Bontrager R4 Classics Hard-Case Lite Road Tyre

Bontrager’s R4 Classics tyres are beautiful handmade clinchers that offer a smooth and very quick ride. You get great cornering grip and such a supple casing really helps on rougher roads.

• Pros: Very supple, look amazing, fast rolling
• Cons: Sidewalls will stain in proper 'Classics' conditions

Tyres are probably the best value for money component on your bike. Even a premium set like these won't break the bank, but they'll offer heaps of cornering confidence, extra puncture protection or even free speed.

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These R4 Classics have, as the name suggests, been designed to tackle the road conditions commonly found in the spring races. They boast many of the features found in the tubular version that is used by Trek Segafredo for those very races. In fact, this is exactly the same tyre, with the only difference being that it isn't sewn around an inner tube!

In fact, the tyres are also very similar to the regular R4, with the difference here found in the file tread pattern used on the Classics rather than the slick rubber of the regular R4.

Installing the tyres is a little more involved than a standard clincher as these arrive completely flat. I picked up the trick of mounting without the inner tube and then leaving overnight. It works well and makes putting in the inner tube, especially a latex one, so much easier as you've got just enough shape to work with.

Once installed, the wide tread sits bang on 28mm on my Fulcrum Speed 40C wheels. They're not the widest rims, so I wouldn't be surprised to find these nudging 30mm on a wider rim.

Out on the road, these are simply beautiful to ride, with the supple casing and wide profile soaking up lots of road buzz. Throw these into a corner and the rounded profile results in loads of grip and zero skittishness.

The tyres have been really well made and spin perfectly straight when mounted. Handmade tyres like this can be a little wonky sometimes, so it's good to see none of that present with the R4 Classics.

Even though it's a larger tyre with a bit of a tread, this isn't a slow tyre. In fact, this would be a brilliant summer race tyre for larger riders and crit racers looking for maximum grip on tight city centre courses.

Bontrager has used its Hard-Case Lite puncture protection, but these are still a supple tyre, so try to avoid that broken glass.

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I personally love the look of tan wall tyres on my bike but I would urge caution. These will stain with regular use in the rain. If left to go bad, they'll eventually develop rot in the casing, which can be very dangerous. That is, however, just the trade-off with tyres like this.

So, how do these stack up against similar options? Earlier in the year, I was testing Challenge's Strada Open Tubular (£54) which are very similar in construction. Both have a 320tpi casing, both get a file tread pattern and both cost about the same. The R4 Classics are a little heavier at 284g, but you're getting a 28mm tyre, 3mm wider than the Strada, which makes them perfect for larger riders on poor road surfaces.

If you're a fan of high-end tyres then you won't be disappointed with these. The R4 Classics are supple, roll well and give you great grip on dodgy corners: an excellent choice for larger riders or those wanting 28mm rubber.

Verdict

Supple, fast and very pretty – expensive for some, worth it for me