CX/Gravel Tire Test: Vittoria Terreno Zero Gravel Lite 40

Vittoria recently renamed their gravel bike tires, and they now make more sense to gravel bikers unfamiliar with their lineup. Vittoria used to have most of their gravel bike tires available in both the "TNT TLR" and "TLR" casing types, where the TNT TLR casing was the stronger option. Vittoria has now renamed the "TNT TLR" to Gravel Endurance, and the "TLR" has become the Gravel Lite, which we think helps make the right decision.

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The Terreno Zero is now available as "Terreno Zero Gravel Endurance" and "Terreno Zero Gravel Lite", and this test is about the Gravel Lite version. The Terreno Zero is rightly a semi-slick because the central tread cannot be smoother than on this tire. On the edges, we find a very light knob profile that can provide some grip on tarmac or hardpack surfaces.

We previously tested the Terreno Zero in the TNT TLR version (read our review) and found that the Terreno Zero is slower than you would expect at first glance. The reason is that the Terreno Zero has an anti-puncture strip under the tread, making the tire slower but more resistant to cuts from sharp gravel or other objects.

The Gravel Lite version of the Terreno Zero is easily recognizable by the light "tan" sidewalls, while the Gravel Endurance versions come with gray sidewalls. The Gravel Lite is only available in 2 different sizes: 700x40c and 29x1.75 (700x47c), while the Gravel Endurance is available in a much wider selection of sizes.

We will compare the Terreno Zero Gravel Lite in the 40-622 size with the Terreno Zero TNT G+ 2.0 (read our review), which we tested in 2020 and should be equivalent to the renamed Tereno Zero Gravel Endurance. Of course, we have added a selection of gravel bike tires from our ever-growing database to the comparison.

Manufacturer Specifications

Manufacturer Specs
Brand	Vittoria
Model	Terreno Zero Gravel Lite
Year	2024
Supplied By	Bought in store
New or Used	New
Mileage	0 km
Price Range	High
Buy At	Ad Amazon.com
Manufacturer part number	11A.00.342
EAN	8022530025560
TPI	100
Compound	Graphene 1C
Bead	Folding
ETRTO	40-622
Specified Weight	440 grams
Max Air Pressure (psi)	90
Made In	Members Only
Available Sizes	40-622 (700x28c) 47-622 (700x47c)

Vittoria Terreno Zero Gravel Lite 40 Test Results

Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements

Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements
Specified Weight	440 grams
Measured Weight	445 grams
Measured Width Casing	39 mm (un-round)
Measured Width Tread	39 mm
Measured Height	39 mm (un-round)
Measured Knob Height Center	0.0 mm
Measured Knob Height Edge	1.1 mm
Measured Total Thickness Center (excluding knobs)	3.90 mm
Measured Total Thickness Sidewall	Members Only
All size measurements are taken at low air pressure on a 17.8 mm inner width rim.

Rolling Resistance Test Results

Rolling Resistance Test Results
Inner Tube	None (30 ml sealant)
Measured Width	39 mm
Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 30-32 = 66 psi/4.6 bar 33-35 = 60 psi/4.1 bar 36-38 = 54 psi/3.7 bar 39-42 = 50 psi/3.4 bar 43-46 = 46 psi/3.2 bar 47-50 = 42 psi/2.9 barHigh Air Pressure (50 psi / 3.4 bar)	Members Only
Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 30-32 = 55 psi/3.8 bar 33-35 = 50 psi/3.4 bar 36-38 = 45 psi/3.1 bar 39-42 = 42 psi/2.9 bar 43-46 = 38 psi/2.6 bar 47-50 = 35 psi/2.4 barMedium Air Pressure (42 psi / 2.9 bar)	Members Only
Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 30-32 = 44 psi/3.0 bar 33-35 = 40 psi/2.8 bar 36-38 = 36 psi/2.6 bar 39-42 = 33 psi/2.3 bar 43-46 = 31 psi/2.1 bar 47-50 = 28 psi/1.9 barLow Air Pressure (33 psi / 2.3 bar)	27.8 Watts CRR: 0.00833
Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 30-32 = 33 psi/2.3 bar 33-35 = 30 psi/2.1 bar 36-38 = 27 psi/1.9 bar 39-42 = 25 psi/1.7 bar 43-46 = 23 psi/1.6 bar 47-50 = 21 psi/1.4 barExtra Low Air Pressure (25 psi / 1.7 bar)	32.6 Watts CRR: 0.00977
The CX/Gravel section is a multi tire size section, air pressures have been adjusted to the measured casing width. 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	64 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	3.90 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	73 Points
Wet Grip Center	Members Only
Wet Grip Edge	Members Only
Measured Knob Height Center	0.0 mm
Measured Knob Height Edge	1.1 mm
Grip in points = coefficient of friction * 100 CX/Gravel grip test rim width = 23.0 mm
Wet Grip Test and Off-Road Tires (info)

Conclusion

If you're looking for a super fast-rolling, semi-slick gravel bike tire, then the Terreno Zero Gravel Lite is not for you. Most people would not expect the Terreno Zero to roll slower than the knobbier Terreno Dry, but our tests show this is the case. The reason for this is the much thicker tread and extra anti-puncture layer that we find under the Terreno Zero's tread, which is not present in the Terreno Dry (read our review).

If you're looking for a very sturdy gravel bike tire and will mainly be riding on paved or semi-paved roads, then the Terreno Zero can be a good choice. The tire's wet grip is also very good, and together with the good puncture resistance of the tread, we think that the Terreno Zero would even perform quite well as a touring bike tire.

With this test, we also confirmed again that Vittoria's lighter "Gravel Lite" tires with tan wall sidewalls roll slower than the stronger Gravel Endurance versions with gray sidewalls. This is somewhat strange because, from a performance standpoint, the only advantage of the Lite version is the lower weight, which will quickly be offset by the higher rolling resistance.

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RATING: 3.0 / 5
TEST VERDICT: Recommended

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