Vittoria Mota TLR G2.0 29 x 2.35in front tyre review

Vittoria's Mota combines a well-spaced tread pattern and a narrow casing (measured at 2.18in between the sidewalls). Most of the time, this combination works well in soft, muddy conditions, the tread clears well and with the tyre digging further into the dirt it helps find traction particularly when braking.

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However, cornering traction is not as good as the Maxxis Shorty 2.5in, which was also on test, and the narrow profile causes it to dig in and bog down in some situations, while wider tyres carried speed better.

Rolling resistance is remarkably good on tarmac though, especially for a tyre with a mud-focused tread pattern and a reinforced sidewall.

However, there is a flip side. When I performed braking distance tests on wet tarmac – locking the rear wheel from the same speed several times – it took the longest to stop, with almost double the stopping distance of the best-performing Michelin Wild Enduro.

On the trail, it’s easily knocked off line by wet rocks and roots, partly due to the compound and partly due to the narrow casing, which offers less compliance and requires a higher pressure to prevent squirming.

The narrow profile results in a rougher ride and less traction in rough, rocky terrain than larger tyres tested alongside it. Yet the narrower profile didn’t seem to offer an advantage in muddy terrain, particularly when compared to the Maxxis Shorty.