Over the years we've clocked up hundreds of thousands of miles in all weathers, reviewing almost 300 of the best road bike tyres. With an eclectic selection of everything from sturdy commuting tyres to super-fast race rubber, these are our picks of the best road bike tyres you can buy.

Best road bike tyre overall: Continental Grand Prix 5000 Clincher

Best tubeless road bike tyre: Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR

Best value road bike tyre: Hutchinson Challenger

Best road bike tyre for fast riding and racing: Vittoria Corsa Speed Tubeless Ready

Best road bike tyre for commuting: Schwalbe Marathon Plus

Best 650B road bike tyre: Rene Herse Switchback Hill Extralight TC 650B tubeless

Best road bike tyre for bad roads: Panaracer GravelKing Slick TLC

Best tube-type clincher tyre for winter: Pirelli P Zero Race 4S

Best tubeless road bike tyre for winter: Vittoria Corsa Control TLR G2.0
As Specialized famously said: "Whether you're riding a 2000-mile route of Le Tour de France or 40 miles on a Saturday, only one inch really matters—your contact patch".
Here at road.cc we reckon tyres are one of the most cost-effective upgrades you can make to a bike, whether you're searching for "free" speed, more grip, increased durability or just fewer of those dreaded punctures.
Even the very best bike wheels can be let down when clad in poor rubber, but before purchasing there is a couple of things to check:
Firstly, will you be fitting your tyres to tubeless wheels? Most will require special rim tape to stop the sealant and air from escaping. Secondly, how much clearance does your frame have? Many bikes designed for racing, especially models with rim brakes, will be limited to 28mm; but as the trend for wider rubber really accelerated in the 2020s, we've found that more and more of the best road bikes have space for 30mm or more nowadays.
If you've already decided on your next tyres and want to take your upgrading even further, then read on to check out our recommendations of the best road bike wheels, plus some handy tips underneath them...
First Published Sep 28, 2022