The Vittoria Mazza is a tyre that I’ve now had the chance to ride through all sorts of conditions, and it’s proven to be a solid option for that one tire that can handle just about anything all year round. Whether charging through summer dust or plowing through the Autumnal Scottish mud, the Mazza is a great option.

We are supported by Vittoria tyres, but before that we were offered the option to test them before signing the deal. We take product advocacy very seriously and we go through multiple sets of tyres every year, so we know what we like. Tyres are a thing we would definitely NOT use if we couldn’t trust them.

I’ll keep it simple by touching on the stuff everyone has been asking me for the last year. Recently we’ve been running the new Vittoria “MOSTRO” Race on the front, but more on that in the next blog. The configuration on my bike is a Mazza Enduro 2,4 on the rear and a Mazza Enduro RACE 2.4 on the front. The latter of the two being a softer compound (hence the “race”)

Traction and Grip

First off, the grip on this tire is impressive. Vittoria uses 4C Graphene tech, which basically means they’ve got different rubber compounds in different parts of the tire to get the best mix of grip and speed. On the trail, this translates to plenty of bite when you’re carving through corners or slamming on the brakes. The big shoulder knobs dig in hard, especially when you’re leaning into turns, so you don’t feel like you’re going to wash out even on loose terrain. The trick is playing with pressure and committing to all kinds of turns to experiment with the PSI Vs Tread Vs Sidewall support. This takes some time, but was essential for m.

In dry conditions, where the trails are more dust than dirt, the Mazza stays sharp. It holds up well on rocky, technical trails too. The centre tread is designed to keep you moving quickly without too much drag, so you’re not feeling like you’re dragging a ton of extra weight around. There’s a bit of wander on the rear in really loose conditions, but this become very predictable very quickly. I kind of like it.

If you’re gonna put a Mazza on the front, 100% go for the “RACE” tyre. The grip is other worldly and surprisingly, unlike the purple banded Schwalbe ADDIX Magic Mary, Vittoria have managed to make the compound last longer by what seems like orders of magnitude.

The new MOSTRO Race is now on the front. More on that later.

Vittoria MOSTRO Enduro Race front MTB tyre

When it comes to wet and muddy conditions, the Mazza holds its own. It’s not a dedicated mud tire, that’s the “MOTA” so don’t expect it to be your go-to in deep winter sludge, but for the average rider hitting damp trails or mixed conditions, it grips better than a lot of other tires in this category. The tread pattern does a decent job at clearing out mud and keeping things moving, which is key when you’re trying to maintain control in slick sections. The wide spacing on the knobs make it a bit draggy, but it clears the mud very quickly.

Durability and Puncture Resistance

One of the things that stands out about the Mazza is how tough it is. I’ve put it through some rocky, gnarly sections, and it holds up well. The sidewalls are beefy enough to take hits without constantly worrying about punctures or tears. Plus, the tire wears evenly, which is a huge plus if you’re not trying to replace your tires every few months. Even wear is also down to pressure experimentation too. Though I’m sure the boffins in Italy have factored in the different compounds to complement wear at optimal pressures?

If you’re running tubeless, you can lower the tire pressure a bit to get more traction without worrying about pinch flats, and that makes it a little more adaptable when the conditions get roughly. 21-22 on the rear and 19-20 PSI on the front. I ride loads of different conditions in the same day with different riders, so it’s hard to find the sweet spot on a work day.

Rolling Speed

For how grippy and aggressive this tire is, it actually rolls pretty fast. The centre tread is designed with that in mind, so it doesn’t feel like you’re constantly fighting against it to keep your speed up. It’s obviously not as fast as a dedicated XC tire, but for a tire that’s this aggressive, it’s surprisingly efficient. Whether you’re on smooth singletrack or more technical terrain, you get a good balance between traction and speed. Not gonna lie though, on the fire road climbs, you’re gonna feel it, but the trail performance is so good that it’s worth a few watts on the uphills!

Somewhere between 20-22 psi is the bike park sweet spot for me.

Vittoria Mazza Race Enduro MTB tyre

Now, when it comes to wet and muddy conditions, the Mazza holds its own. It’s not a dedicated mud tire, so don’t expect it to be your go-to in deep winter sludge, but for the average rider hitting damp trails or mixed conditions, it grips better than a lot of other tires in this category. The tread pattern does a decent job at clearing out mud and keeping things moving, which is key when you’re trying to maintain control in slick sections.

Durability and Puncture Resistance

One of the things that stands out about the Mazza is how tough it is. I’ve put it through some rocky, gnarly sections, and it holds up well. The sidewalls are beefy enough to take hits without constantly worrying about punctures or tears. Plus, the tire wears evenly, which is a huge plus if you’re not trying to replace your tires every few months.

It’s tubeless-ready too, which is a nice bonus. If you’re running tubeless, you can lower the tire pressure a bit to get more traction without worrying about pinch flats, and that makes it a little more adaptable when the conditions get rough.

Rolling Speed

For how grippy and aggressive this tire is, it actually rolls pretty fast. The center tread is designed with that in mind, so it doesn’t feel like you’re constantly fighting against it to keep your speed up. It’s obviously not as fast as a dedicated XC tire, but for a tire that’s this aggressive, it’s surprisingly efficient. Whether you’re on smooth singletrack or more technical terrain, you get a good balance between traction and speed.

Slow on the flat climbs, grip for days on the downs and never clogged up once!

Vittoria Mazza Enduro. Grip for days!

Verdict

If you’re looking for a tire that can stick with you through the year without having to swap things out every time the weather changes, the Vittoria Mazza is a strong choice. It offers great traction, it’s tough as nails, and it rolls faster than you’d expect for something this aggressive. While it’s not going to be the best tire for extreme conditions on either end of the spectrum, it’s reliable and performs consistently well no matter what the trail throws at you.

While the Mazza Race offers impressive grip and durability, it’s not without its drawbacks. One issue is its weight. Being a heavy, aggressive tire, it can feel a bit sluggish on long climbs or flatter trails, making it less ideal for riders prioritising speed and efficiency. Additionally, while it performs decently in wet conditions, it’s not a full-on mud tire, so it can struggle in truly sloppy environments.

The rolling resistance, though manageable, isn’t as low as some faster, less aggressive tires, which may turn off riders looking for a bit more speed on smoother, more flowy trails. However, if everything else about this tyre seems right for you. Have a look an the Mazza’s Fratellino (little brother) The Mazza Trail. You’ll find your next tyre right there!

More on the Vittoria Mazza range HERE