Vittoria Corsa N.Ext tyre overview: A midway home between race tyre and coaching tyre that does nicely at each

The Vittoria Corsa N.Ext – merely pronounced Corsa Next – was launched again in 2022, earlier than the brand new Corsa Pro lineup. Back then it was the primary tyre within the Corsa line to function a Nylon casing moderately than the common cotton casing that has adorned the Corsa line.

The thought was to bridge the hole between the Corsa Control rugged race tyre, and the Rubino Pro all season providing. Much of the tread know-how is identical as discovered within the Corsa vary although, with a mixture of each Graphene and Silica. It’s designed to be each quick, and sturdy.

In phrases of worth, they undercut the Corsa Pro vary of street race tyres, but their efficiency is in some instances higher as we discovered in our lab-based rolling resistance take a look at of them towards the perfect street bike tyres in the marketplace. So the place do these slot in to the present tyre market and must you go for these moderately than the Corsa Pro lineup or different tubeless street bike tyres?

Design and specs

The fundamental novelty of the Corsa N.Ext versus any of the remainder of the Corsa vary is the shortage of tan partitions and the well-known cotton casing. Instead, Vittoria has used a 100 TPI Nylon casing because of the excessive longevity of that in comparison with cotton. There is a trade-off, which is that the Nylon shouldn’t be fairly as supple so supposedly not as plush to trip or as quick rolling, particularly over rougher floor the place elevated deformation can help in rolling resistance. 

In whole, 4 layers of nylon casing are used beneath the tread, with three on the sidewalls. The tubed variant of the tyre makes use of one much less layer on every part resulting from not needing to retain air. A non-stretch Zylon tyre bead is used to forestall the escape of air when setting the tyres up tubeless.

The tread itself makes use of the identical know-how because the Corsa Pro line, utilizing each Graphene and Silica. Graphene has been used since 2015 in Vittoria’s Corsa tyres, resulting from it making the tread quicker rolling, grippier, and extra sturdy. Adding Silica to that blend is supposed to enhance all of those points additional and improve puncture safety. 

In truth, the N.Ext was the primary Vittoria tyre to function Silica, and paved the best way for the inclusion within the Corsa Pro line. The Silica is extra current on the centre of the tread, whereas the Graphene is extra featured on the sidewalls. To enhance puncture safety additional, a puncture belt is used throughout the centre of the tyre under the tread.

In phrases of specs, the Corsa N.Ext can be found in sizes from 24 to 34c in increments of 2mm, nevertheless solely 28c and up are ETRTO (European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation) hookless suitable. You can refresh your self on what ETRTO requirements imply right here, however what’s vital to know is that in case your wheels are hookless, you should not run these tyres narrower than 28mm. 

An fascinating function Vittoria now exhibits is the carbon footprint of its tyres. It says utilizing the Corsa N.Ext for 42km offsets the carbon to make a 28c tyre. Interestingly this can be a little larger than the footprint for the Cotton Corsa choices.

Performance

The first step is all the time becoming the tyres, and the Vittoria Corsa N.Ext are common problem on this regard. Getting the preliminary bead on the rim was straightforward, however getting the ultimate little bit of the second bead to flip over required a good bit of elbow grease. Certainly extra effort required than the Corsa Pro Control. However getting the tyres as much as strain was finished with only a observe pump and seating was very straightforward. Sitting on the Shimano RS170 wheels I used for testing, with 23mm exterior and 17mm inside, the tyres sat at 28.2mm, close to the marketed 28mm. On our lab take a look at wheels, the Hunt 54 Aerodynamicist with 20mm inside width, they got here in at 28.9mm, an entire mm wider than any of the 28mm Corsa Pro choices when fitted to the identical rims. I’ve all the time discovered the Corsa Pro tyres to measure up a bit narrower than marketed, so it’s fascinating to see the Corsa N.Ext go the opposite route with the dimensions.

I’ve truly had the good thing about utilizing these tyres beforehand on some coaching weeks in Spain, so have loads of expertise in utilizing them on quick easy descents, in addition to when it rained over there. When it involves dry cornering, the tyres have been as quick as any others that I’ve used with sensible grip. Wet climate in Spain was admittedly treacherous, however that was possible extra to do with the street floor than the tyres. Fortunately my latest UK winter testing has allowed for extra consultant testing of that.

As with different latest tyre assessments, I’ve been taking advantage of the hedge reducing that’s been happening, in addition to moist climate and filthy muddy roads to actually put the N.Ext by means of their paces. So far I haven’t managed to select up a puncture, even using by means of hedge trimmings within the rain, and the damage on the tyres appears to be like fairly good. 

For reference I managed round 2,000km on my earlier set earlier than the tread wore by means of on the rear tyre. One factor that’s noticeable with the N.Ext although is that there was a bit extra in the best way of particles and flint lodged within the tread itself. I’ve typically had this with Graphene-tread Vittoria tyres, and it has typically solely change into an issue when the tyre is getting older and carrying down. It’s simply good apply to go over your tyres after foul climate rides to take away particles from the tread. I do suppose these are a bit extra vulnerable to it than the Pirelli P Zero Race TLR 4S and Continental GP5000 AS TR although.

When it got here to testing grip on UK street surfaces, the Corsa N.Ext are very at-home be it moist or dry. The tread sample appears to be like close to similar to the Corsa Pro Control, and seems to be equally as grippy. Out of the saddle up steep moist climbs didn’t lead to any rear wheel spin or slip, whereas cornering within the moist felt as comfy on some other excessive finish tyre I’ve to date used.

What is shocking about these tyres although is absolutely how they examine with the upper finish Vittoria Corsa Pro Control. The N.Ext are cheaper, are available in at simply 4g heavier (307 vs 303), however in our rolling resistance testing they have been round 3 watts quicker in any respect speeds, and solely 3 watts slower than the Corsa Pro race tyres. Given the N.Ext are designed to be extra resilient, which I might be inclined to imagine, weigh an analogous quantity, are available in a wider dimension vary, and are simply as grippy, it’s arduous to justify the Corsa Pro Control mannequin above this. The lack of tan wall choices is the one actual distinction between the 2, and that the N.Ext are cheaper.

Value

As already talked about, the Vittoria Corsa N.Ext are cheaper (£10 per tyre within the UK) than the Corsa Pro fashions. They’re nonetheless not low-cost, at £71.95, which makes them dearer than the marginally quicker and equally all-season quick pace focussed Specialized S-Works Mondo, however a wider dimension vary and decrease weight could also be most well-liked by some.

Given the very small rolling resistance between the Corsa N.Ext and the Corsa Pro, and a 15g weight saving for the Pro, there isn’t a lot to separate the 2 on that entrance. However the N.Ext is extra sturdy, options extra puncture safety, and is cheaper. Yes 3 watts per tyre, 6 watts per set, it a major quantity and marginal variations can matter. I’d moderately go for the Corsa Pro than an outsized pulley wheel and the tyres are cheaper. However, because the saying goes, “to complete first, first you need to end.”

I’ve had loads of sturdy race outcomes ruined by punctures on fairly contemporary tyres. Plus with a 6w saving leading to a small time saving over 100miles, a puncture will value you much more time.

Given the Corsa N.Ext’s ranges of efficiency, grip and sturdiness, I believe it’s a superb tyre possibility, and the good choice out of Vittoria’s Corsa line up. 

Verdict

The Vittoria Corsa N.Ext are fairly probably Vittoria’s greatest tyre providing. In phrases of rolling resistance they outperform the extra rugged Corsa Pro Control, whereas solely being a small method behind the Corsa Pro. They obtain this whereas being cheaper, weighing an analogous quantity, and having higher puncture resistance and sturdiness.

They are nonetheless not low-cost, however provide an important steadiness of efficiency, resilience, and cornering grip for the worth level. For these wanting a quick tyre to get them by means of all completely different weathers and situations, the Corsa N.Ext is a strong possibility. The solely motive to not go for these is in case you’re set on non-black facet walled tyres.