Pirelli P Zero Race 4S TLR review: Not the fastest rolling, but rugged, grippy and easy to live with

Launched in early 2023, the Pirelli P Zero Race 4S TLR is the brand’s all-season road tyre designed to be used throughout winter without sacrificing as much rolling resistance and speed as more traditional winter training tyres. It is the winter-friendly model in the high-end P Zero line, which sits above Pirelli’s Cinturato endurance/all-road tyre lineup.

Compared to the previous model launched in 2022, the TLR adds tubeless compatibility while also using some of Pirelli’s latest technologies such as TechBELT casing and SmartEVO compound and promises to be grippier, faster rolling, and longer lasting in all conditions.

The tyres sit at £80 / €85 / $85. That's in line with some of the best road bike tyres for racing, let alone tyres aimed at the traditional winter training tyre market. For example that’s double the price of the Continental Gatorskin tyres, although they are notoriously slow, despite their renown for puncture-resistance. 

However, it puts them in line with the Continental GP5000 AS TR and the Vittoria Corsa Pro Control, both of which are among a growing crop of premium winter tyres. 

Design and specifications

Pirelli has used the same SmartEVO compound in the 4S that can be found in its fastest race tyres in the P Zero line. This compound has been designed through Pirelli’s motorsport experience and its partnership with the Lidl-Trek teams. 

SmartEVO uses a combination of three different compounds/polymers with contrasting performance characteristics to supposedly deliver the optimal mix of grip, rolling speed and durability. Pirelli doesn’t go into further details about the polymers or their layout, but suggests they display ‘Smart’ behaviours to provide these performance enhancements across different weather conditions.

The next named feature is the TechBELT, which Pirelli says is its road-specific 120tpi (Threads per inch) casing, with an additional layer of nylon. The casing is designed to be supple and allow for deformation to improve rolling resistance, grip, and also comfort. 

• What is TPI? 

The nylon layer is aimed for puncture protection. The main differentiator between the 4S and the rest of the P Zero line are the grooves on the tyres, which are longer and feature more along the tread, this is said to enhance grip and performance in wet weather.

Finally, the tyre is available in sizes 26mm, 28mm and 30mm. Only the 28 and 30mm options are tubeless compatible, and while the advertised 28mm weight is 252g, ours came in at 316g per tyre. They measured in at 28.4mm when fitted to our Hunt 54 Aerodynamicist test wheelset (20mm internal width).

Performance

When it comes to performance out on the road, it’s fair to say the Pirelli 4S are not as sprightly as the more race-orientated tyres we’ve tested recently. We tested the rolling resistance of these tyres as part of our ongoing Cyclingnews Labs project, putting 24 tyres to the test while keeping every other variable controlled to accurately measure how the rolling resistance of each tyre compares.

The combination of more rolling resistance (11.3 watts per tyre compared to our baseline Continental GP5000 S TR at 32km/h) and the heavier-than-advertised weight did make them tangibly slower both on rolling roads and on steep climbs. 

However, it is safe to say that these are dedicated winter training tyres, where speed has been a consideration but secondary to the P Zero 4S TLR tyres' performance, rather than a race tyre that has had additional durability as the secondary consideration. 

Compared to the Corsa Pro Control and other similar-level products from our rolling resistance test, there was no discernible difference in performance out on the road, as speed was more affected by day-to-day weather conditions.

Where these tyres shine is their overall durability. I’ve previously tested the racier P Zero Race RS and found the SmartEVO compound to be exceptionally durable and last a very long time before the tread starts to wear. The P Zero 4S TLR is no different, and even after around 800km of riding, the wear dots are still as prominent as ever. 

I’ve also been testing these tyres throughout peak hedge-cutting season here in the UK, as well as riding through plenty of mucky, puddle-riddled countryside lanes that are prime places to pick up punctures. So far I have not had a single flat, and there are barely any nicks or cuts in the tread as well. 

Of course, a thorn at the wrong angle or a bit of broken glass can cut through most tyres, but there is an element of more supple tyres being able to deform over objects to reduce the instances of penetration. I’ve not been able to test this explicitly, but I have ridden through plenty of bramble cutting and debris at the sides of roads with no punctures to show from it.

Another element that impresses well is the overall grip and performance in both cold and wet weather. Cold weather can firm up a tyre compound and limit the grip, but even when riding in zero degrees, the P Zero 4S have performed well and never left me feeling that I’ve been lacking grip or near the edge of their cornering performance. 

Running the tyres either at 80/85psi front and rear, or 75/80psi when it's been wetter, I have been comfortably able to bank them over around corners without any hesitation. I haven’t pushed them too hard when it's been wet, but there have never been any close skating sensations that I’ve experienced with some winter tyres previously.

The only element of these tyres that can be a little frustrating is the installation. Getting them on to the rim was easy and caused no hassle, but it took quite a bit of effort to get the front tyre to seat properly on the rim, even when using a compressor and removing the valve core. 

I required some grippy gloves and a fair bit of manual manipulation to get the tyres fully seated on the final 10 percent that hadn’t fully 'popped'. 

Aside from this small gripe, it’s very difficult to fault these tyres. Yes, they were slower than every other tyre in our rolling resistance test, but they were also the only dedicated winter tyre, and were not far off some more race focussed competitors. 

For those who want wider tyres for winter training, that is a negative, with the 30mm maximum width being fairly limiting for winter training, given many riders will opt for 32mm or even 34mm now with frame clearances increasing. The price is also high for a winter training tyre, but given the durability and performance, this may be worthwhile.

Value

With a price of £80 / €85 / $85, the Pirelli P Zero Race 4S TLR is priced towards the higher end when it comes to tyres. This puts them in the same region as the Vittoria Corsa Pro lineup, as well as the Continental GP5000 range. All of these other tyre options do perform better when it comes to rolling resistance, while the size ranges are slightly broader as well offering 32mm and even 35mm in the case of Continental with the GP5000 AS TR.

However, the value of the P Zero 4S comes from its durability. Having used plenty of these tyres comprehensively over my time riding, I can confidently say that all things equal, the Pirelli’s should last the longest out of those competitors. Additionally, being no more than 1 km/h slower than these faster options for winter training doesn't have a huge impact on overall ride sensations. What will have an impact is a reduced chance of stopping to fix punctures, while not having to buy a new tyre sooner will save money in the long run.

There are of course more durable tyre options, but they likely come with increased rolling resistance, potentially reduced grip and increased weight. The Pirelli P Zero Race 4S TLR shine through as a tyre that bridges the gap between a functional winter tyre, and a faster rolling tyre, albeit for a price.

Verdict

Pirelli has done a good job creating a tyre that performs very well as a winter training tyre, while also being usable for faster-paced sessions. It is of course not as fast as race-focused tyres where low rolling resistance has been the focus, but it is relatively not far off some of the competition. It does this while being an effective winter training tyre, being able to deal with road debris, hedge trimmings, and poor road surfaces.

The tyre is also exceptionally good when it comes to grip across various weather conditions. Putting all this together makes for an ideal tyre for those looking for proper winter tyre protection and durability, but with a lesser impact on speed. 

They’re not cheap compared to other dedicated winter options, but they are slightly cheaper than the speed-focused alternatives. With that enhanced durability, they should offer exceptionally better value than the race tyres in the long run, while overall performance for speed and protection should trump many more rugged competitors.