Vittoria has added a new 700x42c size to its RideArmor range to bring greater versatility to its “most durable and puncture-resistant road tyre”.
The first RideArmor tyre launched in 2024 and was billed as Vittoria's toughest road bike tyre. It was available in seven sizes, from 700x26c to 700x38c, but this latest launch expands the range to eight widths.
The RideArmor was originally billed as suiting training and commuting. Vittoria now says the tyre is for everything from “the daily commute to a multi-day bikepacking adventure or a ride combining asphalt and light gravel”.
Responding to an evolution
Vittoria says modern endurance road bikes and gravel race bikes are changing what cyclists expect from road bike tyres.
These bikes now have increased tyre clearance and more compliant geometries and there is “the growing popularity of mixed-surface rides”.
“The new size responds to this evolution, with increased air volume to better absorb vibrations and provide greater grip, stability and confidence over long distances, while also delivering aerodynamic benefits on bikes designed around wider tyres,” Vittoria says.
Tough construction
The RideArmor’s tough construction comes from its ArmorSkin sidewall layer, which protects the walls “from cuts and abrasions even on the roughest surfaces”.
It also has a Kevlar bead-to-bead protection belt to protect against punctures from road debris.
Meanwhile, the tyre uses Vittoria’s Graphene + Silica compound for high mileage and durability, while “providing dependable grip across a wide range of surfaces and weather conditions”.
The 100 TPI casing is said to complete a construction that's intended to be reliable.
Vittoria says the slick tread “ensures low rolling resistance and excellent efficiency”. No data has been provided to back up those claims.
Like all RideArmor tyres, you can set up the 42mm width tubeless or with an inner tube. It is also suitable for use on an electric bike. The 42mm version weighs 480g.
Not Vittoria’s first 42mm road tyre
The RideArmor isn’t the first Vittoria road bike tyre to be available in this wide size. That honour goes to the 42mm Corsa Pro Control tyre released in April.
When it launched the wider Corsa Pro Control, Vittoria made the same argument around the evolution in bicycle design.
The tyre followed Schwalbe’s 40mm Pro One Allroad launched in January and Pirelli’s road bike tyres measuring over 40mm.
Vittoria’s chief marketing and innovation officer, Vanessa ten Hoff, says the company follows trends but only chooses “to act when they deliver real, measurable benefits”.
Now the wider RideArmor provides riders with a 42mm option from Vittoria that is less focused on performance.
“While Corsa PRO Control is Vittoria’s performance-oriented option for riders seeking racing-level performance on demanding surfaces, RideArmor is the choice for those who prioritise durability, puncture protection and everyday reliability,” Vittoria says.
