According to Vittoria, the Diamante is “the tyre for real-world racing” on account of its affable, easy-going and yet somehow spritely personality – sorry, affordable, easy-rolling and yet speedy construction. The Radiale is one of two models in the current, slimmed-down Diamante range, the other being the super-svelte Pro Light.
The difference? Quite a lot, as it happens: there’s the slick tread and minimal weight of the Pro Light, which has a puncture resistant belt under the tread in place of the bead-to-bead protection of the Radiale; there’s the choice of 23c and 25c widths for the former and 22c or 24c for the latter; and there’s the Radiale’s, er, radial carcass construction.
The actual thread count for the two tyres is the same at 220tpi, but whereas the threads for the Pro Light are in two layers overlaid at 45degrees to the tyre’s direction of rotation, those of the Radiale more closely follow motor vehicle practice by aligning the majority of the threads in layers at 85deg to the direction of rotation. These therefore cross each other at 10deg.
The effect, according to Vittoria and in line with the theory as applied to motor vehicle tyres, is to reduce the interference between the two layers – or plies, allowing them to deform more easily when passing over obstacles and reducing the amount of heat generated by internal friction as the plies move relative to each other.
So, that should mean greater ride comfort and lower rolling resistance for a given tyre cross-section, which is surely why Vittoria has reduced that of the two Pro Radiale sizes by 1mm each compared to the Pro Light.
Ride impressions on their way
Vittoria Diamante Pro Radiale clincher £39.99; sizes 700x22c, 700x24c; 195/210g
See more or add your review on MporaGear
