Pirelli P ZERO Velo 700 x 25C
After 25 years of silence, Pirelli released a new road bike tire in 2018: the P ZERO Velo. Based on the motorsport P ZERO model, the Velo version is a thoroughbred racing tire which and with a weight of 209 g in 25 mm, is also the lightest tire on test. Straight out of the box, we immediately noticed the paper-thin sidewalls. Whilst this promises a comfortable ride, we were a bit worried about having to baby fragile sidewalls. However, in this regard, the Pirelli positively surprised us with puncture protection that stands right in the upper middle of the test field. That’s perfectly acceptable considering the low weight and the thin sidewalls.
As a big plus, the Pirelli P ZERO Velo is extremely easy to install. As one of our testers put “You can whack it over the rim from a distance of 2 metres!” Forget about tire levers and sign up for the World Tire Changing Championships. Despite literally gliding onto the rim, the Pirelli sits securely on the rim when inflated.
While the thin and supple sidewalls promise to provide more comfort, we were surprised by how much comfort a clincher tire can actually provide. The P ZERO absorbs bumps and vibrations well and even outperforms the Veloflex open tubular. Having said that, it’s worth mentioning that at 26.4 mm the Pirelli is also considerably wider than the Veloflex, which measures bang on 25 mm. With its good damping qualities, the Pirelli inspires lots of confidence, even when the road gets rougher. Where other clincher tires tend to squirm, the Pirelli just glides over undulating terrain. Like all the other clinchers on test, the Pirelli is good-natured at the limits and easy to control, which encourages you to push your limits. In terms of tracking accuracy, the Pirelli has to give in to its open-tubular competitors but still comes out on top of all other clinchers.
Setting off from a stillstand, the P ZERO accelerates like a rocket thanks to its low weight. Like the Specialized Turbo Cotton, the Pirelli provided the highest rolling resistance readings in the lab, but still felt incredibly nimble on the road, accelerating eagerly and providing lots of fun. As we mentioned in our test intro, rolling resistance is pretty much irrelevant beyond the 30 km/h mark anyway. What does this mean? Full throttle, attack and have fun!
Conclusions
The Pirelli P ZERO Velo provides the best comforts in the clincher-department and can even hold up with the Veloflex in terms of comfort! Despite its thin sidewalls, the P ZERO offers very good puncture protection. Furthermore, it provides good grip and is very easy to mount – only the rolling resistance could be better! At € 42.99 the Pirelli is the second cheapest tire on test, and the ideal choice for weight-weenies and speed-junkies who are looking for a classic black look.
Tops
- Lightest tire in test
- Easiest tire to install
- Most comfortable clincher
- Minimalist branding with grey logo outlines
Flops
- High rolling resistance
- A little noisy
Grip | Rolling resistance | Puncture-protection | Mounting | Value for money
Price: € 42.99
Weight1: 209 g
Width2: 26.4 mm
Tubeless? Nope, unfortunately not available as tubeless ready version.
Colours? Black only.
Widths? Available in 23, 25 and 28 mm.
1 The weight was checked against the manufacturer’s specifications and averaged across all tires of the same model we tested.
2 The width was checked against the manufacturer’s specifications and averaged across all tires of the same model we tested.
