DT Swiss and Continental create ‘the ultimate wheel-tyre system’ with the Aero 111 tyre that can only be mounted on the front

Wheel manufacturer DT Swiss has announced a new tire in collaboration with Continental and Swiss Side: the Aero 111. It is specifically designed for use with the brand's racing wheels. The brand calls it the "ultimate wheel-tire system." The announcement comes after Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale riders were spotted wearing the tyres during the opening stages of this year's Tour de France. Wheel-tyre systems (WTS) have been around for years, with Mavic investing heavily in this technology. The idea behind a WTS is to create an optimized overall package where the wheel and tire work together in a beneficial way, both in terms of aerodynamics and stability. Since DT Swiss is not a tire manufacturer, the brand called upon the expertise of both Continental and Swiss Side to develop the Aero 111. Continental has a rich history of creating high-performance tires for both bicycle and automotive applications, while Swiss Side was brought in for its aerodynamic know-how. At first glance, the new tire looks distinctly different from those usually associated with road bike tires. On the outer edges of the tire are 48 square cutouts that are said to act as vortex generators. These are said to extend the duration of airflow attachment to the tire and rim, thereby increasing the sailing effect that provides the watt-saving benefit. The strategic placement and shape of the 48 vortex-generating recesses increase the adhesion of passing air over the tire and rim (Image credit: DT Swiss)In a press release ahead of the tire's launch, DT Swiss said: "Our test showed that the Aero 111 front tire outperforms all other tire brands tested in the WTS. This ensures that when riders combine our wheels with the new AERO 111 tire, they have the fastest WTS currently available."Due to the way oncoming air interacts with a bicycle, the Aero 111 tire only needs to be mounted on the front wheel. This is because the air around the rear wheel is very turbulent and dirty because everything in front of it is disturbed and the vortex generators would not work effectively. The latest racing content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides delivered straight to your inbox!An interesting reported benefit that the vortex generators bring is an increase in crosswind stability. During Swiss Side’s aerodynamic testing, the Aero 111 tire exhibited a linear steering moment across the test range of yaw angles. This essentially means that the force required to turn the rods is predictable and less sensitive to crosswind shocks. Compared to the benchmark GP5000s TR tire, the Aero 111 has a noticeably more linear steering moment across the spread of yaw angles (Image credit: DT Swiss)Features and prices The tire itself is made using the same technologies found in Continental’s own GP5000 S TR road tire, using the brand’s Black Chilli rubber compound. The Aero 111 is also hookless and tubeless compatible. Available in two widths, DT Swiss says the Aero 111 is suited to both aero and endurance applications. The 26mm tire is pitched as the tire of choice for maximum watt-saving performance, with a 29mm option offering increased comfort while still benefiting from the vortex-generating tread pattern. The Aero 111 in a 26mm width weighs 250g, while the 29mm option weighs 280g. At €119.95/$120.95, this tire is definitely on the more premium end of the tire spectrum.

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