In September, Specialized unveiled two tubeless tires, including the new S-Works Turbo RapidAir 2BR, which Remco Evenepoel used on his bike during his victories at the Vuelta and the Road World Championships. The brand claims this tire is faster than the previous version, and we’ve already tested it for over 1300 km in winter conditions.

By Guillaume Judas – Photos: ©3bikes.fr

The previous version of the S-Works Turbo RapidAir 2BR tubeless tire made a big leap in 2019, dethroning the tubular within pro teams using Specialized tires. We tested this tire the following winter, and it surprised us with its efficiency and grip level.

This new S-Works Turbo RapidAir 2BR uses the same casing but now features a Gripton T2/T5 rubber compound on the center tread and shoulders of the tire, further improving performance in terms of rolling resistance and grip, while also being a bit more durable.

This very high-end tubeless tire is only available in 700×26 tire width, and with black sidewalls.

Since 2019, the trend towards tubeless seems to be confirmed, with more and more brands offering high-performance models that outperform tubed tires or tubulars, both in terms of efficiency and practicality. Only mounting can still be problematic at times. And in case of a flat tire on the road, which often happens during winter rides, everything goes smoothly nine times out of ten, with sealant playing its role perfectly and allowing you to get home without a hitch. But if the hole caused by the puncture is too large or poorly placed, trouble can begin if the repair requires unseating the tire from the rim.

If mounting a tubeless tire still puts you off, you can learn more by watching this video = Mounting tubeless tires

With the new S-Works Turbo RapidAir 2BR mounted on the new Roval Rapide CLX tubeless wheels, as used here for the test, the problem doesn’t arise, as the tire is precisely designed to match the rim diameter. Perhaps with even a little margin, as we observed a slight loss of system airtightness over 24 hours (about 2 bar), requiring reinflation before each ride. In short, the S-Works Turbo RapidAir 2BR is not complicated to mount, at least on wheels from sister brand Roval. Note that these new tubeless-compatible Rapide CLX wheels are almost 100g heavier than the previous tube-only version we had already tested, and they now feature ceramic bearings. We will discuss these wheels in more detail in a few weeks.

= SEE ALSO : Long-term test of Roval Rapide CLX wheels

Lightweight

Aside from the rubber compound difference from the previous version, the new S-Works Turbo RapidAir 2BR also stands out with a significant weight gain, weighing in at 230g compared to 260g previously, for the same 700×26 tire width. With an additional 30 to 40g of sealant, the overall result is excellent at this level and close to very good tubulars.

This weight gain does not come at the expense of hybrid Kevlar BlackBelt protection under the tread, which, according to the brand, increases puncture protection by 12%.

Finally, the new T2/T5 compound blend would also, on paper, increase the tire’s lifespan, which nevertheless remains a competition model. By that, we mean it’s not a tire you’d expect to cover 5000 km with, especially in winter conditions. It goes without saying that a light rider who mainly rides on flat, smooth asphalt will wear out tires (especially the rear) much less quickly than a heavier rider who rides in the mountains on small, gritty roads. The fact remains that, for the same mileage, this new version of the S-Works Turbo RapidAir 2BR appears less marked than the previous one on the tread, and there are far fewer cuts. We only experienced one puncture during our 1300 km test (on the front after about 750 km) compared to nine in 2500 km with the previous ones during the winter of 2019/2020.

Ideal efficiency on good surfaces

Once the tires are mounted, the actual tire width on the Roval Rapide (particularly wide with 23 mm internal width) is between 27 and 27.5 mm. A good compromise for sporty use, which can be confirmed on beautiful, smooth roads and whenever it’s possible to pick up speed. The S-Works RapidAir 2Bliss Ready is a fast tire with low rolling resistance, and it even seems slightly better than the 2019 version, or the highly renowned S-Works Turbo Cotton (a tubed tire), one of the absolute benchmarks for purists. It is undoubtedly one of the most performing competition tires in this area, although obviously, the sensations of efficiency depend on several other factors.

It is undoubtedly one of the most performing competition tires, although obviously, the sensations of efficiency depend on several factors.

This is particularly noticeable when lowering the pressure (from 6 to 4.5 bar, for example), where the RapidAir does not seem to flatten out in terms of rolling, as is the case with most tires at an equivalent pressure. On the other hand, at low pressure, it naturally loses a bit of precision and makes the bike feel less precise to steer, during out-of-the-saddle efforts or when changing direction. Therefore, those looking for comfort should rather increase the tire width than lower the pressure too much.

In terms of grip, the central part of the tread is a bit harder than the previous version, and it can happen to spin on a wet road when out of the saddle. Not very reassuring. Fortunately, the tire shoulders are much more aggressive and provide very good grip in the wet, even on greasy surfaces.

Regarding the tire’s responsiveness, it doesn’t lack bite during hard accelerations, but the road feel is still less delicate than with the Turbo Cotton. The S-Works RapidAir 2Bliss Ready seems less “lively,” perhaps due to thicker sidewalls, or a casing with less fine threads (120 TPI vs. 320 TPI).

= SEE ALSO : Specialized S-Works Turbo Cotton Tire Test

Our opinion on Specialized S-Works RapidAir 2Bliss Ready tires

= SEE ALSO : All our Gear articles