ilovecycling

I recently bought my first tubular wheelset and took them out yesterday for the first ride. This was my first time ever using tubulars and holy smokes do they ride sweet! The wheels I bought came with new Corsa Evo CX tires already glued on them. I was excited to try them because I've heard nothing but great things about Vittoria tubulars. The ride was sublime, but the tires looked like crap after a short 20 mile ride. There are a few gashes and chunks missing from the tread pattern in various spots. I never hit anything and the only thing I ran over was the usual rock or pebble here and there. I normally ride Conti gp4k clinchers, and I've never experienced anything like this with them. Other than the rear tire squaring off, they still look good after > 1000 miles. No apparent damage or cuts anywhere. The Vittorias, on the other hand, are clearly not going to be as durable. I knew I could only expect 1500 miles from the rear (as opposed to 3k from a Conti 4000), but I was not expecting the rubber to be so easily cut.

Has anyone else out there experienced this? I don't even see how people would want to race on them if they cut so easily. What good is a high performance tire if everything is going to slice through it like butter?

Silvercivic27

Hmm, I've had pretty much the opposite experience. Tubies are in good shape, the gp4ks have cuts and chunks. I'd say luck probably is the main factor.

I <3 Robots

My rear is pretty tore up...but the front still looks good.

Brian Ratliff

What pressure did you ride them at? Over 120psi should be reserved for the track, regardless of what it says on the sidewall.

Besides that, a real race tire doesn't last all that long. Vittorias are very nice tires, but by all accounts, not the most durable and by some accounts, the least.

WarLordZ

They are directional tires did you mount them correctly?

DRietz

Was today race day?

Vittoria tubular tires are soft compound, fair-weather (unless they're the Pave) racing tires - they're not training tires unless you have a largely disposable income.

A Conti GP4000 is widely considered a training tire, and does not compare to the sublime ride of a Vittoria Corsa Evo CX...now you know why.

If you want the durability of a GP4000, they do make the tubular version. They would be rather hard to glue for a first timer, in my experience.

Biscayne05

I was contemplating on these VS the pros. I eventually went with the pros considering the kind of riding I do + budget I have.

Sorry about this. I'd be pissed off. Maybe an old stock so the tires are breaking down easily?

guadzilla

Actually, I found my GP4000s went on more easily than the Vittorias. They were a bear to mount for stretching, but they were very uniform. The Vittorias, on the other hand, seemed a little "twisted" - not sure how to describe it, but when put on the rim, the tread was skewed towards one side. Had to do a lot of twisting and re-positioning to get the tread right in the middle.

icyclist 

"the tires looked like crap after a short 20 mile ride"

Next time, try a long 20 mile ride.

pdedes

tubulars like the vittoria gain some durability if they are correctly aged.

AdelaaR

Mine are still fine so I presume it's a user error one way or the other.

ColorChange

I have used them for years. The rear usually lasts around 1,000-1,500 miles. They cut easier in the wet (like most tires), but they ride so well, I don't care about the cost. They are nmot know for their longevity, but ride quality and grip. You can't have everything in a tire.

v70cat

I found that they get cut-up very easy now running 4000-s .

guadzilla

Reckon different road surfaces might just have a teeny-weeny role to play?

AdelaaR

Using the wrong type of tire for a certain type of road is considered a user error in my book.

AdelaaR

I agree.