Tubular tires have remained largely unchanged for decades, their handmade construction and latex inner tubes representing proven technology that World Tour teams trust for race day. Pirelli's P Zero Race TUB SL breaks from that tradition by replacing the latex tube with thermoplastic polyurethane, a material that delivers the same low rolling resistance and puncture protection while cutting weight by over 10 percent. At 275 grams, the TUB SL sheds 35 grams compared to the previous generation P Zero tubular, removing nearly 100 grams from a complete wheelset without sacrificing the ride characteristics that make tubulars the choice of professional racers.

The TPU inner tube addresses a longstanding limitation of latex: pressure loss. Traditional latex tubes require inflation before every ride as air slowly migrates through the material overnight. TPU maintains pressure indefinitely, eliminating pre-ride inflation rituals and ensuring consistent tire feel from the first pedal stroke. The material required two years of development to optimize for tubular applications, matching the supple feel and low hysteresis of latex while adding the practical advantage of complete airtightness.

Pirelli wraps that TPU tube in a 320 TPI Corespun casing with aramid fiber reinforcement beneath the tread. The high thread count creates a supple casing that conforms to road imperfections and maintains grip through corners, while the aramid layer provides puncture protection without adding appreciable weight or stiffness. The casing dimensions were developed specifically for modern wide-profile tubular rims, ensuring proper fit and optimal contact patch shape on current wheelsets.... Read More