Released in 2016 for the DH and Enduro market, it has APF ( anti-pinch-flat), which is located above the bead, adding protection to the rim and tyre on lmpacts. And if you ride it properly, there’s going to be a few impacts guys!

Like all of their new ranges, these bad boys have G+ graphene to enhance the wear and improve the rugged handling and resistance on tough trails; and it certainly worked on both the dry and dusty tracks in Spain and on the damper rocky tracks at Gisburn. Riding over the rooty tracks in the forest, and hitting the rocks, I could definitely feel the added grip and security that the tyre provided. The tread pattern is so well thought out, with large chunks intelligently spaced and placed, to dig in when and where required, and the tyre has that element of flex that just helps out nicely.

This is a tyre that works well in all conditions; dry and dusty, damp and slippy, and full on mud-fests. I certainly had some of the latter when riding recently! However, the deep tread simply ripped through the quagmire, with the big square nobbly bits digging in. All I had to do was to try and find the power to keep the wheel turning! On gravel it rolled perfectly, with no undue drag, and on the stones, it flexed and moulded onto things just enough to keep me upright.

This is a big tyre for big conditions. It’s aggressive looking and would suit all riders who want to try some testing trail action.It’s especially suited to those more experienced downhill and enduro riders, who need that bit extra with grip in wet and rooty conditions. Definitely a full on five stars for this badass tyre from Italy.

WE’ve tested this tyre across summer, autumn and winter and spring, and it simply keeps performing. It’s a tyre that won’t let you down, and when riding Enbduro that’s important.

When it rains in the Dales, it really rains, with loose gravel and field debris washed onto the edges of roads. However, the Rubino Endurance stuck to its task and to the road, ensuring that rider and bike returned home safely. In terms of puncture resistance, we sought other some lanes lined with trees and hedgerows, and some farmers in possession of some serious hedge trimming tractors! In a cyclist machismo do and dare approach, we confidently rode over these debris laden lanes. All was good I’m pleased to say; whereas in other brand tests at times, these test areas have led to several tube changes!

We even took it out on cold and frosty mornings, when some tyres just don’t perform. After all Vittoria had told us that cold didn’t matter – and they were right. Despite some under-garment clinching weather and icy breezes, the rubber compounds did their job and stayed nice and rubbery – very rubbery indeed. Working on the basis that it gets cold through most of the year in the Dales, the Rubino Endurance is a good Dales tyre choice.

Made from 3 compounds and with a graphene base, Vittoria are quite rightly shouting out loud about this new range. Being 200 times tougher than steel and the hardest substance known to man, a little bit of graphene in your tyre does you good. The Endurance also has a well thought out water shedding tread pattern across the centre and side walls, producing awesome grip in the corners.

We’re a few months into the test, having gone through the cold and the wet, but as it stands the longevity also seems to be okay. We’ll keep you posted if that changes. If you’re the type of rider who wants a safe and secure ride over speed and rolling resistance, or a concerned parent of a younger rider, then the Vittoria G+ Rubino Pro Endurance won’t disappoint.

We really can’t fault it against its intended use and our tests – 5 stars Vittoria, you clever people.

First ride out on the new bike new and the Vittoria tyres was a trip to Dalby Forest (my night ride loop) and just a short but fun filled, smile inducing 10 mile loop to smash things around and give the Vittoria’s a hard time on this world class trail.

On the climbs, the tyre didn’t feel as slow as I was expecting, which was a bit confusing looking at the size of the wheel with a big foot print and with oodles of grip (= drag). This as it happens is not as big a surprise, as you’d think, with the height of the tread being relatively low.

Turning off the long climb onto a fire trail, I wondered how it would cope with the loose gravel of the track. Would it be skittish and tricky to hold onto? On this part of the track you can wind it up, but the amount of grip provided by the Vittoria’s was surprising, allowing me to turn the cranks as fast as my legs would supply the power. In the rough and the grime and grit, the bike changed into a spritelier and more nimble flyer, with the Vittoria’s providing a feeling like a hovercraft! Ridewise I felt really comfy as the ample volume of the tyre rolled over everything, engulfing all that was under it in the ample tread. In terms of toughness, it was challenging the world class technicalities of Dalby Forest and coming out smiling.

Reaching the turning point I swopped into the hidden trail, into and through the deep thick under growth and wet sloppy mud, with a healthy splattering of rock and roots to really test any tyre, bike or rider to its limits.

The bike just ploughed through with confidence, helped my own growing confidence with the Bomboloni that I’d gained. Upping the speed was easy, and the positive feedback I was getting to push to the limit of the tyres was spot on. The extra speed started to reel back the time I had lost on the climb, having not been fit enough – more riding needed!

Off camber now, and swinging in between tree on a metalled road descent, pushing hard and bullying the bike, with the 800mm bar sending it where I wanted, and knowing that it would go wherever I wanted, working the seemingly endless amounts grip the Bomboloni tyres were offering. The SPH (Smiles Per Hour) level was going through the roof and the tyres were doing as intended. I was glad to be out on the trails, comforted by the security provided from Vittoria.

Time then to test the tyre on my favourite section of trail. Here goes the last two segments of the whole forest; I know what I want from myself, from the bike and what I expect from tyre too. All that remains is to see what the big V can deliver; the extra grip threw me out a little, but that’s no bad thing. Plenty of air time, with the back sliding out while the front dug in deep, then all coming back together just when you need it. Exactly what you need, pushing hard and no need to think about anything other than your own limits.

This is what I think it should always be like; the only limiting factor should be you, the bike, with the components enhancing this SPH .

SPH though the roof – best ride ever (Smiles Per Hour)

On a particularly technical descent near Todmorden recently, the confidence given by the grippy tread pattern allowed me the freedom to swing the bike around as the line changed and twisted and dropped down to 19% sections of sweet singletrack. Definitely a god test in anyone’s book. In fact it held the ground so well that Phil and I rode up again, with the Barzo climbing superbly, then tackled it once more. Yes, the Barzo eats up steep technical descents.

So how does the Barzo do it?

The tread pattern has been well thought out across a wide carcass, with a good spread of knobs to the sides that simply eat into the terrain when the bike is leaned over. After a short ride your confidence is quickly increased meaning that you feel more able to tackle and manoeuvre the bike instinctively through the rough stuff. The design of the pattern is such that on the fast fire roads, the tyre allows you to race on in safety, gripping when an where it’s needed and retaining a sense of adventure for the rider – now that’s what we all want isn’t it!

Yet the extra grip doesn’t seem to get in the way of swift movement. It rides well and twists and turns at the crucial moments, with a sense of confidence that transfers to the rider. On soggy moorland tracks and on skittish loose and rocky trails, this tyre does the business. Yes, it seems a wide tyre, but it’s about right for what it does. It’s fundamentally a trail tyre that’ll do okay on pure XC routes, and do extremely well in keeping the rider planted – and that’s what counts.

The graphene makes it as solid as a rock, and even though I’ve gone out of my way in Wharfdale to add some real zing, nothing has dented its exterior. It’s a rough and tough tyre that will last. Weight is about right and it goes on and off easily; I’ve been swapping it around on bikes with ease and popping it on without levers.

Vittoria has done a great job with graphene and this tyre. If you ride on wild and natural trails, get out to the local bike shop and get yourself a set. It’s a real winner in our book, so well done to those clever guys in Italy once again!

At first look the light tread pattern oozes pure XC and speed, with the tightly defined centre ridge doing its job to keep rolling resistance low. The side knobs are not overly prominent, but do the job intended when required, balancing the need for grip with the need for speed and excitement when cornering. The densely packed tread pattern is well thought out and not too bulky, gripping well on the gravelly surfaces of the open moorland tracks, biting into the surface with a confidence inspiring sound on climbs, and safely skimming across the ground on descents.

Climbing in Nidderdale was a dream, even with a storm throwing down buckets of rain to mix things up a bit. Speeding uphill, the climbs came and went with the musical sound of great grip accompanying my efforts.
The real test was to come on the twisting, technical descents of the Dales that throw rock steps,natural berms and water gulleys in your way at every turn. These technicalities can make riding a little nervy when testing a new tyre.

However, after throwing myself into a few corners and feeling the defined grip balanced against the Vittoria produced speed, I began to enjoy myself and ride with a growing confidence. The compound is excellent; tough, grippy and firm on trails where it needs to perform.

Those in the know will understand the nature of the descent from Ouster Bank towards Fountains Earth, just above Ramsgill. Long, rocky and fast, with a series of humps placed by the gamekeeper providing ample fun for the mtb rider, with air to be had. Racing along this stretch, taking off and landing on the loose gravel, the Mezcal raced it superbly, taking hit after hit.

The design of this graphene tyre is meant to speed you along and stay strong in all areas, and it works well in this context. I was pleasantly surprised by the toughness and puncture resistance provided by the new graphene, taking it along some truly testing trails and bouncing things around a bit near the sharp edges and even more risky hedgerows. It’s always comforting to know that the marketing actually works in practice, as I’ve had a multitude of ride punctures on these trails in the past.

Vittoria describe their new graphene tyres as being ‘confidence inspiring’ and the side knobs as ‘having increased strength.’ I’m a stickler for honesty, and I have to say to say that on our rides it seemed to do the trick. In terms of the increased durability, only time will tell, and I’ve moved them over to a longer term bike for testing this.

Looking at Vittoria’s own research, the Mezcal isn’t necessarily a tyre that performs at the top end in the wet. However, having ridden it in the worst conditions that we’ve had for years in the Dales, it seems to hold its own, with a performance that is more than a reasonable balance for the speed that you get from the tread design. I never felt uncomfortable or too skittish on the wet stuff.

It was definitely a happy medium. Once again, I’d have to point to the Vittoria use of graphene here, as this is one of the company’s key points, and, on the ground it did perform. There’s no question that Vittoria have done some work on this tyre. Especially in terms of the toughness, strength and compound performance, with the 4 compounds in the tread being unique to this Italian brand – science being useful I’d say.

No, it’s not going to be the best mud-slinger in some really oozy conditions, but you can get other tyres for those trails, and don’t blame this tyre for any skills deficiencies. In terms of what Vittoria have designed the Mezcal for, it performs well and provides the rolling speed that XC riders crave, with a confidence inspiring grip. It’ll be a shame to change this tyre over, so I may just pop it onto the spare bike for a real long term test – and why not! There’s lots more trails to take it along, and I’m now a disciple of graphene!

All round performance is key for most riders, and this tyre fits the bill perfectly. The graphene technology adds that extra strength, whilst the three compound constructions add to the grip where necessary and the overall durability. Further protection comes in the shape of the PRB 2.0 breaker, meaning that punctures, durability and grip are top of the list.

Rolling resistance has been a key component of the design, with a technical tread pattern that builds a series of deep but tiny twisting knobs from the top edge of the side walls around towards the centre band, keeping a thin treadless line across the central circumference to aid rolling resistance on the flat and feisty sections. Vittoria say that the new pattern and compound reduces rolling resistance by 16% and, having tested the tyre for some time now, uphill and down dale, it does ride well and rolls with ease.

Is it fast? Yes it is. Is it grippy, holding the corner and the line? Yes it is and it does – in fine and in wet and rainy conditions it’s just the job. I really am impressed with the tyre, easily noticing the difference from what went before on my wheels. So much so that it’ll be a shame to move on to the next tyre test. The added confidence sweeping through the corners is great, coupled with the rolling resistance on the favourable side make this the ideal all round tyre for road cyclists. It’s a speedy and safe addition for everyone – the tyre equivalent to a VW Golf: reliable, safe and quick!

We tested the folding clincher Pro Control and it goes on and off with relative ease, clinging to the rim and holding firm. It’s a light tyre at 235 grammes and also won’t break the bank.

This is a tyre that will do what you require, day in and day out, all summer long. And for most cyclists, that general performance at the right price is important. No, it’s not the fastest tyre, but will will keep you stuck to the road and ride you along smoothly, which is useful for all of us. Well done Vittoria. It has to be a full 5 stars for this one.