Tested: Vittoria Rubino tyres

Rubino has been a mainstay of the Vittoria road tyre range for nearly two decades. The fifth generation Rubino hit the market back in May, superseding the popular Rubino Pro IV.

Designed to provide an all-round balance of grip, durability and speed, Vittoria markets the new Rubino as its ‘Advanced Training’ tyre, suitable for a wide range of road and weather conditions. It sits one notch below the Corsa N.EXT range which arrived in 2023, and a quick look at the spec sheet suggests some of that N.EXT technology has trickled down.

As you’d expect from a training tyre, the new Rubino is a little heavier than Vittoria’s race-specific models. I weighed the review tyres (30mm, tube-type, para/tan sidewalls) at 253 grams; that’s around 50 grams more than the equivalent in the Corsa N.EXT range. Curiously, the black sidewall tyres are 15-30 grams heavier suggesting the composition is ever-so-slightly different. Tyre widths range from 26mm to 34mm. Tubeless-ready and tube-type options are available.

Based on lab and real-world testing, Vittoria claims the new Rubino offers equivalent puncture protection to the Rubino Pro IV whilst being superior in every other performance category. Specifically, it says the new Rubino delivers 6 per cent better wet weather grip, 2 per cent better rolling resistance and is also 12 per cent lighter. The two main reasons are the upgraded graphene/silica-infused compound and a modernised tread pattern.

As mentioned, the new Rubino borrows some of the tech first introduced in Vittoria’s Corsa N.EXT range. The most significant is the move to a new hybrid tread compound engineered with both graphene and silica in the pursuit of longer mileage, added puncture resistance and better grip. Whereas the Corsa N.EXT compound can be a little soft and tacky, I found the Rubino compound noticeably firmer to touch, something that suggests, it’s likely to offer better longevity. Beneath the new compound lies a hard-wearing 100 TPI nylon casing (reduced from 150 TPI on the Rubino Pro IV) along with a high density anti-puncture belt. There’s also a bead shield reinforcing guard, whilst the flexibility of the Kevlar bead itself in the tube-type models assists with mounting and inflation. The TLR model uses a non-stretch Zylon bead similar to the Corsa N.EXT. Vittoria says the new Rubino is suitable for both hooked and hookless rims.

The new Rubino tyres were a breeze to mount – I tested them on two very different sets of rims just to be sure – slotting straight into place with very little encouragement required. As always, I started at the upper end of the recommended pressure scale, around 85psi for the 30mm tube-type review tyres, then began to work my way down. Running at higher pressures unquestionably delivered a more direct and responsive road feel. But if it’s comfort you’re after, low is definitely the way to go – they’ll feel like completely different tyres. Obviously rider weight and tyre size come into the equation, but by the time I got down towards the 65-60psi mark, the ride quality was smooth and wonderfully stable, perfect for longer days and more endurance style riding, especially on less-than-smooth surfaces. In terms of the all-important grip, one of the main claimed improvements from previous Rubino models, I found it to be well above average both in the dry and wet; but once again the real sweet spot seemed to be in the lower pressure ranges.

When it comes to assessing long-term durability, it’s impossible to be definitive after just a one-month review. What I can say is I quite intentionally trashed these tyres at every opportunity and didn’t have any issues. Rough bitumen. Light gravel. Mud. Kerb jumping. Potholes, manholes, drain covers. Sticks and branches. If there was rubble in the bike lane, I made sure to ride straight over it. The result? No punctures and very few visible cuts. Sure, it’s a small sample size conducted on brand new tyres, but I got every impression a pair of new Rubinos should deliver long and hassle-free use.

Summing Up

Building upon its proven ‘all-rounder’ reputation, the fifth-generation Rubino is a worthy evolution of the name. Reassuringly smooth and stable, particularly at lower pressures, and pleasingly grippy, they’re a rock-solid choice for everyday riding.

Specifications

Vittoria Rubino V

RRP: $84.99 (tube-type), $109.99 (tubeless-ready)

Colours: Black, Para/Tan

Sizes: 26mm, 28mm, 30mm, 32mm, 34mm (hookless compatible 28mm+)

More info gkasports.com.au