Wheels can only get you so far. Where the rubber meets the road, tires can keep you upright and confident in the thick of it.
The all-new Turbo tires from Specialized aim to keep riders rolling faster, with less energy loss and fewer flats with an all-new GRIPTON T2 compound. The all-new Specialized Turbo tire gets fast, with more grip, durability, and hookless compatibility.
Efficiency counts
Whether you’re riding the weekend hammer fest or Le Tour, you want all the watts you can to transfer into speed, or at the very least, not cost you any. The all-new GRIPTON T2 compound blend features “enhanced Silica binding efficiency to the fixed polymer chains.” What does that mean? In basic terms, it means a faster tire with more grip, but there’s more…
Testing — Rebound and hysteresis
Specialized ran hundreds of compounds through testing and measured for the rebound, abrasion, hardness, and tear strength, all with a singular goal—to create the fastest, most efficient compound to date.
How did they test? Specialized explains, “We test rebound with a simple pendulum. It showed this new compound absorbed almost no energy.” Meaning it rolls fast. But what about the hysteresis? Specialized enlightened us; “That’s a serious Scrabble word that describes energy dissipation in the compound as heat build-up during compression. Less heat, less energy lost, more speed. GRIPTON T2 performed better than any other race-ready compound our team had ever created.”
What does this mean? The T2 compound on the center tread is fast rolling and efficient. T5 (also used on the S-Works MTB tire line) is on the shoulder, where grip is paramount for ultimate traction and confidence in cornering speed. In a nutshell; the dual compound T2/T5 makes for a faster Turbo tire all-around.
S-Works Turbo tire models
S-Works RapidAir 2BR
The last iteration of the S-Works RapidAir tire made history at the Tour in 2019 with multiple stage wins, a bit of time in the yellow jersey, and a green jersey on the Champ Elysses.
The all-new version promises more speed and a longer tread life thanks to the updated tire compounds. The Specialized RapidAir tubeless tire made the racing world think twice about tubular vs. tubeless.
To gain even more of an advantage, the Specialized tire team opted for two plies that overlap at the side wall — instead of three, like on the previous version. This update not only rolls faster but grips better as well, with a more supple contact patch.
A set of 26mm S-Works Turbo RapidAir 2BR tubeless-ready tires saves two watts of rolling resistance over the previous tire and adds approximately 1000 kilometers of life to a set. Plus, they’re lighter!
New for the Turbo is a hybrid-Kevlar Blackbelt protection under the tread. It adds 12% more puncture protection than the previous version and drops weight.
S-Works Turbo RapidAir 2BR tech spec:
- Casing: 120 TPI
- Bead: 2Bliss Ready, Zylon Foldable
- Compound: Gripton T2/T5Flat
- Protection: BlackBelt
- Size/Weight: 700×26, psi 70-110 – 230g
- Price: $90.00
S-Works Turbo 2BR
A day-in-day-out performer, the updated Turbo tubeless ready delivers more grip, speed, and durability than ever before—six watts faster for 26mm tires vs. the previous tubeless version. The BlackBelt protection under the tread delivers 8% more puncture protection than the previous S-Works Turbo tire. Plus — it comes in tons of size options, enough for racing and training.
S-Works Turbo 2BR tech specs:
- Casing: 120 TPI
- Bead: 2Bliss Ready, Zylon Foldable
- Compound: GRIPTON® T2/T5Flat
- Protection: BlackBelt
- Sizes/Weights: 700×26, psi 70-110, 260g700x28, psi 70-95 – 280g, 700×30, psi 65-90 – 300g, 700×28 Tan, psi 70-95- 280g 700×30 Tan, psi 65-90 – 300g
- Price: $80.00
S-Works Turbo (tubed)
What if you think the S-Works Turbo was fine as a tubed tired? Well, you’re in luck; Specialized offers the S-Works Turbo in a tubed version for those looking for the maximum light setup.
The S-Works Turbo employs a Specialized new Dual T2/T5 compound, updated light/supple casings with BlackBelt puncture protection, and delivers it in a tube-type tire. Plus — it’s only 200g for a 24mm tire, perfect for TT and beyond.
Are there specific rim types that Turbo RapidAir 2BR or Turbo 2BR need?
Specialized states that the new Turbo 2BR tires are approved for hookless rim designs up to a tire pressure of 5.0 bar/72.5 psi. *700×26 tires are released as 2BR only for max 622×23 rim. On the other hand, tube-type tires are approved for clinchers and tubeless clincher rims.
Pricing and availability
The new Specialised Turbo tire line is available online or at your local Specialized dealer for those looking to update their treads.
Pricing:
- S-Works Turbo T2/T5 tire; sizing: 700X24C, 700x26c, 700x28c, $70.00
- S-Works Turbo 2BR T2/T5 tire; sizing: 700X26C, 700X28C, 700X30C: $80.00
- S-Works Turbo RapidAir 2BR T2/T5 tire; sizing: 700X26C: $90.00
Check out Specialized.com for more info.
