4,000 km with Specialized S-Works Turbo 2BR T2/T5 tubeless tires

Specialized offers three tubeless tire models with the high-end S-Works designation in its range: the Mondo 2Bliss Ready for endurance, the S-Works Turbo RapidAir 2BR for performance, and the S-Works Turbo 2BR T2/T5 for versatility. The latter is also the best-selling in the collection, which seems largely justified as we have just found after a long-term test over 4000 km.

By Guillaume Judas – Photos: ©3bikes.fr

In the tire domain, Specialized is one of the brands that offers choice. In its catalog, there are three tubeless tires and five tubed tires in the road category. The three tubeless tires offer a high-end construction and price. The S-Works Turbo RapidAir is a racing model, lightweight and offering efficiency and grip. But it is not designed to accumulate many kilometers. It is offered at the high price of €90 (per unit). That’s €20 more than the S-Works Mondo, a much more resistant version of the tubeless according to Specialized, also much heavier and adopted by pros on Paris-Roubaix. Finally, the S-Works Turbo 2BR is the intermediate model, the all-rounder that we saw with the pros on certain spring classics as early as 2022. This is the model tested here.

Available with black sidewalls in three widths (700×26, 700×28, 700×30) or with tan sidewalls (in 28 and 30), it is sold at a price of €75 per unit. The model uses the same structure as the S-Works Turbo tubed tire, with a 120 TPI casing and a dual-compound tread with Grifton T2 on the rolling surface for efficiency and durability, and Grifton T5 on the shoulders for grip, especially on wet ground. It also benefits from Blackbelt protection, placed under the tread. Finally, the tire is compatible with both hooked and hookless rims. It was with the latter type of wheels that I was able to test the S-Works Turbo 2BR, mounted on Zipp 353 NSW, constantly inflated to a pressure between 4 and 5 bar (maximum as the system does not support higher pressure) for a 700×28 tire width. The actual tire width of this tire is 31 mm on this rim with an internal width of 25 mm.

The tire weight is 285 g, which is a good performance compared to other tubeless tires of this width, or compared to a tubed tire, often around 260 g in 700×28. Of course, here you have to add the weight of the sealant, about forty grams, but it’s always better than a basic 100 g inner tube. The price of the S-Works Turbo 2BR is €75, or €150 for the pair of tires, to which must be added the price of the sealant (€15 for 60 ml), essential for mounting to ensure airtightness – especially here with hookless rims – and to limit the risk of stopping in case of a small puncture.

Unexpected endurance

For those who are still wondering about the effect of limiting inflation pressure with hookless rims, the S-Works Turbo 2BR immediately offers good efficiency. Certainly, we are not quite at the level of fluidity felt with a Turbo RapidAir or the dynamism of a Turbo Cotton tire, but we are very close to the Turbo S-Works tire with a good inner tube.

With a pressure of just under 5 bar, comfort is maintained on rough asphalt and the sidewalls do not collapse when riding out of the saddle. It must be said, however, that the tire sidewalls are perfectly in line with those of the rims and that the mounting is coherent. However, I have ridden with a pressure lower than 4 bar, because the tire lost a little pressure after a few days. Out of the saddle and on changes of support, I found that the bike was less sharp in its reactions and less precise in choosing trajectories. There is therefore obviously a limit not to be exceeded, even with a tire with an actual width of 31 mm.

As with the Turbo S-Works tire, the two T2 and T5 compounds provide totally different sensations on the road. On the tread, the T2 is harder to improve efficiency and limit wear. In some cases, it can be surprising during braking on wet roads, for example. The same goes for riding over white lines or climbing a steep hill out of the saddle. Sometimes, it slips a little, which is not really reassuring. However, the T5 on the tire shoulders is much softer, more biting, and thus offers much more grip, even on wet surfaces. In other words, with the Turbo 2BR, you shouldn’t hesitate to lean into corners to feel the tire’s road holding. Easier said than done, but once you get the hang of it, it works very well.

Finally, it was especially in terms of endurance that the S-Works Turbo 2BR surprised me. First, I had no punctures in 4000 km. Yes, none! The tread is marked by a few cuts, but not excessively. It is still quite round, and I can still see the wear indicators on the rear tire. On the shoulders, the small blocks designed to evacuate moisture look like new. I think 6000 km are easily achievable with this tire. A really good surprise for a model that is ultimately quite performing. So, unless you are specifically looking for larger widths or want to ride on rougher terrain like cobblestones or light gravel, the S-Works Turbo 2BR is not really supplanted by the S-Works Mondo in the endurance domain. This is rather good news. Because this tire, whose price is certainly quite high, offers features sought after by the vast majority of sports practitioners. Those who train and ride, and who do not want to do maintenance too often.

=> All our Test articles