Continental Aero 111

[alanyu]

Looks like the Pirelli RS would be a perfect rear tire match for a 111 front. Nearly same tread coverage, RR, and edge grip.

Also interesting to see the 111 is so undersized. Is it to satisfy ETRTO on wider rims while being small in reality to achieve better aero results? No other clincher tires are smaller than nominal on BRR, let alone by a full 1mm. It's smaller than a 28mm S TR.

BRR tested on a 18.4 ID rim. 29 mm calibrated on 21 ID will naturally be slightly narrower than 28 mm on 18.4 ID when new, and I'm glad that they are true to labelling

I know about the BRR test conditions. I'm comparing it on this same standard for all other tires. NO other tire on BRR is sized even close to this way.

If you look at gravel section, plenty of tyres are smaller than label.

[Minirac]

Looks like the Pirelli RS would be a perfect rear tire match for a 111 front. Nearly same tread coverage, RR, and edge grip.

Also interesting to see the 111 is so undersized. Is it to satisfy ETRTO on wider rims while being small in reality to achieve better aero results? No other clincher tires are smaller than nominal on BRR, let alone by a full 1mm. It's smaller than a 28mm S TR.

It is TT tire so ofc. it would default to smaller side.

[toxin]

I consider that wholly a good thing

[garbageman]

Looks like the Pirelli RS would be a perfect rear tire match for a 111 front. Nearly same tread coverage, RR, and edge grip.

Also interesting to see the 111 is so undersized. Is it to satisfy ETRTO on wider rims while being small in reality to achieve better aero results? No other clincher tires are smaller than nominal on BRR, let alone by a full 1mm. It's smaller than a 28mm S TR.

It is TT tire so ofc. it would default to smaller side.

I don't follow your logic here. The TT TR is slightly larger than the S TR in the same size.

[BigBoyND]

If you look at gravel section, plenty of tyres are smaller than label.

Yes thanks. Obviously I'm looking at this by tire category, since they are all sized by different expectations/standards. I won't look at MTB or car tire either.

To spell it out: the 111 is by far the most undersized clincher road tire tested by BRR. It is between the 25mm and 28mm labeled tire sizes of the other current high performance tires.

Likely to stretch the ETRTO compatibility while boosting aero performance for its nominal size. It's a smart move.

Edit: really weird to see people push back on the sizing point which is just a clear to see fact on BRR

[BigBoyND]

It is TT tire so ofc. it would default to smaller side.

You mean like Corsa vs Corsa Pro, S TR vs TT TR, and Pro One vs Pro One TT? TT version is larger for all of them.

I wouldn't call this a TT tire, though. The specs on this tire are all-round worthy and the aero gains are only at very high yaw angles which you're more likely to see at road speeds than TT speeds. At higher speeds the RR difference also grows.

[BigBoyND]

I consider that wholly a good thing

It would be if we had consistency across brands and I hope that shift happens. For now, most consumers will assume this tire will be similar or larger than their current 28mm tires.

[ColonelMustard]

If you look at gravel section, plenty of tyres are smaller than label.

To spell it out: the 111 is by far the most undersized clincher road tire tested by BRR. It is between the 25mm and 28mm labeled tire sizes of the other current high performance tires.

Likely to stretch the ETRTO compatibility while boosting aero performance for its nominal size. It's a smart move.

Edit: really weird to see people push back on the sizing point which is just a clear to see fact on BRR

I was a bit dissapointed by this also, it measures fitted a lot narrower than other modern 28mm tyres. I was hoping it would come out to around 30mm on my 23mm IDm, 31mm OD rims, but based on the BRR measurement it's going to be closer to 29mm.

[CampagYOLO]

I consider that wholly a good thing

Agreed. It's nice in 2024 to have a tyre that actually is the size it says it is on the box on a modern rim. No more guessing what size the tyre may actually be because you have a rim with a wide internal width, especially important if you don't want the tyre to be wider than the rim.

[Lakal]

If you look at gravel section, plenty of tyres are smaller than label.

To spell it out: the 111 is by far the most undersized clincher road tire tested by BRR. It is between the 25mm and 28mm labeled tire sizes of the other current high performance tires.

Likely to stretch the ETRTO compatibility while boosting aero performance for its nominal size. It's a smart move.

Edit: really weird to see people push back on the sizing point which is just a clear to see fact on BRR

I was a bit dissapointed by this also, it measures fitted a lot narrower than other modern 28mm tyres. I was hoping it would come out to around 30mm on my 23mm IDm, 31mm OD rims, but based on the BRR measurement it's going to be closer to 29mm.

I measure 30mm on a 23mm ID rim (Ascent Polaris).

[Philbar72]

and so will everybody else and that is exactly what have they done. Grip on current STR/TT is so bad but you have to race descends, agressive cornering, bad weather to realize that, to average john it may seems that it is great but it is not.

Which do you prefer for grip?

Try AS TR for reference. Then when you go back to S TR you will have to recalibrate cornering. I end up with 30mm S TR and wide rims same as pogacar: https://youtu.be/Pf5BJqRUyLc?t=793
but it is still not good enough.

I'm using an AS TR rear and S TR front. It works well.

the AS TR is better for grip? i run regular 5000s and find they aren't hugely grippy...

[ColonelMustard]

If you look at gravel section, plenty of tyres are smaller than label.

To spell it out: the 111 is by far the most undersized clincher road tire tested by BRR. It is between the 25mm and 28mm labeled tire sizes of the other current high performance tires.

Likely to stretch the ETRTO compatibility while boosting aero performance for its nominal size. It's a smart move.

Edit: really weird to see people push back on the sizing point which is just a clear to see fact on BRR

I was a bit dissapointed by this also, it measures fitted a lot narrower than other modern 28mm tyres. I was hoping it would come out to around 30mm on my 23mm IDm, 31mm OD rims, but based on the BRR measurement it's going to be closer to 29mm.

I measure 30mm on a 23mm ID rim (Ascent Polaris).

Excellent! Thats more what I was hoping for. I guess after a few rides it stretches out a little which is something the BRR site doesnt show.

[RDY]

Which do you prefer for grip?

Try AS TR for reference. Then when you go back to S TR you will have to recalibrate cornering. I end up with 30mm S TR and wide rims same as pogacar: https://youtu.be/Pf5BJqRUyLc?t=793
but it is still not good enough.

I'm using an AS TR rear and S TR front. It works well.

the AS TR is better for grip? i run regular 5000s and find they aren't hugely grippy...

yeah ... rear wanders a little less when cornering harder. still obviously breaks traction under hard braking if you use the rear brake much, but less of a hair trigger. but main reason is because 90% of punctures are on the rear and it has way better PP. S TR isn't faster if i'm either plugging it all the time or it's full of plugs. but you can feel the extra weight when climbing ... on 32s they're 75-90g more. they feel significantly more sluggish on steep gradients or when accelerating.

[cyclespeed]

I've come from tubular Veloflex Pro Race and Vittoria Corsa's (25 and 28mm) to Conti GP5000S TR and TT in 28mm. (run tubeless).

I've been surprised by 2 things;

a) how much faster the Contis roll than the tubs did,

b) how much less grip they have. Especially in the wet.

Riding up short steep wet roads, the rear spins, and this did NOT happen with the tubs.

I also crashed in the dry, going a bit too fast into a small off camber roundabout, but I cannot say if I would have also crashed with the tubs.

I also just built my wife's new Aethos and she has also gone from 25mm tubs to Conti GP5000S TR in 28mm. She has also commented how the wet grip seems quite poor.

So I'm looking for new tyres that have the most grip possible, still roll well, aren't too heavy and last more than a few thousand kms. Possible? I'm looking at Enve SES Raceday 29 (seems quite puncture prone), and Conti Aero 111 29. Both hugely expensive of course, but both seem to be very grippy and what price the wife's safety?! (Mine I don't care!!)

[CampagYOLO]

I've come from tubular Veloflex Pro Race and Vittoria Corsa's (25 and 28mm) to Conti GP5000S TR and TT in 28mm. (run tubeless).

I've been surprised by 2 things;

a) how much faster the Contis roll than the tubs did,

b) how much less grip they have. Especially in the wet.

Riding up short steep wet roads, the rear spins, and this did NOT happen with the tubs.

I also crashed in the dry, going a bit too fast into a small off camber roundabout, but I cannot say if I would have also crashed with the tubs.

I also just built my wife's new Aethos and she has also gone from 25mm tubs to Conti GP5000S TR in 28mm. She has also commented how the wet grip seems quite poor.

So I'm looking for new tyres that have the most grip possible, still roll well, aren't too heavy and last more than a few thousand kms. Possible? I'm looking at Enve SES Raceday 29 (seems quite puncture prone), and Conti Aero 111 29. Both hugely expensive of course, but both seem to be very grippy and what price the wife's safety?! (Mine I don't care!!)

Corsa Pros? I've always found in real world conditions that the compounds used by Vittoria are more grippy than the ones used by Continental.