Zipp Tangente Speed tyres

Zipp have updated their tyre range, first introduced in 2007, and the Tangentes here are the middle of the three-tyre range. They're pitched as race-day tyres with an impressively low 196g weight for the 25mm size tested. They are very responsive and fast rolling tyres, ideal for racing and Sunday best bikes.

The tyres are constructed with a 220 tpi rubber/nylon casing, and weight is saved with the absence of the puncture belt that features on Zipp's two other tyres, the Course and SLSpeed tubular. I didn't suffer a flat during testing. That doesn't tell you much - luck has a huge part to play in punctures as much as anything - but the clean tread with a noticeable lack of cuts and marks suggest good durability from the rubber compound.

On the road the tyres provide the sort of speed and responsiveness you'd expect given their low. The tread compound gives the right balance of rolling resistance and grip. Shove the tyres hard into a corner and there's plenty of traction on the shoulders and a nice level of feedback that allows you to exploit the available grip. I used them in all conditions and they shone every time. They're as good as the very excellent Michelin Pro4s and Schwalbe Ones, two of my fave racing tyres.

You might expect the tyres work best with Zipp rims? To find out, I tested them on a pair of Zipp 303 wheels. I also tested them, on the same circuit with repeated laps, on a pair of Shimano RS80 wheels. There was an obvious difference in speed when riding the deep section wheels, but any difference because of the relationship between Zipp tyre and rim was impossible to detect. They proved fast on all wheelsets, suggesting that the changes to the tread compound have netted the biggest returns in performance and speed.

With the new Tangentes, Zipp have produced tyres that offer the speed and grip that a racing cyclist demands. They're certainly not cheap, and the lack of a puncture belt doesn't make them a good candidate for year-round everyday riding. The Course tyres, which we'll test soon, would be a better all-round choice. For those times when you want the fastest rubber, though, these are definitely worth a look. And don't worry if you don't have any Zipp wheels, the Zipp Tangentes work well with any rim.

Verdict

Impressive race-ready performance tyres with low weight and a fast turn of speed