Long-Term Test of Vittoria Corsa N.EXT Tires

The Corsa N.EXT tire is a new model in the Vittoria lineup, designed to offer a good balance between performance and durability. Unlike the famous Corsa—from which it is directly derived—it is made with a nylon casing (rather than cotton) and a vulcanized tread (not glued). Available in tubeless or tube versions, we tested the tube version for two months over 4,000 km. Here’s our verdict. By Guillaume Judas – Photos: ©3bikes.fr

The Vittoria Corsa range is highly popular among competitive cyclists, whether in tubular, tubeless, or tube-type versions. The Corsa offers a fairly supple ride feel, good grip, and high-level performance, as evidenced by victories in the last three editions of the Tour de France with Tadej Pogacar (tubeless and tubular) and Jonas Vingegaard (tubular).

The new Corsa N.EXT is geared more toward amateur cyclists, whose needs are slightly different from those of pros, mainly in terms of durability. Because many of us—especially since the advent of carbon wheels and disc brakes—ride primarily with a single set of wheels, year-round and on all types of terrain. Our search is therefore focused on high-performance yet versatile tires. And, if possible, lightweight yet durable ones. With the Corsa N.EXT, Vittoria aims to meet these expectations—and do so more convincingly than with its Rubino Pro line, which lags significantly behind higher-end tires in terms of performance, particularly market leaders like the all-around Continental GP 5000.

https://www.3bikes.fr/2019/06/24/test-longue-duree-des-pneus-continental-gp-5000/ The impressive weight of the Vittoria Corsa N.EXT

Available in two versions (for tubes or Tubeless Ready) and in six sizes (from 700×24 to 700×34), the Corsa N.EXT tyres are particularly lightweight—at least for the tube version. Weighing in at 217 g in the 700×28 size, the weight is very impressive, especially when paired with Vittoria’s 29-g TPU inner tubes. These tires are lighter than tubulars—and even lighter than the tubeless version with sealant.

=> SEE ALSO: Review of Vittoria Ultra Light Speed TPU Inner Tubes

As is almost always the case with Vittoria tires, the Corsa N.EXT matches the specified width, as we measured 28 mm wide on rims with a 19 mm width and a 21 mm internal width. With other competing 700×25 models, the width is sometimes 28 or 29, and can even reach 31 or 32 with 700×28 tyres.

The Corsa N.EXT’s casing has a density of 100 TPI (threads per inch), with three layers beneath the tread and two layers on the sidewalls. An additional puncture-resistant strip sits beneath the tread, which itself carries the distinctive profile of other Corsa models, with a pattern that inspires confidence in corners. The rubber compound is new to Vittoria and adds silica to the graphene already popularized by the brand on some of its tires. The goal is to reduce wear and improve traction.

During installation, on two different wheelsets (Roval Rapide CLX with 21 mm internal rim width and Fulcrum Racing Speed with 19 mm internal rim width), the Corsa N.EXT tires required no special attention. Of course, it takes a bit of care and a firm hand on all wheels that strictly adhere to the ETRTO standard—and even a little help from a tire lever—but it’s still much less complicated than with a Continental tire. Note that with Vittoria’s TPU tubes, it’s possible to switch between setups without much trouble, whereas this is virtually impossible with a latex tube, which loses its shape after the first installation.

The Performance of the Vittoria Corsa N.EXT Given how Vittoria presented this product, its positioning in the lineup, and its construction type, we had some concerns about the Corsa N.EXT’s performance on the road. We expected them to be closer in performance to a nylon Rubino Pro than to a cotton Corsa. But the first few laps quickly dispelled these preconceptions, especially with the TPU tubes, whose performance we had already been able to isolate when testing Michelin Power Cup tires.

The Corsa N.EXT tires feel lively once you inflate them to a high enough pressure. In fact, in this regard, we relied on our own experience rather than theoretical recommendations. Basically, since the 700×28 Corsa tires are the same actual size as other 700×25 tires, we inflated them as if they were 25s, between 6.5 and 7 bar (for a rider weight of 57 kg plus the bike and gear).

=> SEE ALSO: Buy the Vittoria Corsa N.EXT tire on sale for €54.95

When riding out of the saddle, the sidewalls don’t drift, and changes in direction remain very precise. The road feel is similar to that of the Corsa tires with the cotton casing, even though the sidewalls seem a bit stiffer. On smooth asphalt, the tread feels just as “smooth-rolling” as the brand’s top-of-the-line models. Performance drops off slightly on rougher surfaces, where the tire tends to bounce very slightly, but it’s still a very good tire overall. Of course, it’s difficult to estimate on the road, down to two watts, whether one tire performs better than another, and we’re willing to believe that the Corsa N.EXT is still outperformed by a few top-tier models. But our overall impression is that this tire would suit us perfectly in competition, without making us feel at a disadvantage in that regard. Comfort—or at least passive vibration absorption—is not the Corsa N.EXT’s strongest suit. That said, when seeking the best balance between tire width, inflation pressure, and performance, it’s not always easy to stand out from the crowd. Let’s just say they fall slightly short compared to cotton-cord Corsa tires of the same width.

The Grip of the Vittoria Corsa N.EXT When it comes to grip, the Corsa N.EXT tires perform very well, whether on dry or wet surfaces. On dry roads, you can confidently tackle even the tightest corners, even when braking as late as possible. Once the bike is leaned over, the tire doesn’t lose traction and always provides an excellent sense of control. After long weeks without rain, one might have feared the first downpours on dusty asphalt contaminated with oil. However, the Corsa N.EXT tires passed their test with flying colors, whether out in the countryside or in the city amid numerous roundabouts and crosswalks. As long as you exercise a little caution, the tires feel reassuring in all circumstances and don’t lose traction. When braking, they maintain good grip on the road, and any wheel lockups are easily predictable. It remains to be seen how they’ll perform on wet and colder surfaces, such as in winter, since we know that temperature can sometimes play tricks on different tire compounds. But in spring, summer, and fall conditions, they’re top-notch.

The durability of the Vittoria Corsa N.EXT Once again, the Vittoria Corsa N.EXT meets our expectations. After 4,000 km, both treads are certainly a bit worn, but nothing to worry about. There are two cuts on the rear tire, one of which still had a small flint embedded in it when the photo was taken. The front tire is fine. It’s worth noting that the tread features a wear indicator, which is nowhere near the limit here. In short, under summer conditions, we can likely expect to reach 6,000 km with these tires. Meanwhile, we didn’t experience any flat tires during this test, thanks to the TPU inner tubes.

Our take on the Vittoria Corsa N.EXT

The Vittoria Corsa N.EXT tires perform excellently in terms of lightness, durability, and grip, whether on dry or wet surfaces in summer conditions. They also offer very good puncture resistance. Some may consider them slightly inferior in terms of comfort, or even performance, compared to specialized tires. They can also be considered quite expensive. Nevertheless, given their overall qualities, they are among the best tires currently available in the high-end all-around category, for those seeking long-lasting, worry-free traction.

=> SEE ALSO: Buy the Vittoria Corsa N.EXT tire on sale for €54.95

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