Zipp Speed Weaponry Tangente Tire - Clincher
One of the defining characteristics of Zipp wheels is their dimpled rims. Just like a golf ball, the dimples on a Zipp rim disrupt the air flowing over the rim surface in order to diminish the drag and make your wheels (and thereby YOU) faster for a given power output.It stands to reason, that since all of Zipp's wheels got dimples, they looked for more places to utilize this proven technology. This is what inspired their Tangente dimpled tire. Dimples on a tire, are they serious? Absolutely yes. Few companies invest as much in wind tunnel time as Zipp, and it means they have the luxury to analyze every last little aerodynamic detail of a product. What they've learned in the tunnel is that tire design does indeed play a role in aerodynamics. It goes beyond the obvious value of tire width, with tread texture and the transition style of rubber-to-casing also playing a role in aerodynamics. They determined that (not unlike dimpled rims vs. smooth ones), moderate tread provides superior aerodynamics to slick tread or really rough tread. So they began testing dimpled tires and the result is the Tangente -- the only tire whose aerodynamics complement the aerodynamics of your wheelset.Just because the Tangente Clincher Tire is aero, you don't sacrifice the all-important ride quality you can expect from a high end tire. In fact, Zipp worked side-by-side with Vittoria for 14 months to refine the tread models, the rubber compound, and the tooling to find the perfect balance of low rolling resistance, durability, suppleness, grip, and -- of course -- aerodynamics. And best of all, Zipp's dimpled design significantly reduces the stress within the tread, in comparison to other tires, which reduces the stress cracking of the tires through age and use.According to Zipp's tests, the Tangente Clincher Tires will save you 1-3W of energy in comparison to other high end tires.