Vittoria
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Recent Reviews
I had been running Maxxis Ardent tires for a few years, but they have gotten too expensive. Someone on Reddit mentioned the Vittoria Mezcal tires and I thought I would check them out. They were $50 cheaper per tire than the Ardents and seemed to be rated about the same for rolling resistance and grip, so I gave them a try. I was shocked at how much better they were than the Ardents. I can ride 1-3 mph faster everywhere. The grip is amazing, like being on rails. For my riding style (fast) they are the best tires I have ever ridden.
28mm mounted tubeless on 24mm internal width hookless with 62/64psi front/rear. Mounted easily (compared to GP5k) and ridden about 2000 mostly late summer and autumn New England roads. Removed and replaced with GP5kASTR for crap NE winter roads figuring those would be better armored (not because of wear). Mostly paceline with some solo use, no issues including riding quite a few miles of dirt/gravel connecting tarmac sections (typically holding breath) but no issues. Fast and smooth and the light-colored sidewall looks great! Switching to 30mm to comply with ETRTO guidelines.
These tires are lovely and light and because of the suppleness of the casing, they are very responsive. That, however is it's largest downfall. The sidewall is tremendously fragile and if something nicks the sidewall, you will have a catastrophic puncture and it will not be repairable. You will lose all air instantly and if you are cornering, you're going to be in trouble. I didn't see anything that might have caused my flat, but I'm glad I was rolling on the flat ground. I've ordered a replacement, but this happened in the first couple of hundred miles, so if they leave me walking again, I'm done.
I have been riding the Martello as a rear tire for over a year now in rough New Mexico trail single track conditions. No flats or punctures despite riding 4-5 times per week in cactus, goathead, and big sharp stone territory. Tough robust casing that is not heavy and actually on the light side, and excellent grip and handling in loose and firm conditions. Unusually, these tires need to be broken in (4-10 rides) before they lose their bounciness and slight slipperiness. After that it's all good. Highly recommend these tires over other brands (I've tried just about all of them).