The Vittoria Rubino V tyre is a fast-rolling and grippy all-rounder, offering the durability and reliability of a four-season tyre. However, its lack of suppleness over coarser road surfaces means it is not as pleasing to ride with as some.
In the market for new rubber? Check out our guide to the best road bike tyres for more options.
The Rubino V is the latest version of Vittoria’s everyday performance tyre, which it describes as an ‘advanced training’ tyre. It claims the update has increased ‘speed, grip, and durability’, which is down to the new graphene and silica compound.
It’s a 700C tyre, available in five widths: 26mm, 28mm, 30mm, 32mm and 34mm. All but the 26mm option can be used with hookless rims (all can be used with conventional hooked rims), and all sizes are able to be run tubeless or with an inner tube. You also have the choice of a black or tan sidewall.
We weighed the 28mm tyres on test at 314g and 303g.
Sizing is optimised for a 19mm internal width rim. My wheels measure 20mm internally, and I found the 28mm tyre came in bang on 28mm.
Fitting
I fitted the tyres to several rims to check the bead tightness, and then ran them in a modern wheelset with an internal width of 20mm and a hooked rim.
Fitting the tyres onto various wheels, they were OK with a Mavic Open rim, a little tight on a Bontrager rim, and slightly tighter still with my modern Borg26 wheels. I used IRC and Pedro’s tyre levers, and didn’t have to resort to anything more heavy duty to fit them.
I also ran the tyres with inner tubes as well as tubeless.
Performance
The weather during testing has been hot, with highs of 36°C! They coped well in this environment.
My first couple of rides were with inner tubes fitted. I’m 66kg and used a pressure of 75psi, the same as I normally ride with.
I found that while the tyres rolled well and were grippy, there was a slight ‘jiggly’ feel over coarser road surfaces. It reminded me of the sensation when using 25mm tyres at a higher pressure. I thought it could be a stiffer sidewall or thicker tread causing it, so next ride I dropped the pressure to 70psi, but it was still the same.
As reference, I don’t get this from my 28mm Pirelli P Zero Race 4S tyres, run with inner tubes, at 75psi. The only variable changed was the tyres.
Next, I set them up tubeless using Stan’s rim tape, Silca Ultimate sealant and good quality valves. It was fairly straightforward to do, but I did need to borrow a friend’s air compressor to pop the bead onto the rim.
They felt broadly similar to ride with, with cornering slightly improved, but that jiggly/stiff feeling on coarser roads remained.
To confirm this, I did some back-to-back tests with other tyres using the same bike, wheels and inner tubes, all at 75psi. The Pirellis were the smoothest and best overall, some other Vittoria tyres – Corsa N.EXT TLRs, which Aaron was impressed with in 2022 – were a very close second, and the Rubino Vs, while good, were just a little firmer riding and didn’t corner quite as well. They weren’t far behind the Corsas, but I could feel the difference.
The Rubinos were the hardest to fit, too.
My final test for these tyres was using a classic steel bike with Mavic Open rims. These have a 15mm internal width, and the tyres measured 26mm wide when fitted. I settled on 70psi after a few experiments, which felt the best compromise for me.
The Rubino Vs rode remarkably similarly to the 25mm Continental GP 4 Season tyres I normally run on this bike. They rolled well, were less jittery on rougher roads, and cornered better on the narrower rim.
Value
How do the Rubino Vs compare with other four-season tyres?
Those Continental GP 4 Seasons are a tenner more, £69.95, while the Conti GP5000 AS TRs ride very nicely but are a fair bit pricier at £89.95 each – nearly £95 if you want all-black.
Although I haven’t ridden the Goodyear Vector 4Seasons, Stu gave them a high 9/10 mark in his review. They’re now £65 a pop, so a little more than the Rubinos.
My own experience with the Pirelli P Zero Race 4s is over three years, riding all year round. I’ve had one puncture, from a flint shard, in all that time, and the ride quality has been excellent in all conditions, but they are £79.99.
Conclusion
So to sum up, these Rubinos were a bit of a mixed bag for me. I liked them on my classic steel winter bike, but was less taken with them on a modern bike with wider rims. One way of looking at it is: would I leave them on the bike? My answer would be yes for my classic, and no for the modern bike. I’m afraid I couldn’t wait to refit my Pirellis onto my modern bike as they are more comfortable and handle better, though both sets rolled similarly well. They did suit my older winter ‘trainer’ bike rather well, though.
Verdict
Fast-rolling all-rounder but lacks suppleness over coarser surfaces
All the deals displayed on our review pages are pulled from a constantly updating database feed of the best affiliate deals available. The criteria for deciding on what are the best deals is who is offering the lowest, delivered price. In most cases we will be showing the very best deal available online, but sometimes you may be able to find an item cheaper. If you can please feel free to post a link in the comments box below. To find out more about affiliate links on road.cc click here.
road.cc test report
Make and model: Vittoria Rubino V Tubeless Tyre
Size tested: 700×28
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: “The go-to, everyday performance tire at the center of the Vittoria range arrives today, reenergized with new heart and soul. Rubino has long been the champion of lunch rides, town line sprints, and endless wanderings. This latest incarnation of Rubino is available in Tubeless-Ready and Tube-Type variants and delivers more for the rider and a lighter impact on the environment.
“The modernized Rubino tread increases speed, grip, and durability by utilizing a smooth center, which transitions smoothly into updated chevron clusters, while retaining the familiar grid texture at the limit. The new Graphene + Silica compound is engineered for long mileage, puncture resistance, high grip, and speed for everyday use.
“Compared to its predecessor, the new Rubino Tubeless-Ready delivers remarkable performance gains: 18% improvement in rolling efficiency, 5% in grip, 21% in puncture resistance, 13% in riding comfort, 37% in durability, and a 10% reduction in weight.”
It certainly has all the hallmarks of a year-round tyre, and one that should last well yet still provide good performance. It’s aimed at the rider who wants to train all year round, yet still wants good performance.
From Freewheel, Vittoria’s UK distributor:
“RUBINO V – THE BEST ALL ROUNDER SOMEHOW GOT EVEN BETTER
The classic all-round road tyre offering a balance of speed, grip, and durability
Lunch-hour intervals, endurance cycling base miles, recovery rides to the coffee shop, and even bumping bars at the local crit series ? the Rubino V is engineered for high performance and durable longevity. Every pedal stroke, every road.
New tread geometry gives a fresh look without losing the Rubino DNA. Ultimate cornering grip in wet or dry conditions thanks to the new Graphene and Silica compound.”
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
“Compared to its predecessor, the new Rubino Tubeless-Ready delivers remarkable performance gains: 18% improvement in rolling efficiency, 5% in grip, 21% in puncture resistance, 13% in riding comfort, 37% in durability, and a 10% reduction in weight” says Vittoria.
It is a 700C tyre, compatible with tubed and tubeless systems as well as hooked and hookless rims. There are tan or black sidewall options, and it’s available in five sizes from 26mm to 34mm.
From Freewheel, Vittoria’s UK distributor:
Graphene and Silica – compound is engineered for long mileage, puncture resistance, high grip and speed for everyday use.
100 TPI Nylon casing – Durability. Longevity. Reliability. A reliable, puncture-resistant platform engineered for racing and long training miles alike, with thicker threads that better withstand the grind of daily intervals while still transitioning to the speed of the weekly crit series.
Bead Shield – Additional layer on the bead provides extra protection.
Anti-Puncture Belt – Designed to provide extra puncture resistance, ensuring your ride stays smooth and uninterrupted.
Inner shield – Extra sheet for enhanced protection ensures peace of mind wherever the road takes you.
Features:
Material: Nylon 100 TPI
Compound: Graphene and Silica
Discipline: Road Performance
Construction: Tubeless
Hookless: Yes for 28c and above
Colour: Black
Size : 700-26c
ETRTO: 26-622
Weight: 305g
The Rubino V rolls well and is decently fast, but it doesn’t corner as well as some. Its ride quality is not as refined as other similar tyres I’ve ridden with.
No issues during the test period.
Vittoria claims 300-390g for the 26 to 34mm range. Our 28mm samples weighed in at 314g and 303g.
I found the ride somewhat jiggly over rougher road surfaces, primarily chip and seal type roads. On smooth tarmac they were good and rolled well. They felt similar to a narrower and higher pressured 25mm tyre.
Not a bad price compared with other four-season performance tyres, though the ride isn’t as smooth.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Quite quick and rolled well, but the ride quality didn’t feel as good as others I’ve used, and they didn’t corner as well as some.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
I liked that they were well made and rolled well.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Ride quality and cornering not as good as others.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
Compared with other performance training/all-season tyres, their £59.99 RRP isn’t bad.
I’ve had great experience with the Pirelli P Zero Race 4S, an excellent all-round tyre but with a higher price of £79.99.
My previous go-to was the Continental Grand Prix 4 Season, which I used for many years. Again an excellent all-rounder, but also more expensive at £69.95 (though they can be found for less). The Continental Grand Prix 5000 AS TR is even more – £89.95 (£94.95 if you want all-black).
One I haven’t tried but Stu rated highly is the Goodyear Vector 4Seasons tyre. They’ve gone up to £65, but again can be found for less.
Did you enjoy using the product? Not especially.
Would you consider buying the product? No
Would you recommend the product to a friend? No
Use this box to explain your overall score
Overall, quite good. It’s well made and seems durable, rolls well and looked great with its tan sidewalls on my classic steel bike. However, the ride quality isn’t as good as other tyres I’ve used, and the cornering/handling lacked a little too. Strangely, it suited the older bike better than the modern one; I’m a fan of modern wider rims and tyres and felt frustrated that it didn’t perform as well with the 20mm internal width rim.
About the tester
Age: 56 Height: 180cm Weight: 66kg
I usually ride: Condor Fratello 55cm My best bike is: Gios Evolution 55cm
I’ve been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Every week I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb, General road riding is most common
