A change of tyres can transform a ride, and what better time is there to treat a friend, loved one, or even yourself to a new set of ‘boots’ than at Christmas? Tyre performance is particularly important in winter too, with added debris on the road and seasonal hazards to contend with. But what makes a good tyre? There is plenty to consider – profile, tread, compound, suppleness and pressure among them.

Our forum members have already recommended the Michelin Pro4 Endurance tyre, which offers increased ‘endurance and longevity’ according to its makers, and we’re currently engaged on our own test. Schwalbe’s Durano S tyre has also spent time on our Kinesis Racelight TK3 test rig, and while we had to trade performance when we swapped from the German brand’s flagship Ultremo ZX, we were rewarded with increased robustness – a must on increasingly greasy and grimy roads. Neither cost the earth either, coming in at around the £30-£35 mark per tyre.