MTB Tire Test: Vittoria Peyote XC Race 29x2.25

The Peyote is a relatively new XC mountain bike tire from Vittoria, and it was initially released only in the 29x2.40 size, which we tested soon after its 2024 release. The Peyote gained traction, and Vittoria now offers it in the 29x2.25 size, which attracts new interest from XC mountain bikers as well as gravel bikers who want to fit 55 mm off-road tires.

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Just like the 29x2.4 Peyote, the 29x2.25 size comes with a 60 TPI XC Race casing, and it's available with either black or brown sidewalls. The compound is Vittoria's latest "Race Formulation" Graphene + Silica compound, which they now use on most of their top-of-the-line tires. Together with the fast V-shaped tread pattern, this combination makes it a good option for hardpack, fine/loose, and even mixed conditions.

We've tested the brown sidewall version of the 29x2.25 Peyote XC Race (just like the 2.40 size we tested), and it looks to be the best choice from a performance point of view, as it's a bit lighter than the black sidewall version (20 grams). We've compared it to the 29x2.40 sizes of the Peyote XC Race (read our review), Mezcal XC Race (read our review), and Terreno XC Race (read our review), as well as a selection of the best-performing mountain bike tires from other manufacturers.

Manufacturer Specifications

Manufacturer Specs
Brand	Vittoria
Model	Peyote XC Race
Year	2026
Supplied By	Bought in store
New or Used	New
Mileage	0 km
Price Range	High
Buy At	Ad Amazon.com
Manufacturer part number	11A.00.732
EAN	8022530035842
TPI	60
Compound	Graphene +Silica
Bead	Folding
ETRTO	57-622
Size Inch	29"
Width Inch	2.25
Specified Weight	690 grams
Max Air Pressure (psi)	40
Made In	Pro Data
Available Sizes	29x2.25 29x2.40

Vittoria Peyote XC Race Test Results

Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements

Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements
Specified Weight	690 grams
Measured Weight	706 grams
Measured Width Carcass	54 mm (un-round)
Measured Width Tread	56 mm
Measured Height	Pro Data
Tire Circumference	Pro Data
Measured Knob Height Center	1.4 mm
Measured Knob Height Edge	4.0 mm
Measured Total Thickness Center (excluding knobs)	2.8 mm
Measured Total Thickness Sidewall	Pro Data
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)
Measured Width	54 mm
Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 47-50 = 42 psi/2.9 bar 51-55 = 38 psi/2.6 bar 56-60 = 34 psi/2.3 barHigh Air Pressure (38 psi / 2.6 bar)	Pro Data
Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 47-50 = 35 psi/2.4 bar 51-55 = 32 psi/2.2 bar 56-60 = 29 psi/2.0 barMedium Air Pressure (32 psi / 2.2 bar)	Pro Data
Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 47-50 = 28 psi/1.9 bar 51-55 = 25 psi/1.7 bar 56-60 = 23 psi/1.6 barLow Air Pressure (25 psi / 1.7 bar)	21.0 Watts CRR: 0.00629
Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 47-50 = 21 psi/1.4 bar 51-55 = 19 psi/1.3 bar 56-60 = 17 psi/1.2 barExtra Low Air Pressure (19 psi / 1.3 bar)	Pro Data
The MTB 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	44 Points
Total Puncture Score Sidewall	Pro Data
Tread Puncture Force Sharp Needle	Pro Data
Tread Puncture Force Blunt Needle	Pro Data
Tread Total Tire Thickness	2.8 mm
Sidewall Puncture Force Sharp Needle	Pro Data
Sidewall Puncture Force Blunt Needle	Pro Data
Sidewall Total Tire Thickness	Pro Data

Hard Surface Static Grip Test Results

Static Grip Test Results
Wet Grip Average	73 Points
Wet Grip Center	Pro Data
Wet Grip Edge	Pro Data
Measured Knob Height Center	1.4 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 Vittoria Peyote 29x2.25 performs nearly spot on to the 29x2.40 version we tested back in 2014. The obvious difference is in the size and weight measurements, where we see the 29x2.25 is 3-5 mm smaller than the 29x2.40, depending on whether you measure the casing or the tread's maximum width. The volume for a 29x2.25-rated mountain bike tire is quite good, and Vittoria didn't downsize these tires for the wider rims we see more and more these days.

When we dive into the results a bit deeper, we see that our 29x2.25 sample came in slightly heavier than specified (706 measured, 690 specified). In contrast, our 29x2.40 sample came in slightly lighter than specified (720 measured, 730 specified). When comparing different sizes of the same tires, small differences in actual weight can matter. All in all, and with the higher sample weight, the smaller size rolls faster on our hard test surface.

When it comes to ratings, we rate the 29x2.25 size slightly lower than the 29x2.40 size, but that's mainly because the competition has released new tires that perform better and have shaken up the rankings (Continental Dubnital, Pirelli Scorpion XC RH). Overall, the Peyote still looks like a great choice if you're looking for a fast XC mountain bike tire and the tread pattern fits your needs.

Compare the 29x2.25 and 29x2.40 Vittoria Peyote XC Race on our comparison section.

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RATING: 4.5 / 5
TEST VERDICT: Highly Recommended

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