Clinchers dominate the road cycling market because they are practical: a puncture means swapping an inner tube at the roadside, not gluing a new tubular tyre in a workshop. The technology has improved enormously — modern clincher tyres from Continental, Vittoria, and Pirelli roll as fast as the tubulars professionals used a decade ago. The biggest evolution has been in width: the sport has moved from 23mm rock-hard racing tyres to 28-32mm run at lower pressures, which are faster on real-world roads (lower vibration losses), more comfortable, and less prone to pinch flats. If you are still running 23mm tyres at 120psi, you are both slower and less comfortable than you need to be.
RELATED TERMS