RecceDG

After 4000km I finally wore out the Vittoria Rubino Pro Slicks that came on my S1 and needed some new tires.

I had narrowed the choice down to the Continental GP 4000S or the Michelin Pro 3, when my LBS (Bicycle World, Windsor Ontario) told me to try the Vittorias. So... OK.

The Rubino Pros had gotten a little harsh over 110 PSI, so I usually ran 100 PSI in them. But Vittoria says to run more pressure in the Evo CX, so I tried 130 PSI.

WOW!

There must be something to this whole "thread count" thing, because at 130 PSI these tires roll way freer, faster, and smoother than any other tire I've tried. It's incredible the difference they made to the ride quality, and I swear the bike is faster.

Thumbs up from me!

DG

ls0725

agree to your observations, i use them too but i bought the 320 tpi and pump it to 130F/135R psi.

JoelS

Open Corsa is my favorite tire, hands down.

Ingleside

I am thinking about trying these out after my 4000s wear out but several riders have told me that they wear out fast compared to other "super" tires. Let us know how they wear in!

JoelS

Wear in? They don't wear in, they wear out!

Ingleside

Thats what i figured. I'll try them when I have some money to blow.

ls0725

yes, they wear out quite fast. i guess that's the trade off to better performance in terms of grip, comfort, less RR. a pair can be had for $100 more or less.

kneed2wrydemore

I put 3000 miles on the Conti GP 4000S last year, then last week I mounted a set of Vittoria Open Corsas (320 TPI). The Vittorias roll smoother than the Contis, but I don't feel as planted in the corners. Right after mounting the Contis I was ripping through the corners without fear....

FWIW, I was using the Contis on my Mavic Kysrium SLs and right now I'm using the Vittorias on Williams 38s. To give the Vittorias a fair shot I'll mount them on the Ks....then re-evalutate. As of right now I like the Conti's better then the Vittorias.

ls0725

the Vittoria should last about 1500-2000 miles on rear. i can't comment on comparison to Conti GP4S

kneed2wrydemore

Vittoria definitely excels on smooth pavement and (from what I've read) is a great racing tire. For a road workout and/or spirited riding, I like the Contis.

FlashBazbo

My thoughts on the Vittorias . . .

- Amazingly smooth ride. Very close to the ride of tubulars. Probably the most flexible sidewall I've ever seen.
- When they break cornering traction, they are pretty good at regaining grip.

But . . .

- Zero protection against penetration. I've had more flats from minor stuff with these than with any other tire since about 1984. In an eight-day period, I had four flats -- three of them from the tiny wires that get thrown out from truckers' blowouts.
- Nervous handling on steep, winding descents. It's not an oscillation -- just a random squirm. Can be scary.
- When they regain traction (see above), they squirm BIG-TIME before completely recovering. Feels almost as if you might roll the tire off the rim. Can be scary.

All-in-all, although I loved the ride quality, the high-speed squirm made me slow. If I lived back in the Kansas flatlands, I might stay with these tires longer. As it is, in the Tennessee hills and mountains, I like the stability I get from other, more conventional tire constructions.

kimconyc

Huh? That might be your problem, not the tire.

I used to use Open Corsa EVO CX and Open Pave EVO CG but I have now switched to Conti GP 4000S.

The Conti's don't feel as nice but they are an overall better tire and like half the price.

I still have OCs on one bike because I wanted to try out their 320 tpi version; will go back to GP 4000S when the Vittoria's wear out.

operator

Open corsas are open tubulars. The 320 tpi is the 'newest' version of that tyre. The 290 tpi's were on closeout for < $20 last year.

caelric

They make clincher versions as well, which I have, and love, and have done me well in two IM's, plus a good number of century rides. I have used both the 290 TPI and 320 TPI versions and can't tell the difference. If you can find the 290s for cheap, buy those.

FlashBazbo

Yeah, you're right. I don't like a tire to squirm around without my permission. (wimp) Fortunately, other tires don't.

zzzwillzzz

i don't know whose having problems with grip with these tires, they far surpass any other clincher in grip in corners and descents

zzzwillzzz

open means clincher

Dannihilator

I'm using the 290 tpi Open Corsas on the track bike. Have a set of the 320 tpi ones that will have to be used soon. I've gotten a year out of the 290 tpi ones.

anomaly

They have the best grip of any tire in their size that I've ridden. I've done lots of 50+mph sweepers with an Open Corsa on the front and always been fine. The only times I've ever had any trouble were when I truly over cooked it into a turn and even then I was able to stay up right. I do, however, find that they offer poor wet grip.

v70cat

I like the Vittoria's Corsa EVO CX 320 but they wear out faster than most tires.

I had to change the rear tire at 1,400 miles. They seem to offer fine flat protection.

Psimet2001 

...don't mean to defend operator here but....he knows that guys. They are referred to as Open Tubulars -> clincher.

AngryScientist 

i'm using the 320 oc's on my bianchi, best clinchers i've ever used, from a grip/feel persepective, but they do seem to wear fast.

i wont be using them on a daily basis just because they're fairly expensive depending on where you get them, and they wear fast.

a great alternative for a longer wearing tire thats almost as nice is the diamante...

jwible

I have one on my front now. I had a 320 TPI on my rear but it wore fast and I took it off to preserve it at about 600 miles or so. The front still had the center tread after 2k miles. I had switched to the GP4000 on the rear but it wore even faster and was showing cords in less than 1000 miles. Also I think the grip on the GP4000 was less than the Vittoria. Maybe because it was a grey tire and it was easy to spot every flat spot from a skid or wheel spin. I have an old Diamante Pro on there now and an happy with it so far.

v70cat

1,400 miles on the back tire in NYC is not so bad.

People spend big dollars on a bike a new $60 tire every 1,400 miles is not so bad.

zatopek

Open Corsas have the best ride quality of any clincher I know. However, mine have always cut way to easily for me to consider them an affordable training tire. If I ever hit the lottery, I'll ride nothing but Open Corsas.