New Vittoria Mezcal XC tires tested: Do you agree with me or not?

[@jaredrude431]

have been running Barzo / Mezcal combo on my hardtail since May, but in the 29x2.6 XC trail casing. Barzo on front around 17 psi, Mezcal rear around 18 psi. Its no XC race bike but on the easy trails these tires roll pretty fast and have enough grip for me on the flat trails and flat corners. Granted, when all your other bikes have 1200+ gram enduro or DH casing tires, pretty much anything else rolls fast.

[@stephenmacdonald6751]

My views on the mezcal xc trail good fast tire but not great grip on damp to wet rock stuff when you are railingstuff. Had the biggest drift I've ever had on a local trail just caught it which was a good laugh. Very good puncture resistance too. Good for xco/xcm. You've nailed it kes love these reviews

[@GuyKesTV]

@@stephenmacdonald6751 cheers mate, they do drift well eh, bit too well sometimes 🩲💩

[@CycleXplorer]

Double Mezcals have been my choice for a while for long distance/ultra races. Roll very fast and I love them. Maybe I'll try something else somewhen but don't feel the need to right now

[@stefanlukic7272]

I am considering the same combination,since I ride on asphalt 99 percent of the time... I am just curious how does it perform on cornerings...

[@CycleXplorer]

@@stefanlukic7272 I haven't had any issues with cornering. If it's really muddy they're not super grippy. But they roll so nice and are great for a mixed surface event. I am not however a super quick downhill racer!

[@edlorenz1552]

Everybody commenting, do you all realize that this is a completely new tire than what you have and are running? This has nothing to do with the old Mezcal/ Barzo. This tire literally came out like two months ago.

[@paulwatson-work3544]

Mezcal on the back. Barzo on the front. For me thats perfect for a south of England hardtail. Horses for courses though.

[@GuyKesTV]

It definitely seems to be a north south thing

[@ortodontiaespecializada9283]

Have been using a Barzo 2.35 on the front and a Mezcal 2.35 on the rear of my orbea OIZ 2021 MLTD OMX, with DT Swiss 1200 spline 30mm, vitoria xc light airliners , 18/16 PSI and I weight 73kg. Never had a single problem, the grip and feeling is amazing!!!

[@pphmmr4]

I do agree. It's fast and grip is great also in wet/mud condition.I use Mezcal with Barzo in front on XC marathon races.

[@andrewhagopian468]

I run the new Mezcal 2.4 XC Race for my SS Hardtail. I love them for that application. Works great on the red clay and the mountain hardpack of the SE USA. They can drift a bit on loose over very hard/dry, but its predictable.

[@GuyKesTV]

@@andrewhagopian468 thanks for the feedback. I bet red clay is awesome dry, it’s nearly always wet here so it’s lethal then!

[@stanrobert7755]

I run the grey sidewall (TNT) ones front and rear on my Chisel. 2.35" width. I find them great for mixed gravel/double track/single track rides and I run them at 16psi/18psi. They feel fast and grippy. Never punctured or burped or damaged rims (Iam 70kg). That said, if I am going for a proper MTB ride I take a different bike (butcher/ground control combo on epic evo)

[@escaparcc]

Agreed rear tyre pressure on the old one was critical . There're a great tyre on the rear at about 24psi and work great on a hard tail. The XC Trail version is better in many conditions - stronger side wall and digs and bites a bit more, so less drifty. They're perfect here in Valencia for longer distance XCM stuff

[@mokotramp]

Just chucked a pair of Barzo XC Trail 2.35 on my Big Dog for a bit of trail riding and Welsh bikepacking. Initial feelings are good, dirty wet techi stuff and road...👌

[@GuyKesTV]

@@mokotramp excellent, let us know how you get on long term.

[@Paganiproductions84]

About to run a brand new Vittoria Barzo/Mezcal set on 25 mm Wide Dt Swiss Xr 1700 29er 29x2.35 front and 29x2.25 can't go winder that because it's older xc hardtail frame i guess won't it air down that much tommorow i run no Insert in the front and in the rear

[@ferencvarju651]

I’m totally with you on this and have a little less positive opinion about the Mezcal, though I only tried the one before this model. I was particularly scared on them when I had to tackle hard, wet surfaces like rocks and roots, and it had a tendency to slip up even on wet tarmac. I’ve found both the Maxxis Rekon Race and the Schwalbe Racing Ray+Ralph much more consistent and predictable, and I don’t think they are any slower either. Based on this review, I’m not exactly keen on trying the new iteration of Mezcals :(

[@GuyKesTV]

These are better but I’d still stick with Schwalbe as it sounds like we’re having similar experiences

[@lda6496]

@@GuyKesTVI agree I just tried barzo/ mezcal combination , not race version though ,tread is hard and does feel very skittish, I prefer Ray/ralph combo . Not sure I would pay £50/£60 for race version .I have also just purchased the hunt proven carbon wheelset so waiting for your review on those 👍

[@tzrrsdave]

Mezcal are my winter tyres, because where I live you don't do much off road in the winter even though I live rural it's sticky fen clay like. So they are great but I use mazza in summer, that's what is great about Thetford forest it's so sandy it's dry half hour after a storm but it sits here

[@ashkirk3425]

For me it has to be Schwalbe’s super race variants. really efficient and great feeling tyres at low pressures and also 60tpi.

[@GuyKesTV]

@@ashkirk3425 yep, me too. Super keen to try the new ones but not available until September

[@sturdyvw]

Never got on with the excessive bouncing on Schwalbe tires compared to the Maxxis Aspen and pirelli xc rc. Those feel a ton better over rough stuff and have a ton more grip than the racing Ralph/ ray combo.

[@ferencvarju651]

@@sturdyvwinteresting to see so many people get on so well with Aspens. I kove their feel and ride quality, and also the way they communicate when they are about to let go. It’s just that they are literally always about to let go on my local trails 😁 I am deeply in love with the rekon race though.

[@sturdyvw]

@@ferencvarju651I like the Rekon race a lot as well, you’d enjoy the Pirelli xc rc in the pro wall casing, splits the difference between the two. What’s odd is it takes a while to “break in”. There must be a casting release goo on them or something but after a few rides they get extremely quiet and fast rolling. Out of the box I hated them but went back to them and tried them a few times, fell in love.

[@mattblack133]

​@@sturdyvw ha.... that's interesting. Which tire and psi did you run, if you remember. All I know is the Schwalbes.

[@hardmtnbiker]

I would have run XC tires on my Trail hardtail and Single Speed mountain bikes. Mostly on the rear only. Personally I always use 2.5” or 2.6” and my most recent tires are the Recon and the Teravail Ehline. The one thing that I always do is use CushCore, this helps tremendously.

[@ClownPatroI]

Thanks for the video! How would you compare the new Mezcal to the Pirelli Scorpion at equal pressure? Tred pattern indicates it may have higher all round grip but potentially slower rolling... Thoughts?

[@GuyKesTV]

@@ClownPatroI Scorpion feels a little more damped rather than bright and springy. It has slightly more grip and is more stable at low pressures though. I’m talking fractional differences though as they’re very similar overall

[@Stickymicky25]

Been running the newest version of the Specialized Fast Trak on the Oiz for ages… 2.35 T7 front and 2.2 T5 on the rear and it feels amazing… and if you get them in a specialized sale, you’ll pick them up for about £22 each… 👌🏻

[@GuyKesTV]

@@Stickymicky25 yep, reviews coming ASAP. Absolute bargain though eh?

[@Stickymicky25]

@@GuyKesTV when the world is paying 50/60£ a tyre, and even upto £90 for a premium road tyre… getting something that has been brilliant and worked nicely for me at ~£22 a tyre they are a brilliant bargain!!! I have the ridgeway 107km event soon, and I’m seriously tempted to change them to the renegade tyre to get that fastest tyre for the gravel on that event!

[@GuyKesTV]

@@Stickymicky25 I’ve just seen they’re doing a 2 for 1 offer on the website too. Weird thing is I’m not sure the Renegade is actually any faster. It puts more rubber on the ground than a Fast Trak so it never feels as fast as I expect

[@Stickymicky25]

@@GuyKesTV interesting, I do know that on the bicycle rolling resistance website, there was very minimal difference between the fast trak and renegade, but those are not real world tests imo… 🤔

[@GuyKesTV]

@@Stickymicky25 no, that diameter of drum dramatically overplays the differences. it seems to favour some different constructions of carcass in exactly the opposite way to tests I’ve done on the road / trail too. That’s the trouble with getting sciency, it’s very hard to replicate the whole performance picture. The only thing I ever had line up with what I felt was a very medieval fork twisting rig I made. That was obsolete soon as 35/36 stNchions appeared though as the rig flexed more than the forks 🤦‍♂️

[@elpadrinho2818]

Hi @guykestv! Thanks for your content! What do you think are the fastest MTB tyres for XC marathon riding in dry hard pack?

[@GuyKesTV]

That's got to be the Conti Speed King, those things are like a road tyre they roll so quick. Heard very good things about the new Schwalbe Rick XC however and the Vittoria Peyote is probably up there too. I've only tested the new Maxxis MaxxSpeed compound on the Severe wet weather tyre but I'd imagine the Recon Race and Aspen in that rubber will be quick too. New Hutchinson Python is meant to rapid as well, but still waiting on a sample. Specialized Renegade looks like it should be quick but I've never felt like it is and same with the new WTB Macro which I'll have a review up on soon. Hope that helps

[@elpadrinho2818]

@@GuyKesTV thanks for the reply! Okay great I’ve ordered myself 29x22 conti race kings! Will report back on the feedback

[@mikestivers8302]

on my xc/dc bike i've recently run the agarro 2.35 or the wtb trail boss 2.25 out back. both are great. never did like the mezcal, i push my bike too hard on rocky and loose over hard so i needed more tread. prolly only used it for around 50 miles see if you can source the teravail Ehline. great rear tire.

[@GuyKesTV]

@@mikestivers8302 yeah I’ve tried Ehline, I went for the light one and killed it pretty quick too.

[@mikestivers8302]

@@GuyKesTV the light casing is like tissue paper, i agree..

[@JohnHorlock-bb5zx]

Tried them a while ago and i completely agree that at a lower pressure they felt sluggish. Currently on rekon race / ikon but finding the front on a 30mm rim is terrible at corners... Looking at a pair of specialized renegades for racing

[@miguelbreithor237]

try aspen for racing ;) 2.4 that is

[@kamilmitek]

@guykestv what about Peyote Race 2024 2,4 ? I am wondering now if I should use Mezcal front + Peyote rear or// both Peyote for fast dry marathons + ocasionaly trail/downcountry use with my Santa Cruz Blur.

[@GuyKesTV]

@@kamilmitek video on the way. What surfaces are you riding on?

[@kamilmitek]

@@GuyKesTV looking for something quick but for marathon races in mouintains mixed terrain including gravel, roots, rocks, rather dry. What I need I fast but quite uniwersal set. Wondering about this Peyote+Mezcal / Rick XC (not available yet). Riding at about 17-20psi with Vittoria AirLiner, 30mm rim, marathon/downcoutry SantaCruz Blur.

[@mtbgypsy2669]

I’ve been fighting these tires for a min now. I usually run like 19 f 21/22 rear, these I’m 23 f 25/26 r. When I run lower pressures the squirm during hard cornering on hard pack. Not confidence inspiring at all. I’d prefer the tire to just start to break loose as I don’t trust that squirm one bit. I e run many vittoria tires on mtb/gravel/road and track and are my preferred brand. However the mezcal is the first vittoria I’ve been truly disappointed by. I may swap to a barzo up front and see how I like the feel. I like a loose rear but the mezcal doesn’t get loose, just squirms and feels like it’s about to hurt me when it does finally break loose.

[@GuyKesTV]

@@mtbgypsy2669 sorry to hear that from your POV but that’s exactly how I feel on them too.

[@trentvlak]

I've tried three times, but I've never made it through a ride with a Mezcal on the rear. If I was going Vittoria, I'd do Barzo front and rear. I have a wheelset that way. Current fav is the Cross King 2.3 though.

[@GuyKesTV]

@@trentvlak just about to fit Cross Kings so that’s good to hear

[@mtbgypsy2669]

I’m curious if the trail versions of these or the barzos would give the sidewall stiffness I would like and allow lower pressures. I’m finishing out the season on the current tires but then I gotta pick something different after that.

[@Grandadgreyhair]

Interesting review I sort of agree with most of your observations, I put some xc mezcals limited edition UCi version on my Cotic for general gravel/ bike packing. 2.35 x29. I found they went on super easy, they are quicker than my Forester/recon combo and I found grip quite reasonable. I also found getting the sweet spot between bouncing and damped a bit of a faff. Still definitely a robust and okay bikepacking tyre. That said they are no where near as good as my Pirelli Cinturato gravel m tyres that I use on the gravel bike for all round use. As a footnote I find the Vittoria Mezcal line up hard to understand

[@GuyKesTV]

@@Grandadgreyhair cheers, it’s that knife edge of pressure balancing that’s my main issue. If you’re happy to bounce though it’s all good

[@tzrrsdave]

Plus if you can only get a 240 mazza on front you can get a 260 mezcal in there

[@marksandoval5361]

My favorite fast-rolling Trail tire combo is the 2.6 Rekon front and 2.4 Rekon rear both in Dual Compound, 60tpi. The 2.6 Rekon front and 2.6 Ikon rear is also very good. Unfortunately, Maxxis stopped making the 60tpi 2.6 Ikon. I don't use 120tpi tires because I have shredded too many in the past. The 2.4 Mezcal holds my interest because it comes with a 60tpi casing and I would be using it as a fast-rolling rear tire. Does it roll-faster than a 2.4 Rekon? Do you think it is more durable than most 120tpi XC tires?

[@yes-7018]

Rekon is more confidence inspiring than the previous Mezcal for sure (tread pattern on this looks the same as old), but Mezcal definitely rolls faster and has almost the same rear grip, rekon is a hair better grip-wise in the rear. It's fast but slightly scary as a front tire. It slides a bit more if you don't lean the tire enough off of the center tread. Rekon has a more damp feel out of the two as well.

[@GuyKesTV]

@@yes-7018 totally agree with this. I’ve got some of the new single compound Maxxis Ikon and Rekon coming but a bit worried as I don’t rate the new Severe much in that compound

[@ferencvarju651]

@@GuyKesTV In my experience, the new Maxxspeed Ikon and Rekon Race are thankfully every bit as good as they were when they were 3C and dual. I’ve had two rides on a Severe last year and that’s a comoletely different experience even though the compound is claimed to be the same. I’d only recommend the Severe to people with serious suicidal intent.

[@GuyKesTV]

@@ferencvarju651 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 SAME! Thanks for reducing my worry about the new ones 🙏🏻

[@L4This]

I run the new peyote race 2.4 front and rear on my process 134 for summer xc rides.

[@GuyKesTV]

@@L4This good to hear, only run the Peyote on rear so far as it’s still wet here but I’ll double up soon as I can

[@L4This]

@@GuyKesTV yes mate , but they do feel alot more "pinging" Ive have been running the aspen 2.4wt and they are much more happy with low psi , think i will go back to them for xc/longday in saddle rides. Also run the new Michelin force am2 and wild am2 on my trail/enduro wheels for more sloppy and "fun" rides.

[@frankschock9981]

​@@L4This Does the Aspen have more cornering grip?

[@L4This]

I would say peyote have i bit more corner bite then aspen ​@@frankschock9981

[@L4This]

@@frankschock9981 Yeah i think peyote has a bit more corner bite

[@PATEKPHILLIPI]

the width of these brand always smaller than they told on the tag. it's not precise like other such as schwalbe because I used to use schwalbe wicked will fast rolling aslo as well as vittoria mezcal but as I mention the width of schwalbe 2.4'' equal to 2.6'' mezcal.

[@aneyeofthestorm]

Would be good to know if your could test these with Vittoria tyre inserts, these could be designed as a combo?

[@GuyKesTV]

@@aneyeofthestorm I believe they are. I’ll get some MTB liners for them as I’ve only tested gravel so far

[@philhunt1442]

I just swapped from 29x2.25 mezcals to Kenda Booster Pro TRs in 29x2.6 as I've heard they're grippy, same weight if not slightly lower than the mezcals at around 670 grams each

[@haemstah]

Does that model come up a couple or so mm narrow, like the Sabre Pro TR 2.6?

[@philhunt1442]

@ yes about 4 mm narrow at 20 psi on a 27mm internal rim, but the knobs were true to advertised width.

[@haemstah]

@@philhunt1442 thanks

[@keepingtherubberdown5715]

So, for XC riding I don't like the tire profile. To round and struggles to grab grip on outside knobs. Gravel and long bike packing trips love them as they are super fast rolling.

[@GuyKesTV]

@@keepingtherubberdown5715 exactly this, straight line is fine, rallying not so much

[@MarcusOliver2006]

QQ - what’s the difference between a Maxxis Rekon and Ardent? Look the same to me. I’m sticking to Forekaster/Ardent combo on my Whyte 629 hardtail

[@rule3036]

I run Ardent race front and rear , on my Chisel, not the fastest rolling XC tyre but very durable and handles mixed conditions very well including wet grass and mud, although not a tyre for the winter in UK. Good all rounder tyre for XC type /gravel riding. Seated easily on Hope rims with just a track pump for a tubeless virgin .

[@tzrrsdave]

I use mazza in summer and mezcal in winter, you can't really ride off road round here in winter it's clamy clay but the mezcal is nice for a bit of both on and off road

[@MarcSullivan-yo9gy]

The old gen at 2.35 width is already too wide for my liking as it floats too high on loose gravel.

[@morrisizing]

Only in a 2.4 limits its use as a Gravel tyre given the trend of MTB tyres at Unbound.

[@MarcSullivan-yo9gy]

Check out the WTB Nano, they make them in 2.1. Not nearly as sophisticsted construction as the Mezcal and wears faster though

[@morrisizing]

Lachlan Morton ran a 2.1” Vittoria Mezcal at Unbound I believe. Though I think there are faster rolling MTB tyres that are popular with some gravel racers that have bikes that can fit a 2.1.

[@AdamFitzgerald]

Did you test it on front and back?

[@GuyKesTV]

Yes, and with new Peyote on the back

[@AdamFitzgerald]

@@GuyKesTV I like it on the back, with barzo on the front. Couldn't get on with it on the front. But I mainly ride bridleways and gravel trails on the hardtail. I love how fast it feels. I feel like it would kill me if I wanted to ride singletrack in the woods 😅

[@waynegiles9320]

Barzo on the front for me this “summer” 🙄😂

[@GuyKesTV]

@@waynegiles9320 I feel your pain. I refuse to use mud tyres though!

[@VerthNeel]

Going 60tpi is a mistake, imho.

Waiting for Peyote.

[@GuyKesTV]

Noted!

@@GuyKesTV I couldn't resist and ordered it I hope it will be good for adventure cycling front Syerra back Peyote

[@devlish668]

What XC type tires would you recommend for those that prefer to run lower psi (17-20)? Thanks.

[@benoosthuizen4961]

Ride my tyres around 18 - 20 psi. Have tried Maxxis Recon Race, Pirelli Scorpion RC XC and Kenda Booster Pros (all 29 x 2.4)… all work really well at that pressures. Pirellis are the fastest tyres I have ever ridden with decent grip. Recons were comfy and grippy, but didn’t think they were that fast. Kenda’s are my current favourites… they grip really well, are very comfy and faster than the Recons, though not as fast as the Pirellis. 🙂

[@GuyKesTV]

@@benoosthuizen4961 seconded on Maxxis and Pirelli for consistent low pressure performance. Specialized (control not sworks carcass) also good and a total bargain and Hutchinson feel really good too if you can find them.

[@frankschock9981]

​@benoosthuizen4961 Boosters corner better than the XC RC's? Also how's the actaul volume of these? I know the Rekon Race 2.4 is the biggest actual volume around 2.45.

[@benoosthuizen4961]

@@frankschock9981 Yes, they do corner better than the XC RC’s 🙂 Haven’t measured actual volume, but they are very similar to the Recon Race 2.4s.

[@williammorris4419]

I used previous Mezcals on a dry trail in training and racing and found them to be sketchy. Won't buy any of them again

[@NiohNiohYT]

Imho, new tire is just worse than the old mezcal. Old mezcal seems to have even softer grippier side knobs, and harder center for both higher durability, and higher speed. This new single compound tire seems to be a production cost saving reason, and not the performance one.

[@GuyKesTV]

@@NiohNiohYT yes the old tire was quad compound (dual compound on top and at base). This tyre feels slower on hard surfaces but more controlled off road. Will have to see how it wears over time

[@twanpeters]

@@GuyKesTV Does it also feel slower on gravel roads? By the way, what is your favourite XC tire combination for front and rear?

[@Grandadgreyhair]

Still not getting the sweet spot when you have front tyre at a great pressure for riding along, it goes all squishy when you load front handlebars, a few more psi and it holds up great with similar bounce to Lewis Hamiltons F1 car. The rear seems okay because it is more weighted most of the time. I notice a lot of racers use these tyres but in the 120 tpi incarnation.

[@trentvlak]

2.4 is 61mm. Under 60mm would make it a 2.25 tire.

[@GuyKesTV]

@@trentvlak 59.9mm is 2.35in which is a lot closer than most to quoted size at 20psi

[@trentvlak]

@@GuyKesTV all these tires except Pirelli are undersized even on the big 30mm rim and I'm tired of it.

[@GuyKesTV]

@@trentvlak yep, Maxxis are the worst of all ATMO

[@JasonLiske]

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