The Challenge Strada Pro Handmade TLR road tyres stand out thanks to their very yellow idea of ‘tan’ walls, and happily their performance backs up the bold looks. Fast, grippy and impressively comfortable, these tyres handled everything from crit racing to rough British lanes with ease. They’re some of the most complete all-round road tyres available. Assuming you like yellow…
Setting up these tyres was a pleasure. Rarely do you find a set of road tyres that go on without a fight, but the Strada Pros went on with ease. No tyre levers were required, just some strong thumbs and a can-do attitude. Helping with the easy fit was the directionless tread pattern, removing any uncertainty during installation.
The beads seated just as easily with just a track pump, and black bead proved genuinely useful while fitting – sometimes it’s a struggle to tell when a bead is fully seated (especially with tan walls), but the black band makes it easy to see. It’s a small touch, but one that made setup noticeably easier than with many comparable tyres.

The Strada Pros remind me of Vittoria’s Corsas, with the riding surface looking almost glued onto the carcass. Whilst this construction has occasionally caused peeling issues for Vittoria, no such problems appeared here.
These use Challenge’s fastest compound, which, according to Bicycle Rolling Resistance, only loses out to the Continental GP5000 by around two Watts. They blew up to exactly to 32mm on my 22mm internal-diameter Hunt Aerodynamicist wheels.

The suppleness of the Strada Pros is immediately noticeable. They smooth out rough roads brilliantly without ever feeling sluggish, striking an impressive balance between comfort and outright speed. On battered British lanes, the 32mm width (they also come in 28, 30 and 35mm) provided reassuring comfort while maintaining the sharp ride-feel you want from a performance tyre.
Get ready to roll with the road.cc Recommends Tyres of the Year 2025/26
Grip is exceptional, particularly in the wet, where many fast road tyres can begin to feel nervous. Whether descending on damp roads, cornering hard in crit races, or carrying speed through greasy roundabouts, the Strada Pros remain predictable and confidence inspiring.
What impressed me most, though, was just how complete the package feels. Many performance tyres excel in one area while compromising elsewhere, but the Strada Pros consistently performed well across every type of riding I threw at them. Fast on smooth tarmac, comfortable on rough lanes, and dependable in poor weather, they never really felt out of place.
Durability also appears promising. Despite the rough roads and mixed conditions, I suffered no punctures or found any visible wear during testing.
Value
At over £70 these are by no means a budget option, but with premium tyres creeping beyond the £90 mark, they’re not outrageously expensive either.
A pair of Vittoria Corsa Pro Tubeless Tyres will set you back a fair bit more as they’re £89.99 each, and although they’re fantastic they can wear fairly rapidly.
The Pirelli P Zero Race TLR is much closer to the Challenge at £74.99 and is available in 32mm widths too, and even the big 40mm version did really well in our test.
Given the blend of speed, grip, comfort and wet-weather confidence on offer, the price here actually feels pretty good.
Overall
The Strada Pros are an excellent all-round high performance tyre. They combine impressive speed with outstanding grip and comfort in a way very few tyres manage, all while remaining confidence-inspiring on rough British roads and in poor weather.
The bold tan/mad yellow walls certainly won’t be for everyone, but if you can get on board with the looks, these are some of the most complete road tyres out there, and some of the best I’ve ridden in a long time.
Test Report
What does the manufacturer say about this product?:
Challenge says: “The Strada is Challenge’s go-to champion for efficiency and sublime road feel. This high performance tire combines a supple rounded profile that takes the sting out of rough pavement with a construction that provides maximum control and very low rolling resistance.“
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of this product:
Challenge lists:
CONSTRUCTION: Handmade
Challenge handmade tyres combine comfort, performance, and grip in a way other tyres can’t match. Their handmade tyres are assembled step-by-step by experienced craftspeople. High quality natural glues and latex coatings are applied to ultra-supple casing materials like silk, cotton, or polyester. The result is a small-batch tyre with a ride feel that is simply on a different level.
SERIES: PRO
Everyday Luxury – this workhorse handmade tyre is the PRO series, delivering performance and ride feel unmatched by traditional vulcanised tyres. Perfect for the rigors of daily riding.
CASING: Super Polyester 220TPI
Super Polyesters with higher thread counts of 220-300tpi make up their most affordable handmade casings. Polyester is much softer and stronger then nylon, is impervious to water and quite durable.
COMPOUND: SMART
Their standard rubber compound, SMART is the perfect balance of durability and performance. Their handmade construction ensures that our tread compounds are never hardened or heated by the vulcanisation process.
PUNCTURE PROTECTION: PPS
The Puncture Protection System (PPS) is a tough, tightly-woven fabric placed between the tread and casing to increase puncture resistance.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested?:
At over £70 these are by no means budget, but with premium tyres creeping beyond the £90 mark, they’re not outrageously expensive either.
Any comments about ride quality? Are they comfortable? Do they feel especially quick, or slow?:
Supple road feel with reassuring grip.
How easy were the tyres to fit? If you ran them tubeless, how easy was that to set up?:
Easily fitted without tyre levers, yet tight enough to provide some reassurance that they won’t roll off!
Did you have any punctures during testing?:
No
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
An excellent all rounder – fast and reassuringly grippy with a gorgeous deep yellow tan!
About the tester
Age: 28Height: 185cmWeight: 65kg
I usually ride: Argon 18 nitrogen discMy best bike is: Canyon grizl CF 7
I’ve been riding for: 5-10 yearsI ride: Every dayI would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: Road racing, Cyclocross, Gravel riding, Indoor riding, Bikepacking, Club riding




