2022+ Specialized Turbo tires, for wide wheels

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Hexsense
Posts: 3269
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2015 12:41 am
Location: USA

by Hexsense

Specialized released 4 new road tires (S-works Turbo RapidAir, S-works Turbo 2Br, S-works Turbo clincher, Pro Turbo clincher). All of them have wide tread, good for wide rims.
307101041_568175785088122_3547885331373361785_n.jpeg
For anyone familiar with Specialized MTB compound, T5 (XC fast) compound is used here on the side. And the center of these tires are the new T2.
On MTB, T5 is a compound for hard, durable, and fast rubber. This is in contrary to T7 and T9 which are increasingly softer and grippier (at cost of rolling resistance) as the T number increase.
Here, we now have T2. The number suggest that the rubber is significantly harder (and faster) than T5 found on XC MTB.


Articles:
https://cyclingtips.com/2022/09/special ... ange-2023/
https://bikerumor.com/specialized-updat ... compounds/
Last edited by Hexsense on Tue Sep 20, 2022 11:03 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Vuong05
Posts: 284
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2010 7:52 am

by Vuong05

Looks promising. Can't wait to try them out.
Current Stable. Evo (Storm Trooper) : 5.39kg | Alchemy Eros : Heavy (7.25kg) I Specialized Allez Sprint 2022 : Heavy (7.62kg)

by Weenie


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Ypuh
Posts: 673
Joined: Sun Dec 08, 2019 10:20 pm
Location: The Netherlands

by Ypuh

And only €100 each!
Cervelo S3 - 7.3kg
Time ADHX - 8.7kg

spartan
Posts: 1747
Joined: Fri Sep 03, 2004 2:52 am

by spartan

i have my doubts about this new line. if the new compound is so much better why the sworks cotton was not updated. we will see the br results
Current Rides:

2023 Tarmac SL7 Di2 9270
ex 2019 S-works SL6
ex 2018 Trek Madone SLR Disc
ex 2016 Giant TCRAdvanced Sl
ex 2012 Trek Madone7

spartan
Posts: 1747
Joined: Fri Sep 03, 2004 2:52 am

by spartan

According to Kessel, the new RapidAir is one watt faster than the previous version (measured at 40 km/h, 100 psi tyre pressure, 45 kg load for a single wheel) and is a close efficiency match with the Continental GP5000 S TR. It also matches the rolling resistance of the company’s Turbo Cotton clincher tyres run with a latex tube. And it’s now a few grams lighter, with my samples weighing 238 and 240 grams.
Current Rides:

2023 Tarmac SL7 Di2 9270
ex 2019 S-works SL6
ex 2018 Trek Madone SLR Disc
ex 2016 Giant TCRAdvanced Sl
ex 2012 Trek Madone7

CampagYOLO
Posts: 705
Joined: Thu May 06, 2021 3:58 pm

by CampagYOLO

Ypuh wrote:
Tue Sep 20, 2022 9:27 pm
And only €100 each!
UK pricing is pretty reasonable, significantly cheaper than the GP5000S TR.

I'm interested in them for next summer, the 26mm Rapidairs should match up to my rims nicely. Good to see they haven't scrimped on the tread like Michelin did.

Ypuh
Posts: 673
Joined: Sun Dec 08, 2019 10:20 pm
Location: The Netherlands

by Ypuh

CampagYOLO wrote:
Wed Sep 21, 2022 9:54 am
UK pricing is pretty reasonable, significantly cheaper than the GP5000S TR.

I'm interested in them for next summer, the 26mm Rapidairs should match up to my rims nicely. Good to see they haven't scrimped on the tread like Michelin did.
To be fair, you're right. I was a bit soon with my usual Specialized expectations.

The Turbo clincher tyre has been my #1 favorite, altough I've been riding with Michelin's the past 2 seasons. The expected prices of about €50-60 for the clincher are reasonable. Discounts are hard to come by at Specialized, but I've always been able to find some deals on tyres specifically (the 2-for-1 was a blast).
Cervelo S3 - 7.3kg
Time ADHX - 8.7kg

FlatlandClimber
Posts: 2491
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2020 3:37 pm

by FlatlandClimber

Generally interested in these. The 2020 RapidAir were pretty underrated imo. Very grippy, quite puncture resistant, reasonably fast.

Also, the Turbo 2BR might be an interesting all year round tire. Maybe an alternative to the Vittoria Corsa Next.

Really interested in independent testing of these.
Cervelo P5 Disc (2021) 9.1kg
Factor Ostro Gravel (2023) 8.0kg
S-Works SL8 (2023) 6.3kg

*weights are race ready, size 58/L.
Sold: Venge, S5 Disc, Roubaix Team, Open WI.DE, Émonda, Shiv TT, Crux, Aethos, SL7

TobinHatesYou
Posts: 12455
Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2017 12:02 pm

by TobinHatesYou

spartan wrote:
Wed Sep 21, 2022 12:45 am
i have my doubts about this new line. if the new compound is so much better why the sworks cotton was not updated. we will see the br results

Because hardly anyone who care about winning races uses cotton clinchers anymore? The Turbo Cotton was already no faster than the previous RapidAir tubeless tire.

The biggest omission is a 28mm version of the new RapidAir. Plenty of Specialized HQ employees race at an elite level here in NorCal…they all know 28mm tubeless is where it’s at.

FlatlandClimber
Posts: 2491
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2020 3:37 pm

by FlatlandClimber

According to Aerocoach, the Turbo Cotton + Latex tube is the fastest road tire by quite a bit actually.

28c is sorely missing for sure.
Cervelo P5 Disc (2021) 9.1kg
Factor Ostro Gravel (2023) 8.0kg
S-Works SL8 (2023) 6.3kg

*weights are race ready, size 58/L.
Sold: Venge, S5 Disc, Roubaix Team, Open WI.DE, Émonda, Shiv TT, Crux, Aethos, SL7

TobinHatesYou
Posts: 12455
Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2017 12:02 pm

by TobinHatesYou

FlatlandClimber wrote:
Thu Sep 22, 2022 8:55 am
According to Aerocoach, the Turbo Cotton + Latex tube is the fastest road tire by quite a bit actually.

28c is sorely missing for sure.
And according to Jarno it's about the same as a RapidAir gen 1. Maybe a little faster with a latex tube, but measurably slower with a butyl tube.

FlatlandClimber
Posts: 2491
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2020 3:37 pm

by FlatlandClimber

We don't know which is more accurate, so it's anybody's guess. The pros basically always using the Clincher + Latex was pretty telling though.
Cervelo P5 Disc (2021) 9.1kg
Factor Ostro Gravel (2023) 8.0kg
S-Works SL8 (2023) 6.3kg

*weights are race ready, size 58/L.
Sold: Venge, S5 Disc, Roubaix Team, Open WI.DE, Émonda, Shiv TT, Crux, Aethos, SL7

Hexsense
Posts: 3269
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2015 12:41 am
Location: USA

by Hexsense

Turbo cotton LTD is $49 on Specialized website. 26c is in stock but 28c is out of stock.
There are also other online shops that do the same discount but have 28c in stock as well.

Maybe, Specialized had too much overstock of Turbo Cotton to release its replacement?
Regardless, given the price, I'll just buy more 28c Turbo Cotton rather than the new 4 tires recently released for now.

The omission of RapidAir 28c and Turbo Cotton replacement hint that Specialized saved up some space for wave 2 release later, maybe next year.

FlatlandClimber
Posts: 2491
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2020 3:37 pm

by FlatlandClimber

Although I am a little unsure how fast the Turbo Cotton 28c really are. They have a knobby thread all around. I know that there is a lot more to a fast tire than a slick thread, but a knobby thread should cost at least a few grams of drag here and there?
Cervelo P5 Disc (2021) 9.1kg
Factor Ostro Gravel (2023) 8.0kg
S-Works SL8 (2023) 6.3kg

*weights are race ready, size 58/L.
Sold: Venge, S5 Disc, Roubaix Team, Open WI.DE, Émonda, Shiv TT, Crux, Aethos, SL7

Hexsense
Posts: 3269
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2015 12:41 am
Location: USA

by Hexsense

Hard to guess aero effect. Sure, huge knobs will be slower. But these are tiny. More like texture on the surface.

GP4000sII and GP5000 is fast aerodynamically because it's not completely smooth.
The slight pattern disrupt the wind and make it more aero.

So... are those dots on Turbo Cotton create the same effect? Or it is not. We don't know.

by Weenie


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