Here is my review of the Vittoria Corsa G+ folding tire from which I've owned and rode two same tires.
REPLACEMENT
I've tried to 'upgrade' from my Panaracer EVO 3 clincher tires which showed some signs of wear.
VITTORIA GRAPHENE TIRES
Checking out the internet, I came across the latest Vittoria tires made with a 'revolutionary material' Graphene or G+, which should be 'superior in speed, grip, durability, and wear resistance than traditional tires.
Graphene is an allotrope of carbon in the form of a single layer of atoms in a two-dimensional hexagon lattice in which one atom forms each vertex. Graphene has a unique set of properties that set it apart from other materials. In proportion to its thickness, it is about 100 times stronger than the strongest steel. It conducts heat and electricity very efficiently and is nearly transparent.
VITTORIA'S HISTORY
According to Vittoria's own homepage, 'since 1953 Vittoria Industries Ltd. has built highly reputable partnerships within the cycling industry. Today’s Vittoria Industries Ltd. is the world’s leading manufacturer of bicycle tires, with an annual production of more than 7 million tires and 900.000 famous tubular and cotton tires. The company is running its own production facilities in Thailand'; an Italian branded bike tire made in the Far East.
PRICE
I was very tempted to use this new invention and gave it a try. My bike took me to the dealer and I found a black clincher tire in 700x25c for NT$1050/US$33.53/€30.47 here in Taiwan. The packing is hexagon-shaped, obviously a reference to the chemical construction of Graphene. Included are the tire itself and a mounting instruction as an additional folded leaflet.
WEIGHT
I weighted, when I remember properly, at 240g/tire for the black clincher in 25 mm. It is not the lightest tire but it should have the most advanced material. Maybe the weight penalty to pay for new technology?
MONTAGE
The montage was quite an easy task. It took me only two tire levers, one less than the previously used Panaracer EVO3. The fitting was spot on without any fiddling with the tire to put it in its proper place. EXPERIENCE
In the beginning, the ride was smooth. On my alloy frame with carbon rear stays, I've noticed an increase in comfort, the tire rolled easily and followed the direction intended fast and reliable. As a result of the confidence to the tire, my average speed increased but not by much.
1st Tire
I rode the first tire for around 2.000 km on the rear until it busted with a big noise during a 300 km tour. Upon further inspection, I've noticed a diagonal cut across the width of the tire including the inner tube. I've mended the tire with a patch from inside and replaced the inner tube. I could ride the last 40 km back home without problems.
2nd Tire
My 2nd tire, mounted on the front, has been ridden until it separated with a 'big bang' right in the center of the tread! I did not carry a patch and tried to reinforce the gap with some leaves and plastic but I still blew all of my three inner spare tires. As a consequence, I had the pleasure of a six-hour walk back home; imagine walking in road cycling shoes with cleats mounted on the soles. And Paul Simon sings about 'diamonds at the soles of her shoes'.
Both tires had enough tread life for hundreds of kilometers. But after both fatal failures, they were just unusable for their intended use. From one Vittoria Corsa G+ tire, I made a belt while the other is still waiting for being used somehow...
CONCLUSION
At my age. I am no more a racer and ride accordingly. I was and still am very disappointed about the quality of the 1st generation Graphene tires from Vittoria, one of the most respected bike tire names in the world.
It seems to me that either the manufacturing process, the quality control, or even both during the hype of the 'new' wonder material led to a literally half-baked product. Possibly even without my expensive failures, the company introduced the 2nd generation Graphene (G2.0) tires in December 2019.
My personal confidence in these tires blew not only once but twice. I will leave the invention of Graphene tires in any form to others. I will stay away from them and rather invest my hard-earned money into a pair of solid and high-quality hand-made German tires. At a later time, I will introduce and review my new Continental GP 5000 tires which performed flawlessly for hundreds of kilometers.
A Word of Caution
Always ride with a helmet and in a way that you are in control of the bike, not the other way around. Ride responsibly, defensively, and safely! It is senseless to gain some seconds but spends weeks recovering in a hospital and/or at home! You, your body, your parents, your family, and your friends will surely appreciate your precautions during a bike ride.
Take care, Gerhard
#Vittoria #CORSA G+ #Continental #GP 5000
I've owned these tested tires, mounted, and rode them for thousands of kilometers by myself. I paid for Vittoria CORSA G+ Folding Tire (1st Generation) out of my own pocket, I am neither endorsed nor sponsored by anyone. Subscribers, followers, and comments are more than welcome!
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