Overall performance (aside from the somewhat narrow tread) of the 30 mm P Zero Race TLR RS is exceptionally strong, and we now even see that the fastest size of the RS is faster than the fastest size of the Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR. If you can live with the slightly narrower tread, there is virtually no better tire to be found than the Pirelli P Zero Race TLR RS from an all-around perspective.
Compare the 28 and 30 mm Pirelli P Zero Race TLR RS on our comparison section.
Ad Buy Pirelli P Zero Race TLR RS SpeedCore at Amazon.com
RATING:
5.0
/ 5
TEST VERDICT:
Highly Recommended