Vittoria Zaffiro Pro 2 Folding Tyre

Turn to the Behind the Counter column at the rear of this issue and you will find some recommendations about preparing your bike for use during the winter months. Part of any maintenance schedule, but particularly at this time of year, should include the systematic checking of tyres and the replacement of them when their condition is no longer sufficient to reasonably expect a trouble free ride.

While carrying out the other service items, check the tyres and if they have more than a few minor cuts, or have worn tread, replace them with something durable that will see you through the winter. You might get away with worn tyres for a while during the summer but remember, water does three things to tyres; it lessens their grip with the road, ;it acts as an adhesive of sorts so that small pieces of road grit such as stones and glass fragments stay on the tyre for at least another revolution increasing the risk of puncture and it works as a lubricant, helping glass shards and stones to slide more easily into the tyre tread or casing. Granted, new tyres aren't immune to puncture, but at least you've given yourself a fighting chance with new rubber. Getting a puncture is bad enough at any time of the year. It's not often dangerous but it is always inconvenient. The inconvenience is multiplied if it's in winter, with cold fumbling hands changing a tyre on a wheel covered in road and brake grime in reduced light with rain falling making the roadside repair, far less preferable to the warm, clean, well lit, dry repair at home in the workshop.

Range Options

Most bike manufacturers now fit high quality race tyres to many of their mid to upper range bikes, but these are not always the most suitable tyre for the individual who happens to ride to work most days or go training three or four times a week. When offering advice previously for training and commuting purposes I would have immediately recommended the Vittoria Rubino tyre, a tough, durable tyre for all the mid week stuff, but also fast enough not to be a drag on the weekend bunch ride. At $42.50 it is a pearler of an every day tyre, but it seems that it now has a rival, albeit one from the same stable. For quite some time now Vittoria has had a cheaper training tyre called a Zaffiro, which is quite durable, but at 26tpi (26 threads per inch in the tyre casing) and 330gm it just doesn't feel quick enough. However a new model has been added to the Zaffiro range, called the Zaffiro Pro 2 which although only slightly different by name is a marked improvement in manufacture standards and performance.

The Zaffiro Pro 2 is a 60tpi folding tyre weighing a respectable 240gms, which is 90gms less than its wire beaded namesake. Capable of 9 bar (130psi) it is a pretty lively tyre and because it is a folding bead tyre, it is also easy enough to fit and remove from the rim, which is an advantage shared by most folding tyres. This ease of fitting is a relevant point these days as the number of new cyclists with little or no tyre fitting knowledge or technique often have difficulty fitting similarly priced wire beaded tyres, (as often do some of us with a little more experience). Being able to fit the tyre by hand and remove it with the use of only one tyre lever is welcome in any situation, but especially if you're unlucky enough to puncture while out on a ride.

All-Rounder

After a few weeks of use, including unfortunately a few wet rides, I'd have to say I'm pretty satisfied with this new offering from Vittoria. As a training tyre it ticks all the boxes I consider relative (see Summing Up). No doubt there are other good training tyres around and probably some will be more durable, some will be faster and some will be cheaper, but conversely some will be less durable, some slower and some dearer. As an allrounder that is easy to fit due to the foldable bead, is pretty tough due to the puncture resistant belt, and is reasonably priced at $44.95, the Zaffiro Pro 2 might end up being my recommended training tyre.

One consideration from a shop's viewpoint is available storage and display area. Wire beaded tyres traditionally hang from the ceiling, which is pretty convenient for most shops, whereas folding tyres are boxed and will normally be on a shelf or taking up slatwall space, so whether your shop decides to stick with the wire beaded Rubino option, or go for the Zaffiro Pro 2, just might come down to which is the easier to store.

Summing up

• Value for money. 80%
• Good quality tyre at an acceptable price.
• Quality 90%
• Remembering this isn't a high end racing tyre, the Zaffiro Pro 2 is a great quality training tyre.
• Performance 80%
• Easy to fit, good grip, no punctures (so far) and will take 130psi.
• Overall 90%
• No complaints and as with most tyres comes in a range of colours.

• Vittoria Zaffiro Pro 2 Folding Tyre
• Price: $44.95 each