Inside the Vittoria tire factory in Bangkok (CyclingTips)

[fiamme red]

https://cyclingtips.com/2019/04/inside-vittoria-lion-tyres-thailand-manufacturing-facilities/

Interesting to see how much automation there is. Not exactly "handmade," as I've seen Vittoria tires described; e.g., (https://www.cyclesportonline.com/articles/vittoria-bicycle-tires-pg318.htm): "Ever since the company's inception in 1953, Vittoria tires have been handmade, in-house. In an age where more and more goods are made as quickly and cheaply as possible, Vittoria chooses to continue with traditional methods."

[pbarry]

Very cool. Thanks for the link. Handmade is relative these days. I will continue to buy V's products. :beer:

[wtex]

Assurance is all about repeated testing, but that place looks pretty pro to me. My Vittoria G+ tubulars are rolling fine.

[Tickdoc]

I always assumed "handmade" were the tubulars that had a little "tread wobble" in them after you were sure you mounted them straight.:)

[oldpotatoe]

https://cyclingtips.com/2019/04/inside-vittoria-lion-tyres-thailand-manufacturing-facilities/

Interesting to see how much automation there is. Not exactly "handmade," as I've seen Vittoria tires described; e.g., (https://www.cyclesportonline.com/articles/vittoria-bicycle-tires-pg318.htm): "Ever since the company's inception in 1953, Vittoria tires have been handmade, in-house. In an age where more and more goods are made as quickly and cheaply as possible, Vittoria chooses to continue with traditional methods."

Be willing to bet that the 'handmade' term is mostly related to the tubulars where parts of these are indeed 'hand assembled'..

[false_Aest]

Handmade in the developing world is not the same thing as handmade in Chester, CT. or Saratoga Springs, NY. and should not be fetishized.

[mktng]

vittoria "hand made" is how you can get two tires + two latex tubes for underr $100CAD

[jb_11]

That tour just shows compound production and quality control. They don't actually show the tire assembly process, which could involve a lot of hand work. I doubt any company is hand mixing compounds for their "handmade" tires.

[buddybikes]

Always amazed at manufacturing engineering processes for even what we consider simple things as tires.

[Ralph]

Machine made is generally better anyway.

[papa bless]

When it comes to something as complex as mixing natural rubber compounds and manufacturing tires, you can't get any more handmade than this without sacrificing quality. Trying to mix small batches by hand and trying to mold and vulcanize the tire with single operator tools would give big variances in quality.

This is a high tech, strictly controlled production factory that still requires hands on oversight by technicians and engineers. I would say that even with the large automated extruders, these tires are handmade. Prototyping is done by lab-coat researchers in a test facility, and every step of the production process is controlled with the ability for human intervention. By handmade, they mean that they're not just dumping a bunch of ingredients in a bucket and smashing a big green button that says 'Go'.

When you look at the fit and finish of Vittoria tires, it's a wonder that they can produce something so fine with raw material that oozes out of a tree.

[Mark McM]

Be willing to bet that the 'handmade' term is mostly related to the tubulars where parts of these are indeed 'hand assembled'..

I think you'll find there's just about as much hand-work done in manufacturing clincher tires as there is in tubular tires. Here's an article on Continental tire manufacturing (https://enduro-mtb.com/en/continental-factory-visit-handmade-germany/), showing lots of hand operations in making clincher tires. As discussed in a previous thread, the word "handmade" has no strict definition or application.

[drewskey]

Here is how they make the casing and tubulars.

https://youtu.be/BuosST7TiZE

[pobrien]

That video is very cool! Their operation is very impressive.
Thanks for sharing that video.

[Clancy]

I cannot fathom the amount of capital investment. Also, the complexity of the various machines - who designs and builds these monsters? And for such unique tasks. The automation is fascinating.

I love my Vittoria’s. Still have a few Open Corsas stashed away

I have new appreciation for bicycle tires. I had no idea.

Great article, but CT is always a good read.