MTB Tire Test: Vittoria Mezcal XC Race TLR G+ 2.0

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The Mezcal is Vittoria's versatile all-round mountain bike tire and it's available in several different versions. We already tested the reinforced TNT TLR (read our review) version back in 2019, and this time we're going to take a look at the lighter, non-reinforced XC Race TLR (Tubeless TLR) version. The Mezcal is also available in a cheaper rigid version, but if you care about performance, we recommend you stick to the TNT TLR or XC Race TLR versions.

Ad Buy Vittoria Mezcal XC Race TLR G+ 2.0 at Amazon.com

We were already quite impressed by the performance of the Mezcal TNT G+ 2.0 back in 2019, but it's gotten even better since we started testing the hard-surface wet grip of mountain bike tires a couple of months back. We re-tested the Mezcal TNT TLR on our grip tester, and it turns out it's the best gripping mountain bike tire in this test out of the 12 tires we were able to re-test.

Given that the Mezcal XC Race TLR is very similar to the TNT TLR, we expect the performance of the XC Race TLR to be equally good in this test as they share the same tread pattern and compound mixture. The apparent difference between the XC Race TLR and TNT TLR can be found in the sidewalls, as the TNT TLR comes with reinforced sidewalls that help seal the tire and protect against sidewall cuts and tears.

From the specifications alone, the Mezcal XC Race TLR, with its lower specified weight, should be the more performant tire as thinner and lighter tires usually offer better performance. Let's dive into the test results and see how not reinforcing the sidewalls affects the performance of the Vittoria Mezcal in our tests.

Manufacturer Specifications

Manufacturer Specs
Brand	Vittoria
Model	Mezcal XC Race TLR G+ 2.0
Year	2023
Supplied By	Bought in store
New or Used	New
Mileage	0 km
Price Range	High
Buy At	Ad Amazon.com
Manufacturer part number	11A.00.036
EAN	8022530017817
TPI	120
Compound	4C G+ 2.0
Bead	Folding
ETRTO	55-622
Size Inch	28"
Width Inch	2.25
Specified Weight	690 grams
Max Air Pressure (psi)	58
Made In	Members Only
Available Sizes	29x2.10 29x2.25 29x2.35

Vittoria Mezcal XC Race TLR G+ 2.0 Test Results

Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements

Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements
Specified Weight	690 grams
Measured Weight	689 grams
Measured Width Carcass	56 mm (un-round)
Measured Width Tread	56 mm
Measured Height	56 mm (un-round)
Measured Knob Height Center	2.5 mm
Measured Knob Height Edge	4.0 mm
Measured Total Thickness Center (excluding knobs)	2.7 mm
Measured Total Thickness Sidewall	Members Only
All size measurements are taken at an air pressure of 35 psi / 2.4 bars on a 17.8 mm inner width rim.

Rolling Resistance Test Results

Rolling Resistance Test Results
Inner Tube	None (40 ml sealant)
Rolling Resistance 55 PSI / 3.8 Bar	Members Only
Rolling Resistance 45 PSI / 3.1 Bar	Members Only
Rolling Resistance 35 PSI / 2.4 Bar	21.8 Watts CRR: 0.00653
Rolling Resistance 25 PSI / 1.7 Bar	24.4 Watts CRR: 0.00731
All numbers are for a single tire at a speed of 29 km/h / 18 mph and a load of 42.5 kg / 94 lbs. Use the formula: RR (Watts) = CRR * speed (m/s) * load (N) to calculate rolling resistance at a given speed and load.

Puncture Resistance Test Results

Puncture Resistance Test Results (higher is better)
Total Puncture Score Tread	40 Points
Total Puncture Score Sidewall	Members Only
Tread Puncture Force Sharp Needle	Members Only
Tread Puncture Force Blunt Needle	Members Only
Tread Total Tire Thickness	2.7 mm
Sidewall Puncture Force Sharp Needle	Members Only
Sidewall Puncture Force Blunt Needle	Members Only
Sidewall Total Tire Thickness	Members Only

Hard Surface Static Grip Test Results

Static Grip Test Results
Wet Grip Average	67 Points
Wet Grip Center	Members Only
Wet Grip Edge	Members Only
Measured Knob Height Center	2.5 mm
Measured Knob Height Edge	4.0 mm
Grip in points = coefficient of friction * 100 MTB grip test rim width = 30.0 mm
Wet Grip Test and Off-Road Tires (info)

Conclusion

The lighter Vittoria Mezcal XC Race TLR (Tubeless TLR) doesn't offer much more performance than the Mezcal TNT (read our review) we tested in 2019. It's a bit lighter due to not having reinforced sidewalls, but this doesn't translate to a lower rolling resistance as, surprisingly, it rolls a bit harder than the reinforced Mezcal TNT.

As expected, we see a much lower score in the sidewall puncture tests, where the non-reinforced Mezcal XC Race TLR scores roughly 35% lower when compared to the re-inforced Mezcal TNT. Both versions of the Mezcal perform strong in the tread puncture resistance test and easily outperform the competition in this test. Performance in the hard surface wet grip test is pretty much the same, which confirms both tires use the exact same compound.

What surprises us a bit is the much higher tread thickness on the Mezcal XC Race TLR; we feel they should have come with the same tread thickness. Given that we only test a single sample of each tire and both tires come in so close to each other, the faster rolling tire will probably come down to the individual samples and production runs.

If you're really looking for maximum performance, the lowest weight, or want the tan sidewalls, the Mezcal XC Race TLR should be the better-performing tire but don't expect there to be much difference. The Mezcal TNT will be the more versatile tire for daily use, given it comes with reinforced sidewalls that protect against cuts and helps keep the air in when using them tubeless.

Compare the Vittoria Mezcal TNT and Mezcal XC Race TLR side by side on our comparison section.

Ad Buy Vittoria Mezcal XC Race TLR G+ 2.0 at Amazon.com

RATING: 4.0 / 5
TEST VERDICT: Recommended

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