Long development time
Gripton T2 is the name Specialized has given to its new rubber compound, which is said to have lower rolling resistance. The manufacturer claims that it took more than two years to develop T2.
Click through: The new S-Works Turbo tyre from Specialized
In the centre of the Specialized S-Works Turbo tyre, the focus was placed on efficiency and durability. This is why the T2 compound is used on the centre tread. The tyre should be particularly grippy on the outer sidewalls and adhere well to the road. The familiar T5 compound was used for this purpose, which Specialized also offers fast cross-country tyres for mountain bikes is used.
S-Works Turbo RapidAir 2BR
The tubeless version of the Specialized S-Works Turbo for everyday racing is the S-Works Turbo RapidAir 2BR. The previous version won several stages at the Tour de France 2019. The carcass of the RapidAir consists of just two plies, unlike many other models, which have three plies. By saving material under the tread, the S-Works Turbo RapidAir 2BR should gain speed.
Specialized promises two watts less rolling resistance with a set of RapidAir 2BR with 26 millimetres compared to the previous model. The tyre should also last 1000 kilometres longer. The RapidAir 2BR with its Kevlar puncture protection is also said to have improved in terms of puncture protection. There is talk of twelve per cent more puncture protection.
Data on the S-Works Turbo RapidAir 2BR
- Carcass: 120 TPI
- Tyre bead: 2Bliss Ready, with Zylon, foldable
- Rubber compound: Gripton T2/T5
- Puncture protection: BlackBelt
- Size: 700 x 26 mm
- Pressure: 4.8-7.5 bar
- Weight: 230 grammes
Specialised S-Works Turbo 2BR
With the S-Works Turbo 2BR, another tubeless version of the Specialized S-Works Turbo is being offered as a "performance tyre" for a wider range of applications. The 26-millimetre tyre set of the S-Works Turbo 2BR is said to be six watts faster than its predecessor and has eight percent more puncture protection than the old tyre.
Data on the Specialised S-Works Turbo 2BR
- Carcass: 120 TPI
- Tyre bead: 2Bliss Ready, foldable with Zylon
- Rubber compound: Gripton T2/T5
- Puncture protection: BlackBelt
- Sizes, pressure, weight
- 700 x 26 mm, 4.8-7.5 bar, 260 grams
- 700 x 28 mm, 4.8-6.5 bar, 280 grams
- 700 x 30 mm, 4.4-6.2 bar, 300 grams
- 700 x 28 mm, TAN, 4.8-6.5 bar, 280 grams
- 700 x 30 mm, TAN, 4.4-6.2 bar, 300 grams
The tubular tyre version
There is also a tubular tyre version of the Turbo 2BR. With a width of 24 millimetres, the weight is said to be 200 grams and the puncture protection is said to be eight percent higher than the previous version of the Specialized S-Works Turbo. Rolling resistance is also said to be lower. However, there are no precise details from the manufacturer.
The new tubeless tyres from Specialized should be compatible with rims without hooks on the horns (hookless). However, a rim with hooks is recommended for higher tyre pressures.
