Lifeline Prime Armour Road Tyre

Lifeline's 25mm Prime Armour Road tyres are packed with the sort of features we'd associate with models twice the price: 120tpi casings, Kevlar puncture repelling belts, aramid folding beads, an all-up weight of 281g and operating pressures between 100 and 120psi... Yours for 14 quid a pop!

Their soft 70a 'durometer' rubber compound is another surprise, especially at this price, and bodes very well for wet, slippery conditions. Aside from the channelled shoulder tread, they're essentially slick.

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Moderately tricky to fit – I resorted to my workshop lever – they'll submit in a couple of minutes with three decent tyre levers and strong thumbs. They also ease out a little after 100 miles or so, meaning roadside removal shouldn't present too many headaches.

Given their asking price, I wasn't sure what to expect in terms of performance, but from the outset they've delivered a brisk, efficient though comfortable ride across most surfaces – even run at their maximum (although it's probably worth mentioning that the test rig in question is based around an old-fashioned steel tubeset and carbon fork, which offers a very compliant ride).

Hammering along my favourite 25-mile loop at a steady 23mph and swooping through the back-to-back doubles, I was grinning from ear to ear while becoming more provocative in my cornering technique, but the tyres held their line admirably – better than the Maxxis Re-Fuses I tested last month. 

In mild to moderate conditions, I'd expect any decent road rubber to display impeccable manners at 25mph plus and descend like a demon. With this in mind, I treated myself to a 1-in-7 on the return leg and let rip. Whizzing along at 33mph, they were willing me faster but I began to feel split second pauses in traction, so backed off, easing down to 25 at the first bends in case diesel spill or similar contaminant lay in wait.

> Check out our guide to the best winter tyres here

Long, steady miles in seasonally typical single figures confirmed a delightful balance of responsiveness and grip, and even roads carpeted in iced dung couldn't cajole a spiteful side. Manhole covers and other ironworks were the closest they came to feeling uncertain, though not obviously worse than the Maxxis when run between 100 and 105psi.

Judging by the prevalence of thorns, shards of glass and other sharps, the puncture-proof belt seems to be up to the mark. Similarly, aside from some very minor nicks, the casings remain in very rude health.

Verdict

Capable training tyres with a seriously competitive price tag – recommended