Vittoria’s new Cross-XS tire will come in both tubular and TNT tubeless-ready clincher versions and will use their next generation Corespun cotton casing. That casing has the same tpi as the original but uses a new construction process that’s closer to how they make their track tires and makes it more supple. Beyond that, Vittoria’s reps weren’t giving up any details until closer to the product’s actual release.
Fortunately, that release should be before cyclocross season’s completely under way. Available in fall as a 700×33, they’ll possibly do a wider one for gravel, too…
The tread profile has hexagonal grids in the center with transition knobs leading to the mid sized edge knobs. That’s something you don’t often see, with many file tread tires jumping straight to the full size edge knobs. The tire shown here is the tubular and not glued to the rim, hence the imperfect angle.
It was being shown on a custom Zanconato ‘cross bike, mounted to the upcoming Qurano Disc cyclocross wheel. The Qurano line is their Graphene-enhanced carbon fiber rim lineup, and these were the new disc brake version.
The Qurano clincher wheels use a tubeless-ready design with an asymmetric tire well that they say helps ease tire installation by making it easier for the tire to slide up one side of the rim and seat one of the clincher’ beads, after which the other bead should follow suit. For the full tech run down on Vittoria’s use of Graphene to make lighter, stronger and better performing wheels, click here and the link directly above.
