My Vittoria Corsa Competition 700 x 25c foldable tire - unpacking, mounting & riding

Hello everyone!

   After sharing my experiences with the Continental Ultra Sport II and Panaracer Race A & D Evo 3 road bike tires (part 1 @ https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2018/10/my-road-bike-tires-experiences.html) I will introduce my current Vittoria Corsa Competition 700 x 25 c folding tire.
   'Since 1953 Vittoria Industries Ltd. has built highly reputable partnerships within in the cycling industry and created a unique brand image. 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 tubulars and cotton tires.'

   The price of the Vittoria tire was the most expensive tire I used up to date; from my previous experiences I wanted to find out if it is true that 'you pay what you get' for bike tires. I choose this particular tire because it has '4 separate Graphene compounds' which Vittoria claims makes the tire 'superior in speed (rolling resistance), grip, durability and wear resistance'.

   The 'magic word' for me is Graphene. It a semi-metal with small overlap between the valence and the conduction bands (zero band-gap material). It is an allotrope (form) of carbon consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice (wikipedia). More about Graphene in the following video:

   I rode to my favorite dealer and got one in an original packing for a fair price. I mounted it the same day by using only two tire levers. Since around 200 km the tire performed very well and showed obviously no time of wear. 

Vittoria Corsa Competition 700 x 25c foldable tire

- Price

The were around 100% more expensive than my first Continental Ultra Sport II tires @ NT$1.050/€30.00/US$34.10 per tire.

- Mounting

Easier than expected. There is no direction indicator on the tire and I used only two (!) tire levers, the Corsa Competition felt right into its proper place on an instant on the rim, neither pushing nor squeezing was necessary for the proper fit.
- Ride Quality

In dry conditions the ride quality is outstanding; it smooths out small imperfections and street markings on the road and remains very stable a higher speed. Once I had to brake sharp in a tight hairpin while cornering at higher speed; the tire performed outstanding and saved my day! These tires inspire a lot of confidence; I corner much faster & lower than all of my previous tires but please don't tell my wife!

- Wear & Puncture Protection 

Nothing to report on puncture protection due to only 200 km. But in any case I always carry two spare tubes with me (on each ride!).
- Origin  

My Vittoria tires have been made in Thailand, as mentioned on the packing. The Italian company says on its homepage that it 'has its own production facilities' there. There is no indication on the tire wall.
- Verdict  

I rode the Vittoria Corsa Competition tires for only around 200 km and they felt outstanding, a lot of confidence increased my speed. The cornering become even faster, I discovered myself to ride more aggressively (don't tell my wife!). The mounting was not to hard and was only performed once. The wear is unnoticeable, I had not puncture.
- Conclusion

For such a short distance there will be a conclusion in the future. But I surely like this tire and will write an update later.

Carton Packing with Manual (!) and the Vittoria Corsa Competition Tire

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. It is senseless to gain some seconds but spend weeks to recover in a hospital and at home! 
Ride responsible, defensively and safe! You, your body, your parents, your family and friends will surely appreciate your precautions during a bike ride.

Take care, Gerhard

Disclaimer: all technical details are based on Vittoria's own homepage, otherwise specified! I bought and used the tires by myself, I am not sponsored by anyone. Interested subscribers and/or followers are more than welcome! If not convenient to subscribe here I've started my own homepage @ https://gerhardwanninger.wixsite.com/cycling.

My Road Bike Tires experiences: Continental Ultra Sport II and Panaracer Race A & L Evo 3 (Part 2)

This review is a follow up of my Continental Ultra Sport II tires: 

https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2018/10/my-road-bike-tires-experiences.html

   
   After reviewing my somehow disappointing experience with my Continental Ultra Sport II tires I was looking for a better replacement. During the search I came to Panaracer tires which I never heard of. According to the homepage they are made in Japan, for me an indication of quality.
   According to the homepage Panaracer makes three different foldable tubed tires, 
1. Race D Evo 3, 250g/tire
2. Race A Evo 3, 240g/tire
3. Race L Evo 3, 200g/tire
all based on the size 700x25c. The rubber compound is the same, the weight difference results from ProTite Belt, the Panaracer's name of their puncture protection. Due to availability I bought two different tires, the Race A on the rear and the Race L on the front. Both tires performed so similar that I test them together.

Panaracer Race A & Race L Evo 3, foldable tire, 700x25c

- Price

The were around 50% more expensive than my first Continental Ultra Sport II tires @ around NT$799/€20.05/US$22.75 per tire.

- Mounting

More difficult than expected, I used three (!) tire levers. But the tire felt in its proper place on an instant on the rim, no pushing or squeezing to have the right fit. There is no direction indicator on the tire. 
- Ride Quality

In dry and wet conditions the ride quality was great! I never slipped on wet surface, neither on road marking nor on manhole covers; it was smoother but very stable a high speed. These tires gave me a lot of confidence; I cornered much faster & rode lower than on my previous tires.

- Wear & Puncture Protection 

I had only one puncture during the 3.000 km lifetime and replaced them after the inner webbing could be been. For exchanging the inner tube I had to use three tire levers, the same as I dismounted the tire for replacing them.
The wear was o.k. with 3.000 km. Near the end of its lifetime the grip felt a little 'soapy', not dangerous but during downhill clearly noticeable. 
- Origin  

My Panaracer tires have been made in Japan as mentioned on the tire wall and on the homepage.
- Verdict  

I rode the Panaracer A and Panaracer L for only around 3.000 km on different surfaces, road and weather condition and they felt great, gave me a lot of confidence. The cornering speed improved, I discovered myself to ride more aggressively (don't tell my wife!). The mounting was hard but had to be performed not often. The wear is noticeable, as seen on the picture. 

Panaracer Tires after 3.000km, time to be replaced!

- Conclusion

It's a great tire and I would buy them again.

I am not endorsed by anyone and paid for these tires like every customer!

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. It is senseless to gain some seconds but spend weeks to recover in a hospital and at home! 
   Ride responsible, defensively and safe! You, your body, your parents, your family and friends will surely appreciate your precautions during a bike ride.

Take care, Gerhard

Disclaimer: I bought and used the tires by myself, I am not sponsored by anyone. Interested subscribers and/or followers are more than welcome! If not convenient to subscribe here I've started my own homepage @ https://gerhardwanninger.wixsite.com/cycling