Vittoria Pave CG draadband (open tube, racefiets)

Riders at Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders often use tyres with green bands â€" these are Vittoria's well-proven Pave CG tubulars. And if you want to enjoy the performance of the Pave CGs without swapping to tubs, then Vittoria also offers the Open Pave CG III.

Available like the tubular in 25mm or 27mm widths, our 25mm tyres weigh 257g each, and share the tubular's Corespun 320TPI (threads per inch) casing. This cotton casing is handmade in the same way as its tubular cousin, except with a clincher bead instead of being sewn up around a latex tube. The casings also contain Kevlar, which adds strength to the suppleness that's delivered by the high thread count.

With our tyres inflated to 80psi - a typical cobbles pressure - the Pave CGs demonstrated a great compromise between speed and grip, with no perceptible increase in rolling resistance compared to the 23mm tyres they replaced.

The tread pattern is identical to the much loved Corsa CX road tyre, with a file tread centre strip and diagonal ridges on each side, and despite theories suggesting that a smooth surfaced tyre offers as much grip as one with a file tread, we believe this tried and trusted design to be superior when the surface is changeable.

Taking in flooded, muddy, thorny country lanes, and potholed unmade roads, the Vittorias never once gave us cause to question their grip, their supple casing ensuring every turn or direction change felt secure.

The added air volume certainly increased comfort, and the wider contact patch that results is especially reassuring under hard braking on a slimy road. After a couple of hundred miles, we've yet to experience any cuts, flats or doubts that the Pave CG III is a superior tyre for poor riding conditions.