Best winter road bike tyres 2025 — ride more confidently with fewer punctures all year round

Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres are essentially heavy-duty, ultra-reliable commu-touring tyres that inspire complete confidence.

Yes, they're a bit slower than lighter and less puncture-resistant tyres, but if you're not in a hurry or you'd just prefer not to change a tube by the side of the road on a wet February morning, they're unsurpassed.

Although they're a bit stubborn to fit, overall the Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres are seemingly bulletproof, roll faster than their girth would suggest and aren't expensive either. For all these reasons, they're still our top choice when it comes to dependable winter road rubber. 

While this tyre has sort of been replaced by the Grand Prix 5000 AS TR, it would be wrong not to include the classic 4 Season from Continental while it's still available. A tough Duraskin mesh and two Vectran anti-puncture layers beneath the tread make this an excellent choice for chilly miles! At 280g for the 28mm version, it's a good weight too, for the rider wanting a fast winter tyre.

Conti's max grip silica rubber compound provides a good level of grip in both the dry and wet so is a good choice for winter and one that we have no problems using in spring and autumn too. If you desire even more protection, then Continental also makes the Gator Hardshell which is a similar tyre but with a third layer of Polyamide in the sidewalls.

Hutchison calls it the Challenger Tubeless tyre the 'perfect all-season road tyre'. Unlike a lot of tubeless tyres that are aimed at competitive riders, these are targeted at those of us who want a fit-and-forget solution that you can use in winter, without the fear that they'll puncture easily. Hutchinson claims that these 'can be run without sealant', thanks to its air-tight 'AIRSHIELD' which uses two high-performing sealing compounds on the inside of the tyre to keep everything airtight. 

The Challenger Tubeless tyre has very high puncture resistance and decent comfort and grip. It boasts a claimed lifespan of 10,000km, which tester Josh says should be accurate based on his early experiences. 

Vittoria's Ridearmor TLR tyres are puncture-resistant with an excellent balance of durability, grip and speed. The RideArmor offers the kind of puncture protection that people want from a commuting tyre – but without the performance downsides that can come along with tougher tyres.

The RideArmor's protection comes from a number of different layers working together. There a top layer of graphene and silica, beneath which is a 100TPI nylon casing that encases the entire tyre, and underneath that is a Kevlar layer to really make sure nothing gets through.

Tester George writes: "while I found them heavier than more performance-oriented tyres, their excellent overall quality means I'd happily run the RideArmors throughout the year". 

Cadex is a high-end, in-house brand belonging to Taiwanese bike behemoth Giant. This Classics 28 Tubeless clincher comes from the same range as the Race 25 Tubeless but, as the name suggests, it's more robust. Available in 25, 28 and 32mm widths, it offers really impressive grip and speed – it's not cheap, though.

Cadex says that a combination of puncture protection, grip and suppleness make a good tyre for the Spring Classics, and our reviewer Jez said two of the three are pretty readily apparent. These are grippy tyres that are outstanding when descending fast on loose, poor-quality tarmac. 

He said: “Back-to-back against another favourite road tyre – the Vittoria Corsa Control G2 – I was measurably faster on the Classics, thanks to the predictable, rock-solid way they cling to the road.”

While technically not a very wintery winter tyre, our reviewer found the Agilest TLR from Panaracer more than tough enough to cope with mucky roads, while also not adding significant weight to your bike. 

Bagging a road.cc Recommends award, this tubeless tyre was also easy to mount and seated with just a regular track pump. They also ran fine with tubes for our reviewer, who found the ride pretty much the same with both set-ups. 

The tyres held up to plenty of abuse in a British winter, and should be near the top of your list if you're looking for a premium tyre to last you through the whole year, and possibly beyond. 

Yes it's expensive, but this is Continental's all-singing, all-dancing, all-weather upgrade to its classic 4 Season tyre, called 'All Season' rather than '4 Season'. 

The Continental Grand Prix 5000 AS TR is tubeless-ready, very robust and offers great grip and impressive rolling resistance according to our reviewer. The tweaked lack Chilli compound provides great grip in wet conditions, and a thicker tread with beefed up sidewalls adds longevity and durability.

These tyres will cost you, but if you're a Conti loyalist then this is a fine offering for year-round riding. 

The Roubaix Pro is marketed by Specialized as an endurance road tyre, so you'd expect it to be long-lasting and hard-wearing. It's also, as the name suggests, ideal for mixed surfaces.

The Specialized Roubaix Pro tyres are a great option if you're looking for a dependable winter, training or commuting tyre. With their 120tpi casing and mixed tread design, they offer a responsive ride with assured handling in wet and loose conditions.

Specialized hasn't compromised on the Roubaix Pro's durability either, with the inclusion of its Endurant casing and BlackBelt technology ensuring you can experience miles of worry-free cycling.