Vittoria has been in the news recently. The Italian cycling powerhouse just released an updated Enduro and Downhill AirLiner. Not too long before that, an updated Corsa Speed Pro-level TT tire. The company tackles year-round training, commuting, and general road riding in its latest release, RideArmor.
The RideArmor tire sounds more like a protective layer in a tire, but not the tire itself. Well, Vittoria wanted to hammer the idea home.
Vittoria RideArmor – What is it?
Its newest tire, the RideArmor, is a road, all-around focused tire that will last long and be an armor against flats and high rolling resistance. This new tire gives riders a faster rolling option for commuting and road riding without worrying about punctures.
RideArmor incorporated lots of the key features present in most Vittoria tires: Graphene + Silica compound, reinforced lateral and tread belts, and tubeless compatible (hookless compatible 28mm and up).
Where does it sit in the product line? As the Vittoria product line goes, the top and pro-level performance starts at the Corsa Pro with a cotton casing and minimal puncture resistance. The Corsa NEXT follows with a nylon casing and more reinforcement. The Rubino Pro is next and is considered a training tire for road racing with a low price and higher performance.
Finally — RideArmor features the most puncture protection, most extended wear and is available in seven different sizes. For some clarification on the layers of the tire: Under the tread, there are three layers of nylon ply (not-six), plus the kevlar bead to bead layer, and finally, the inner shield.
Vittoria RideArmor Key Features:
- Durability, comfort, and grip in both dry and wet conditions
- Utilizes a Graphene + Silica compound
- 100 TPI
- Reinforced lateral and tread belts for durability and puncture resistance
- Tubeless and tube-type (Hookless compatible for sizes 28 and above)
- Available in 700×26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, and 38mm sizes
- Weight: 436g (size 32mm)
- Price: $65.00 € 59,95
- Availability: Now
First Impressions
For the winter and spring, I typically mount up some older thick tires for the poor maintenance roads I ride. My go-to size is 30-32mm, just enough to take on bumps but small enough to fit in my cyclocross frame. The Vittoria RideArmor offers an excellent array of sizes for the dedicated roadie and the rider coming off a season of 33mm.
I went with the 32mm size in the middle of the RideArmor range. It fits the hookless rim (via Vittoria’s recommendations) and is what I’m partial toward.
Weight
The Vittoria RideArmor, in 32mm is 436g on my scales. It’s not too heavy for a high puncture-resistant tire. Though having a super lightweight ‘puncture resistant’ tire is excellent, it rarely performs as described. So, this weight is exactly what I would expect from a tire with the same claims as the Vittoria RideArmor.
Installation
The installation was uneventful; the tire fit quickly and easily on my Mavic All-Road (hookless) alloy wheels. I could inflate the tire without tricks like pulling the valve core or compressors. I used my trusty old Silca pump, and things went smoothly.
The tire inflated to a plump 33mm on my Mavic All-Road S wheel with an internal width of 25mm.
Vittoria RideArmor Ride Impressions
The RideArmor is my only road tire in rotation; it’s received many miles. I’ve used it on Specialized Crux for gravel and rough roads (maybe some single track). Then, on our Canyon Endurace test rig for longer roads and faster winter group rides.
Regarding ride feel, the RideArmor is what you would expect from a highly anti-puncture tire. It’s slightly heavy, with a dull feel on the road. It rolls efficiently and doesn’t feel sluggish like some commuter tires do on fresh tarmac.
I looked to tire pressure adjustments to dial in my intended ride feel further. I went lower than usual on my road setup (around 48psi), and the tire felt more supple and comfortable.
Regarding grip, I never found myself looking for more with the RideArmor. The slight tread offers cornering stability and confidence on the road.
Around 40-45psi (or lower) was my go-to range on rough roads and gravel. This gave me the compliance and suspension-like ride I was after but rolled well. Regarding puncture resistance, I didn’t have any during my test period (around one month) with the RideArmor. I took it over roads with glass and gravel with big rocks and rode mountain bike trails. After hitting the rim many times (hopping a curb sloppy), the tire was still airer up.
How About the Price?
The Vittoria RideArmor is a lightly higher price for a performance-style puncture-resistant tire. Others in the field would be the Specialized Armadillo, Pirelli Cinturatro Velo, and the Continental Gator Skin. The difference with the Vittoria RideArmor is the TLR version and the ability to use it on a hookless rim. Does this justify the extra coin? Maybe — but in my thoughts, it’s all about the efficiency of the tire vs the wear. Plus – there is a size for nearly every need and ride style.
We’ll report back with a long-term review, but the Vittoria RideArmor looks to be an excellent option for those looking for a tremendous, long-wearing road tire in many sizes.
