Skip to main content

Vittoria Martello rTNT DH 27.5x2.5in tyre


Vittoria’s reinforced Martello is monster heavy but has a surprisingly supple feel, good all-round grip, reasonable speed and excellent wear life. It’s a solid choice for heavy-duty bike park or e-bike use. At 1,460g, the ‘rTNT’ version with its beefed-up sidewalls is 500g heavier than the standard ‘TNT’ tyre in the 2.4in width. While nominally a 2.5in, it squares out to 61-64mm wide (2.4-2.5in), depending on rim width (30-35mm, internal). The fit feels baggy but is stable and secure down to mid-teen pressures. Unlike a lot of DH tyres, it doesn’t feel wooden or clunky in sub-warp-speed situations. In fact, it sucks up roots and rocks smoothly even on slow techy climbs, making it great for e-bike use, where weight isn’t an issue. The quadcompound rubber mix and squared and siped tread are generally predictable whether it’s wet or dry, loose or hard, and the tyre still rolls OK. Pricing is reasonable considering the level of technology and the grapheneboosted wear life of the tyre.

Price $82
Labels

Popular posts from this blog

KONA SHRED

With a reputation for no-nonsense ruggedness and a background in the always progressive and punishing riding of Canada, Kona have been building hardcore hardtails for longer than almost anyone else. The Shred is the most expensive bike on test but it’s a proper trail tank.

READ MORE >>

Nukeproof Vector AM Comp Cro-Mo saddle

The Vector AM is pretty race focused, with minimal padding. There’s a deep (if narrow) pressurerelief channel to keep the blood flowing where it’s meant to. Used with bib shorts, we found it pretty comfortable for shorter rides and suffered no pain or discomfort in the central region. On steep climbs the slightly downturned nose provides a reasonable forward perch, while the svelte profile and smooth edges make it particularly unobtrusive when moving about on the descents. It’s quite stiff though, and can feel harsh on long rides or bumpy ground. We definitely wouldn’t want to spend much time on it without a chamois. It’s heavier than we’d expect for such a lightly padded perch too. There’s a lighter Pro version with titanium rails for $105, but at 241g it’s only 10g lighter. Weight 251g Price $67

READ MORE >>

GT Zaskar Evolution

While some bike models last just a couple of years, others change with the times to stay at the top of riders’ wishlists. In the second part of this series looking at the evolution of bikes that enjoy enduring popularity with UK riders, we turn to the GT Zaskar – a bike that was at the forefront of our sport for a long time and still has plenty of appeal today.

READ MORE >>

Cannondale Trail SL 29 SS

The fat aluminium tubes are a constrast to the skinny items seen elsewhere in the test, but this rigid Cannondale uses them to create one of the most old-school - and lightest - rides here.

READ MORE >>

CANYON NERVE AL 8.0

  S ince their entry into the UK market a few years ago, Canyon have made a name for themselves as purveyors of well-made bikes that exhibit often extraordinary value. The secret (or catch, depending on your point of view) is that the brand don’t have dealers – they ship bikes directly to your door.

READ MORE >>