Cyclocross is here, crazy right?! The first UCI race of the USA season kicked off last weekend, and we’re just about to get into the swing of the USCX series. No better time to talk tires, pressures, and new products. But you’d better be ready to learn some new names, because Vittoria just reimagined their cyclocross tire line, and the naming isn’t as clear as previous models. However, they do offer consolidation, and a new Air-Liner CX designed for cyclocross pressures and racing. We hope this will stop (or at least marginally disrupt) the chorus of burping tires on grassy off-camber turns. So put that tub of Mastik back on the shelf and let’s talk tubeless tires.
Vittoria Cyclocross Tires – What’s New?
Didn’t Vittoria purchase Dugast? Yes. Why do they need more cyclocross tires? Well, the Dugast tires offer a certain “feel” (for lack of a better word) and some riders prefer a more sturdy tire (more like a mountain bike tire) for those that don’t enjoy the squish of a tubular feel. That’s why Vittoria continues to make its cyclocross line. Plus – the tires are excellent (imo), and they have an expansive tread and size catalog.
Speaking of which, Vittoria has unveiled an all-new range of cyclocross tires: the Endurance CX line. This new line (the same treads as before but new names and tweaked compounds) announces alongside a dedicated Air-Liner CX insert that hopes to offer tubular-level sensation for tubeless setups. Let’s start at the top – why the new names?
Naming Conventions — A Small Step Backward?
One wrinkle in the launch is Vittoria’s decision to shift CX tire names to match its gravel naming convention. While this creates a unified family, it also risks confusion. The old CX naming system was dead simple—“Dry,” “Mix,” and “Mud” matched exactly the conditions you’d expect to run them in. Now, with the T10/T30/T80/T90 scheme aligned with gravel (taken from Vittoria’s Gravel Terrain Score), riders may need to spend a little more time decoding. For experienced racers, it’s just a slight learning curve, but for newcomers, the previous system may have been more intuitive.
Terrain-Based Tread Options
The Endurance CX family takes Vittoria’s Gravel Terrain Score approach and tailors it to the specific demands of cyclocross racing. Four models cover nearly every scenario:
- Terreno T10 Hardpack (€58.95 / $75.99): possibly for pavement-heavy courses. I really don’t see this as a viable CX option, mostly gravel
- Terreno T30 Fine Loose (€58.95 / $75.99): formerly known as the “Dry”, this tire is excellent for dry and hard-packed courses.
- Terreno T80 Coarse Loose (€58.95 / $75.99): formerly known as “Mix,” this tread is a great wet-mid tread. Not really a true Grifo, but slightly more tread heavy with a sharp tread good for grabbing in sloppy courses and rough tracks, also debuting in a more affordable Sport construction
- Terreno T90 Mud (€58.95 / $75.99): The “Wet” tread, when traction is everything and ruts run axle-deep.
- Sport Range (tube-type, folding or rigid): from €25.95 / $31.99
Every model in the Endurance family uses a 100 TPI casing, Bead Shield sidewall reinforcement, and an anti-puncture belt, combined with Vittoria’s proprietary Graphene compound. The goal is a tire that rolls fast but won’t fold under the punishment of back-to-back race weekends.
Endurance vs Sport Compounds
Where the Endurance line is built with Vittoria’s premium Graphene-enhanced compound and a 100 TPI casing designed to balance speed with durability, the Sport versions dial things back for accessibility. The Sport models utilize a more traditional rubber compound and a heavier casing, resulting in a less supple feel but a far more budget-friendly option. They’re aimed at new racers, training wheels, or riders who don’t need the absolute top-tier performance of the Endurance range. The Sport Range runs about $25.00 less than its Endurance Range counterpart.
The Air-Liner CX: Tubular Feel Without the Glue?
The most significant tech leap might not be the tires at all, but the new Air-Liner CX insert. Explicitly designed for cyclocross widths and pressures, the insert enables riders to lower PSI further without compromising stability. Vittoria claims it replicates the feel of tubulars while offering the easy mounting and repairability of tubeless. It adds lateral stability, impact protection, and run-flat capability (huge for CX), giving racers confidence to push into off-camber corners and roots without the fear of burbing or snake bite flatting.
The Air-liner CX looks to be a mix of a bead lock and a chafer design. Something to take the bite off a curb hit, but also a different shape than the Vittoria Air-Liner-Lite gravel. Plus, with a claimed weight of 50g, it’s not that much of a penalty, but that’s only if it works as claimed. However, it’s only spec’d to work with tires 31-33mm wide, which is the sweet spot for UCI cyclocross, but may miss the mark for the deeper fields. Only time will tell, but we are cautiously optimistic about this new liner. I’m a big fan of the Air-Liner for MTB, and fingers CX’d this will perform the same. Price: €60.00/$69.00.
How do they ride? Stay tuned – we have a set on the way!
