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review

Vittoria Rubino Pro Graphene 2.0 tyre

7
£39.99

VERDICT:

7
10
A good all-round training tyre that'll work for wet races
Weight: 
244g

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Vittoria's new Rubino Pro Graphene 2.0 tyres are designed as an all-rounder to tackle most road conditions, and they do a decent job. Durability and grip are impressive although they aren't the quickest rolling against some of the tyres in this price range.

  • Pros: Great wet weather grip, no visits from the puncture fairy (yet)
  • Cons: Not as fast rolling as some

Graphene has been touted as the latest wonder material over the last few years and if you do a bit of research you can see why. Having incredible strength and stiffness is only part of its benefits, it is also one atom thick, or should that be thin.

> Buy now: Vittoria Rubino Pro Graphene 2.0 tyre from eBay for $44.38

It can be added to many applications, increasing various performance metrics, and that is why Vittoria says it has used it in these tyres. Apparently the graphene interacts with rubber by filling the space between the rubber molecules, giving better durability for higher mileage and protection against punctures. There should also be an improvement to wet grip too.

I'll start with that. The Rubino Pros use a triple compound for the main part of the body, which Vittoria calls 3C. It has quite a tacky feel to it. Banking the bike over hard for corners and roundabouts found plenty of grip, and after a short bedding in process I was happy just to really let the bike go and keep pushing towards the tyre's limits.

Vittoria Rubino Pro Graphene 2.0

Traction on steep, damp hills was pretty good too. With the roads properly wet I was impressed with how similar the behaviour of the Vittorias was compared to riding in the dry.

For quite a low thread count tyre (150tpi) there is a decent bit of feedback coming from the rubber and carcass, so you can feel what the tyre is up to beneath you.

When it comes to rolling resistance, they are quick enough but you can feel that they aren't a full race tyre. They seem to take just a little more effort to keep spinning than the tyres that normally sit on my race bike, the Panaracer Race C Evo 3s. For the same 25mm width, the Rubinos are about 40g heavier too.

With a mix of riding on main A-roads and jaunts out into the country lanes, I haven't picked up any damage on the Vittorias: no cuts or slices and certainly no punctures, and while not the most scientific test they seem to be pretty robust for day to day riding.

Vittoria_Rubino_Pro_Graphene_fitted_1.jpg

And should you pick up a flat, they seem to be easy to remove and refit at the side of the road.

With an rrp of £39.99 they are the same price as those Panaracers I mentioned, and I'd say they have a slightly better ride quality than the Maxxis High Roads, which are lighter but a tenner more.

> Buyer's Guide: 33 of the best road cycling tyres

Overall, the Rubino Pro G2.0s are decent fast training tyres, ideal for high-tempo club runs or sportives where the added advantage of having a slightly tougher tyre outweighs the higher rolling resistance.

Verdict

A good all-round training tyre that'll work for wet races

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Vittoria Rubino Pro Graphene 2.0 tyre

Size tested: 25mm

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Vittoria says, "Designed for intensive training, it is equally suitable for racing events. The Rubino Pro builds on the standard Rubino platform, utilizing the same exclusive 3C Graphene compound structure, long service life, puncture protection, and sharp handling traits, but substitutes a folding bead material for reduced weight. The Rubino Pro has long been a favorite for both training and racing, and with the addition of Graphene technology compounds, is more versatile than ever!"

They are pretty decent as an all-rounder.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Vittoria lists:

150 TPI Nylon casing for high mileage

Functionalized GRAPHENE 2.0 compound allows for increased wet grip

3 compounds in the tread (3C) for increased wear life and better rolling

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
6/10
Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Dependable tyres if you like to ride quickly but want that backed up with durability.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Wet weather grip is impressive.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Rolling resistance isn't the best out there.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

There is a lot of competition, but I'd say the Rubino Pros are priced fairly.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

They're decent all-rounders, not quite as quick as others on the market but dependable and with good wet weather grip.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 40  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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