Vittoria Lite/Tan/TLR sidewalls – robustness?

Still toying with going wider on my gravel bike and thought I could try going for a more supple sidewall at the same time (am on the grey/TNT sidewall at the moment).

I was nervous about the lighter sidewall as I’ve pinched the heavier sidewalls more than once, but not since installing inserts, plus going bigger volume would reduce likelihood of pinching in the first place.

Any negatives otherwise? I know they take longer to seal properly which I can live with.

Ta

I’m interested in this as well, having also run various TNT sidewalled tyres over the last few years.

They’re not quite as tough, but are more supple. If you’re pinching the TNT casing have you considered another psi or two?

Yeah, I’m constantly tinkering with pressures, and when I have pinched the sidewall it has usually been stupid things like getting carried away and trying to double up rocky waterbars or just going too fast into rocky bits etc. so am hoping between learning my limits and using inserts I’ve possibly nipped it in the bud.

Dylan Johnson has been quite persuasive on the subject of going wider + more supple as being better for gravel, unless you’re going fast enough to worry about the aeros, which I’m not. Unfortunately for me it also involves a new fork which would add £300 to the total bill 🙄

Had tan wall on rear of my hardtail, barzo, iirc. It was more troublesome in terms of sealing and frailty than any other Vittoria tyre I use (and they are pretty much my default for mtb and cx) and it ripped on a fairly innocuous bit of trail I’d been down many times before. It put me off tan walls as there seemed to be no upsides.

Used the tan wall in: terreno dry, mezcal and liked them. Used the TNT anthracite tyres in all flavours of Terreno, and Barzo. Definitely heavier but tougher. Note also that the tan wall darkens over use. @13thfloormonk what tyres are you looking at as I have a big pile to sell? Sure as a fellow Rourke owner I do you a good price yes.

Hmm… should have googled more reviews before posting, Bikeradar suffered a sidewall tear, a reviewer on Sigma Sports suffered a sidewall tear, and Kilo suffered a sidewall tear.

I think that’s enough to put me off to be honest, the sort of gravel I like to chunder through it’s probably not worth the risk 😬

Shedbrewed – any Terreno Dry in a 700×45 TNT? I’m loving the Rourke more and more but it’s like a coiled spring that likes to be wound up and unleashed over the nastiest, lumpiest tracks. My poor wheels 😂

Ah sadly not. I have one in 38mm flavour and one in 52mm flavour. But both tan. Just to add an option: have you considered the challenge getaway in 700/45? Very pleased with mine.