The Vittoria Barzo is a classic hardpack race tire. Small, low-profile lugs grip firm, dry trails well and the continuous contact center lug pattern make this one of the fastest true mountain tires out there. Lean-dependent sipe angles mean the hard cornering grip doesn't kick in until the tire is leaned over. This keeps rolling resistance to a minimum. Counter V-formation channels ease the cleaning of mud, dirt, and debris, so the tire sheds quickly if you find yourself in the sticky stuff. Almost as important is the casing underneath. Vittoria TNT casing is made from a cloth that has 120 threads per inch -- quite supple by mountain bike standards. The sidewalls are also reinforced with nylon in order to minimize both cuts and folding when riding at low-pressure. Holding the tire onto the rim is a traditional folding Aramid bead. The tires can be run front or rear, and if you need a little more dig in the rear, reverse the tread direction for more of a "scoop" effect.