Weve spotted what appears to be a new, aero-specific front tyre from Continental and SwissSide at the Tour de France.Spotted on the Van Rysel bikes of the DecathlonAG2R La Mondiale team ahead of stage one on Saturday, the tyre has square notches within the tread.While there are no official details about the new tyre, it's likely designed to work in a similar way to a golf ball, whereby the dimples trip the airflow from laminar to turbulent, thereby reducing drag. Aero socks and aero base layers employ similar thinking.The tyre is branded as Continental Aero 111 on the sidewall. The tyre also appears to be a partnership between the German tyre brand and Swiss Side, with Aerodynamics by Swiss Side printed on the opposite sidewall. The Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale team uses Swiss Side wheels.These 'notches' are likely designed to reduce aerodynamic drag. - George Scott / Our MediaTheres no indication of width on the tyre, but wed expect it to be 28c thats what it looks to the eye, and 28c has become the standard size for pro riders.The bikes weve seen at the Tour de France only use the new tyre at the front, with a regular Continental GP 5000 S TR on the rear. The DecathlonAG2R La Mondiale team is using the new tyre at the Tour de France. - NurPhoto / Getty ImagesThats not unsurprising, given that only the front tyre is going to have a meaningful aerodynamic impact.Its also not surprising that tyres have become the latest subject of attention for aerodynamic bigwigs, given the ever-increasing focus on drag reduction at the top level of the sport. The tyre appears to be a collaboration between Continental and Swiss Side. - George Scott / Our MediaTyre width and tread pattern as well as the interaction between the tyre and the rim have a small but not negligible impact on drag, within the overall context of a rider-plus-bike system. ENVE is among the brands to offer 'aero-optimised' road tyres.Keep an eye out for this new tyre at the Tour de France, where the DecathlonAG2R La Mondiale team is also using a new Van Rysel FCR aero bike.