Barzo XC Race

I’ve been riding consistently for 10 years, mainly AM/XC, and during that time I’ve tested nearly every major brand and tire model. I’m always chasing the lightest possible setup while pushing the limits of performance. For the past 4 years, I’ve been riding Barzo/Mezcal Trail versions in autumn and winter, and Race versions during the season.

Their speed and weight have always been their greatest strengths, but the XC casing’s fragility and the slightly firmer feel of the 2.35 Trail versions were small trade-offs. In 4 years, I’ve had exactly 1 puncture on a Race version – a sidewall cut on a sharp rock. Once. That says it all.

I often fine-tuned pressures depending on conditions, and sometimes there were minor traction anomalies on very loose or rocky surfaces in hard lean angles.

But with the new 2.4 XC Race tires, everything has changed. First impression? Shock. The tire spreads beautifully on 30 mm rims and instantly delivers brutal support and traction. I couldn’t believe how it behaved in deep lean angles – incredible stability and confidence. Sections where I used to ride on the edge now feel calm and faster. Off-camber, wet roots, technical descents – the tire holds like it’s glued to the trail.

Initially, I kept the same pressures as on the 2.35 (1.3 bar front / 1.6 bar rear – 89 kg, 187 cm), but soon realized these tires demand less. They remain lightning fast and unbelievably comfortable – it feels like riding a completely different category of tire.

I bought both new 2.4 Barzo and Mezcal, and what I once tolerated in older models these now handle effortlessly. They’re insanely fast and in descents feel almost like enduro tires – it doesn’t matter what the line is, you just let it go, and minutes, seconds, and split-seconds melt away on Strava PRs.

There are many great tires out there, but for me, these two are the absolute winners in the world of XC, DC, and Trail – especially for the conditions I ride in the Malé Karpaty mountains.