Vittoria Corsa N.ext

The part every gram-counter has been waiting for – how much do they weigh? Regarding pricing and performance, Vittoria pits the Corsa N.ext against other competition level tires such as the Continental Grand Prix and the Schwalbe Pro One. In terms of weight, the tube-type version of the Corsa N.ext blows the competition out of the water at only 212g (700c x 28mm). Comparatively, the Grand Prix 5000 is 245g and the Pro One is 250g. The tubeless Corsa N.ext, on the other hand, is a little bit heavier than the competition at 312g (700c x 28mm) compared to 280g for the Grand Prix S TR and 270g for the Pro One TLE. So, if weight is your only concern, the tube type version is perfect, but the tubeless version may not quite fit the bill. But don’t move on so quickly, there is one more thing to consider.

Okay, I saved the best part for last. The Corsa N.ext was the easiest tubeless road tire I have ever installed. Vittoria must be getting real good at dialing in their tolerances because it fit like a glove. Mounting the Corsa N.ext onto the wheel was as easy as it gets. The fit is snug but not so tight that you need tire levers to get the bead over the rim* (anyone who has mounted a GP 5000 knows how hard this process can be). After watching videos of Vittoria setting up their tubeless tires without adding sealant first, I deicide to try my luck at it. On the first attempt both tires seated within seconds. I used an air compressor to supply a burst of air, but it seems these tires would seat using a booster, a tubeless pump, or perhaps even a high volume floor pump. Having struggled with tubeless tires before, installing the Corsa N.ext was a breath of fresh air and that alone is a good enough reason to use these tires over some of the trickier to install models on the market.

Over the past year I have had the chance to test a couple sets of Corsa N.EXT tires. The first set performed quite well until I entered a race with notoriously bad pavement and proceeded to double-flat with a pair of sidewall punctures from a hard hit on a sharp-edged pothole. The second set ran as expected up to 1500 miles. At this point, the tire started to show significant signs of wear, with deep gashes that made the tire no longer feel safe. While 1500 is lower mileage than I had hoped for, the miles were over the course of a rainy and dirty winter season that would have been tough on any tires. I imagine that these tires would have lasted longer if they were used on smooth roads in dry conditions. Overall, I am still pleased with the performance of these tires and will be testing out a pair of 32mm Corsa N.exts for some light gravel events.