Vittoria Corsa CX

Price Paid:  $40.00 at online

Favorite Ride:
Mt. Diablo

Bike Setup:
Specialized Roubaix, ultegra, Neuvation wheels.

Summary:
If you are wealthy or get your tires for free these are the best riding, so smooth! But they are cut easily. I've gotten about 600 miles on a pair and the rear is all chewed up with little tears and the black underlining showing through. Probably not safe to use. Vredestein Fortezza much tougher so back I go.

Strengths:
Beautifully smooth, quiet riding.

Weaknesses:
Easily damaged beyond repair.

Similar Products Used:
Panaracer Stradius Pro, Continental 3000s, Hutchinson Top Speed(AWFUL!)

Price Paid:  $50.00 at www.sdeals.com

Favorite Ride:
Sunday morning bunch ride

Bike Setup:
Orbea with Durace and Zipp 340's.

Summary:
These tires rock. Don't be mistaken, they are race tires and are not made for everyday training. They are as close to singles as you will find. Fast, grip the road like hell and light. Pump them up to 150psi and hear them hum on the road. Simply the fastest high pressures that I have ridden. They got me through the road racing season without a puncture.

Strengths:
Fast, light, great feel - the best road racing high pressure that I have ridden. Great for road and criteriums.

Weaknesses:
Not made for everyday training - these are racing tires (this is really not a weakness though).

Similar Products Used:
Michelin, Continental, Hutchinson.

Price Paid:  $49.00 at Palo ALto Bikes

Favorite Ride:
Lake Tahoe

Bike Setup:
Trek 5500, Durace

Summary:
Vittoria Open Corsa CX is the best performing tire I have ridden on.The rolling resistance, handling characteristics, braking, and ride comfort are far superior to other tires I have used, including Continental GP3000, and Michelin Pro Race. THe Vittoria is a much more stable tire. However, it does not last - you pay for the performance.

Strengths:
RIde ; less rolling resistance, handling performance, wet performance, grip, braking performance - all superior.

Weaknesses:
TIre is soft compound and will wear quickly. Supposedly the EVO version is better, but I have not yet tried it.

Similar Products Used:
Continental GP 3000, Michelin Pro Race

Price Paid:  $29.00 at U.K. mail order shop

Bike Setup:
653 frame, Campagnolo Chorus, CXP-33 rims

Summary:
I bought six of these when I found them at a good price. They are called Open Corsa CX, they are clinchers. I'm not sure what tubular reviews are doing here.

They do ride very well, they feel supple and corner well. However, they cut like nothing I ever had before. And when they cut, they typically cut right through the casing - I can't believe there is kevlar in there. I have had to throw two away so far. I just did the Spud triathlon yesterday, and I flatted about a mile from the end; this one had a cut but only a small hole through the casing, so I put a patch on the inside and I'll see if I can get some miles out of it. The two new ones will be on eBay shortly. I have no idea how long they last, I have not yet gotten 300 miles out of one of them before a terminal cut.

For reference, I am a big guy - 225 lbs/102 kg/16 stone, so maybe they behave differently under the typical 150 pounder. I guess I'll go back to Michies, but I have no experience with the Axial series. I had a bunch of Hi-Lite Supercomp HDs, which were good, and BiSynergics which were fantastic. I rarely got flats in any of those and they were reasonably supple, but they don't stick as well in corners.

Strengths:
Very supple, nice feel on the road
Corner well
Mount and dismount very easily - and you're going to need it

Weaknesses:
Soft tread cuts easily
Cuts often go right through the casing

Similar Products Used:
Michelin Hi-Lite Supercomp HD - good for the price, although you'd occasionally get one with poor tread alignment
Michelin Hi-Lite Prestige - ditto
Michelin BiSynergic - best tire ever?
Performance

Price Paid:  $39.00 at cbike

Favorite Ride:
good

Bike Setup:
racing bike, fast setup

Summary:
I like the tires a lot, they dont puncture or slide like the michilins. Continental stinks, I would never use them again. This is the perfect tire for me, they are loyal and i can trust them.

Strengths:
pretty fast, not as some others, but it gets the speed i want. NO PUNCTURES in three months. Good luck with other companies.

Weaknesses:
no as fast as i want them. They could be a little better for the price.

Similar Products Used:
michilin pro race, yuck, just use these for the front. I used continental once!