Road Bike Tire Test: Vredestein Fortezza Senso All Weather 25
Contents and Test Summary
- Introduction
- Manufacturer Specifications
- Size, Weight, Thickness
- Rolling Resistance: 21.8 Watts
- Puncture Resistance: 65 Points
- Static Wet Grip: No Data
- Conclusion: 2.0 / 5 Not Recommended
- Comments
- Vredestein Fortezza Senso All Weather 25
(100% is best)
The Vredestein Fortezza Senso All Weather is the top of the line all-round road bike tire from Vredestein. This tire uses all of the high-tech stuff you expect from a top of the line tire: 120 TPI carcass, TriComp compound, and excellent protection. Although this is the high-end tire from Vredestein, pricing is a little lower when compared to Conti's or Schwalbe's. This tire was donated by Dutch webshop Mantel.com. Thanks, Mantel!
When looking at the specifications of the Fortezza Senso All Weather, it seems to be very comparable to the Conti GP4000S and Schwalbe One. specified weight is 225 grams for the 25 mm version of this tire. Add-in the 120 TPI carcass and TriComp compound and pretty much everyone will be convinced rolling resistance should be comparable to top of the line road bike tires from other manufacturers.
Surprisingly, the performance of the Fortezza Senso in the rolling resistance test is awful. This tire has the highest rolling resistance of all road bike tires I had the chance to test up to know. Mantel sent me 2 tires, I tested both and both were equally bad. I retested a Schwalbe One and Conti GP4000S II to verify the Fortezza Senso results, these tires had the same low rolling resistance they always have. Read on for the full results.
Manufacturer Specifications
| Manufacturer Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Vredestein |
| Model | Fortezza Senso All Weather |
| Year | 2015 |
| Tire Type | Tubetype (clincher) |
| Supplied By | Bought in store |
| New or Used | New |
| Mileage | 0 km |
| Price Range | Med |
| Buy At | |
| Manufacturer part number | 28504 |
| TPI | 120 |
| Compound | TriComp |
| Bead | Folding |
| ETRTO | 25-622 |
| Size Inch | 28" |
| Specified Width (mm) | 25 |
| Specified Weight | 240 grams |
| Max Air Pressure (psi) | 130 |
| Made In | Pro Data |
| Available Sizes |
23-622 (700x23C) 25-622 (700x25C) 28-622 (700x28C) |
Vredestein Fortezza Senso All Weather 25 Test Results
Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements
| Size, Weight and Thickness Measurements | |
|---|---|
| Specified Weight | 240 grams |
| Measured Weight | 234 grams |
| System Adjusted Weight (tire + inner tube (100 gr) |
334 grams |
| Measured Width | 26 mm (un-round) |
| Measured Height | 24 mm (un-round) |
| Total Tire Thickness Center | 3.2 mm |
| Total Tire Thickness Sidewall | Pro Data |
| Unmounted Casing Width | No Data |
| Unmounted Tread Width | No Data |
| Tread Cover (Tread / Casing Ratio) | No Data |
| All size measurements are taken at an air pressure of 100 psi / 6.9 bars on a 17.8 mm inner width rim. | |
The pair of Fortezza Senso All Weather 25 mm I received, had a weight of 234 and 235 grams. Vredestein claims a weight of 240 grams, tires that are lighter than specced are great! The maximum air pressure of the Fortezza Senso All Weather, as indicated on the sidewall, is 130 psi.
Rolling Resistance Test Results
| Rolling Resistance Test Results | |
|---|---|
| Inner Tube | Conti Race28 (100gr butyl) |
| Measured Width | 26 mm (un-round) |
| Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 22-24 = 132 psi/9.1 bar 25-27 = 120 psi/8.3 bar 28-29 = 108 psi/7.4 barUltra High Air Pressure (120 psi / 8.3 bar) |
Pro Data |
| Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 22-24 = 110 psi/7.6bar 25-27 = 100 psi/6.9 bar 28-29 = 90 psi/6.2 barExtra High Air Pressure (100 psi / 6.9 bar) |
Pro Data |
| Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 22-24 = 88 psi/6.1 bar 25-27 = 80 psi/5.5 bar 28-29 = 72 psi/5.0 barHigh Air Pressure (80 psi / 5.5 bar) |
21.8 Watts CRR: 0.00653 |
| Rolling Resistance Real tire width in mm: 22-24 = 66 psi/4.6 bar 25-27 = 60 psi/4.1 bar 28-29 = 54 psi/3.7 barMedium Air Pressure (60 psi / 4.1 bar) |
Pro Data |
| The Road Bike 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. |
|
The rolling resistance test: This is where it all goes wrong. At 120 psi, the Fortezza Senso already has a much higher rolling resistance (18 watts) than a GP4000S II at 60 psi (15.5 watts). It even has a much higher rolling resistance than a very cheap Vittoria Zaffiro at the same air pressure. Fortunately, rolling resistance doesn't explode when dropping air pressure. Still, rolling resistance is the highest of all road bike tires I've tested to date.
Puncture Resistance Test Results
| Puncture Resistance Test Results (higher is better) | |
|---|---|
| Total Puncture Score Tread | 65 Points |
| Total Puncture Score Sidewall | Pro Data |
| Tread Puncture Force Sharp Needle | 13 Points |
| Tread Puncture Force Blunt Needle | No Data |
| Tread Total Tire Thickness | 3.2 mm |
| Sidewall Puncture Force Sharp Needle | Pro Data |
| Sidewall Puncture Force Blunt Needle | No Data |
| Sidewall Total Tire Thickness | Pro Data |
A road bike tire with such a high rolling resistance should at least have a very high puncture resistance? Puncture resistance is good with a score of 13, which is a little higher than the GP4000S (11) or Schwalbe One (12). Still, there are other tires with comparable or higher puncture resistance, but much lower rolling resistance. Please look at all data and make your own verdict.
Static Grip Test Results
NOTE: Grip test data is only available on tires tested after November 2018. You can find more information about our grip test here: Introducing Grip Testing
| Static Grip Test Results | |
|---|---|
| Wet Grip Average | No Data |
| Wet Grip Center | No Data |
| Wet Grip Edge | No Data |
| Grip in points = coefficient of friction * 100 Road bike grip test rim width = 19.0 mm |
|
Conclusion
- Vredestein Fortezza Senso All Weather 25
(100% is best)
I had high hopes of the Vredestein Fortezza Senso All Weather testing close to the other top tires or maybe even surpassing them. Unfortunately, it seems rolling resistance is way too high to consider using this tire. At 100 psi and a speed of 29 km/h, rolling resistance for a pair of tires is 14 watts higher when compared with the Continental Grand Prix 4000S II or Schwalbe One. In my opinion, that's way too much.
At a lower price point than a Fortezza Senso, you will be able to buy a Vittoria Rubino Pro or Conti Grand Prix, which both have much lower rolling resistance. For slightly more money, true low rolling resistance tires like the Conti GP4000S II or Schwalbe One can be had.
RATING:
2.0
/ 5
TEST VERDICT:
Not Recommended