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When it launched two years ago, Continental DT Swiss & Swiss Side dubbed their Aero 111 road racing tire the ‘world’s fastest’. But in an era of ever wider tires being raced on the road to lower rolling resistance, the 26 & 29mm widths of the original were just too skinny. So Conti et al. have scaled up the Aero 11 and its win-cheating little square cutouts to build a 32mm wide aerodynamic road front tire.

Continental Aero 111 aerodynamic road tire in 32mm width

(All photos/Continental)

Just because you run wider tires for enhanced grip and better comfort on rough roads doesn’t mean you need to give up incremental aero gains. Now, with the Continental Aero 111 front tire available in a 32mm width, you can combine race-proven aerodynamics with all-day, all-road comfort.

The bigger volume Aero 111 32mm features those same 48 patented box cutout dimples in its tread. They generate vortices as the tire spins to smooth airflow over the tire & wheel combo, “reducing drag and enhancing sailing effect at all yaw angles”.

We first spotted the dimpled tire patent back in 2023. Conti developed it as a wheel+tire collaboration with DT Swiss, plus aerodynamics optimized by the windtunnel experts at Swiss Side. “By manipulating airflow around the front wheel to delay separation“, the unique Aero 111 tread recesses layout “achieves optimal efficiency at all yaw angles, significantly reducing drag while amplifying the sailing effect to propel riders forward with less effort.”

“With the addition of the 32mm width, we truly are offering aero performance from every angle. Developing the Aero 111 alongside Swiss Side has allowed us to build a tire like no other, one that performs across even the most demanding conditions. The Aero 111 has already proven the benefits of advanced airflow management but this additional width allows us to bring those same aerodynamic gains and crosswind-taming technologies to the modern road cyclist who refuses to compromise on comfort.”

Tech details

• aerodynamic front-only road bike tire with dimpled tread designed with Swiss Side
• now available in700c x 26, 29 & 32mm widths
• claimed weights: 250g in 26mm, 280g in 29mm & 310g in new 32mm
• BlackChili compound rubber
• Vectran Breaker anti-flat protection
• TR tubeless-ready
• Hooked AND Hookless compatible
• made in Germany

Continental Aero 111 tires – Pricing, options & availability

The new 32mm version of the Continental Aero 111 joins the original 26mm and 29mm widths. All three retail for the same price, $141 / 129€, and are available now, only in all-black. Even though a wider version is now available, the Aero 111 is still designed to be a front-specific tire, with limited benefit to riding the dimpled tire in the rear. Continental recommends pairing an Aero 111 front to a rear GP 5000S for everyday racing. Or, a GP 5000 TT for race-day-only use. Either way, with the same size or slightly larger out back for more comfort & grip.

Continental-tires.com/bicycle