S-Works Turbo TLR, Cotton TLR, RapidAir TLR or Mondo?

The S-Works Turbo TLR is Specialized’s do-it-all race tyre for racing and training on one tyre, all season. The Cotton TLR uses a supple 320 TPI poly-cotton casing for the smoothest ride and handling. The RapidAir TLR is its fastest and lightest race-day tyre (220 g in 700x26). The Mondo is the endurance option, with extra puncture protection and wider sizes; our Mondo is the folding version for inner tubes.

What do GRIPTON T2 and T5 mean on Specialized road and gravel tyres?

GRIPTON is Specialized’s rubber family, and the T number marks the compound. T2 is what Specialized calls its fastest, most efficient centre compound; T5 is its fast-rolling, race-ready compound with good wear resistance. Dual-compound tyres such as the S-Works Turbo, Cotton, RapidAir and Pathfinder put T2 in the centre for speed and longevity on the straights and T5 on the shoulders for grip in corners.

Tubeless ready (TLR) or tube type: what’s the difference?

TLR means tubeless ready: the tyre can be run tubeless on a tubeless rim with sealant, or with an inner tube. Tyres Specialized describes as ‘for use with tubes’ or ‘tube type’, such as the Cotton Folding, Mondo Folding and Roadsport, are made to be ridden with an inner tube. Each tyre’s specifications on this page say which one it is.

Are the tyre weights exact?

They are Specialized’s claimed weights for each size. Real tyres vary a little from one to another, as with any brand, and tubeless setups add sealant. We only list weights Specialized publishes; where it doesn’t, or where its own figures don’t add up, we leave the weight out.

SPECIALIZED Rapidair TLR Road Tyre

Black

€89,00

~~€89,00~~ €89,00

Tax Included
EU Destination Selected (Spain)

+3 units in stock

Construction

120 TPI · S-Works Turbo TLRGRIPTON T2/T5 + TLR, 3-ply 120 TPI · RapidAir TLRGRIPTON T2/T5 + RapidAir, 2-ply 320 TPI · Cotton TLRGRIPTON T2/T5 + Poly-Cotton-Corespun TLR 320 TPI · Cotton Folding (tubes)GRIPTON T2/T5 + Poly-cotton

The essentials

Technologies

Best for

Road racing
Race day

SPECIALIZED Rapidair TLR Road Tyre - Black

Technologies

Specifications

Compound	GRIPTON T2/T5
Casing	RapidAir, 2-ply
TPI	120
Tubeless	TLR (tubeless ready)
Use	Road racing
Weight 700x28 (claimed)	230 g
Sizes	700x28

T2/T5 · RapidAir

GRIPTON T2/T5 dual compound: Specialized puts its fastest T2 rubber in the centre for speed and longevity on the straights, and T5 on the shoulders for grip through the corners. 120 TPI RapidAir casing: two plies that overlap only at the sidewall instead of three under the tread, which Specialized says rolls faster and grips better.

TLR (tubeless ready)

A tubeless-ready tyre: mount it on a tubeless rim with sealant, or run it with an inner tube if you prefer.

33 Seconds Faster

33 seconds saved over 40 km with the fastest tread pattern Specialized has ever tested.

Lightest

Race weight every time, at 220 g (Specialized).

Best Handling

Pro-level cornering on the GRIPTON T2/T5 dual-compound tread (Specialized).

Specialized road race

Tyre construction comparison

Construction	120 TPIS-Works Turbo TLR	120 TPIRapidAir TLRSelected	320 TPICotton TLR	320 TPICotton Folding (tubes)
Compound	GRIPTON T2/T5 GRIPTON T2/T5 dual compound: Specialized puts its fastest T2 rubber in the centre for speed and longevity on the straights, and T5 on the shoulders for grip through the corners.	GRIPTON T2/T5 GRIPTON T2/T5 dual compound: Specialized puts its fastest T2 rubber in the centre for speed and longevity on the straights, and T5 on the shoulders for grip through the corners.	GRIPTON T2/T5 GRIPTON T2/T5 dual compound: Specialized puts its fastest T2 rubber in the centre for speed and longevity on the straights, and T5 on the shoulders for grip through the corners.	GRIPTON T2/T5 GRIPTON T2/T5 dual compound: Specialized puts its fastest T2 rubber in the centre for speed and longevity on the straights, and T5 on the shoulders for grip through the corners.
Casing	TLR, 3-ply 120 TPI, 3-ply TLR casing with a puncture-resistant strip and, per Specialized, its lightest and strongest Kevlar breaker.	RapidAir, 2-ply 120 TPI RapidAir casing: two plies that overlap only at the sidewall instead of three under the tread, which Specialized says rolls faster and grips better.	Poly-Cotton-Corespun TLR 320 TPI Poly-Cotton-Corespun TLR casing: a strong polyester core with supple cotton fibres and seamless vulcanisation.	Poly-cotton 320 TPI poly-cotton casing, for use with inner tubes.
Best for	Road racing and training	Road racing	Road racing	Road racing (with inner tubes)

120 TPIS-Works Turbo TLR

Compound: GRIPTON T2/T5
GRIPTON T2/T5 dual compound: Specialized puts its fastest T2 rubber in the centre for speed and longevity on the straights, and T5 on the shoulders for grip through the corners.
Casing: TLR, 3-ply
120 TPI, 3-ply TLR casing with a puncture-resistant strip and, per Specialized, its lightest and strongest Kevlar breaker.
Best for: Road racing and training

120 TPIRapidAir TLR

Selected

Compound: GRIPTON T2/T5
GRIPTON T2/T5 dual compound: Specialized puts its fastest T2 rubber in the centre for speed and longevity on the straights, and T5 on the shoulders for grip through the corners.
Casing: RapidAir, 2-ply
120 TPI RapidAir casing: two plies that overlap only at the sidewall instead of three under the tread, which Specialized says rolls faster and grips better.
Best for: Road racing

320 TPICotton TLR

Compound: GRIPTON T2/T5
GRIPTON T2/T5 dual compound: Specialized puts its fastest T2 rubber in the centre for speed and longevity on the straights, and T5 on the shoulders for grip through the corners.
Casing: Poly-Cotton-Corespun TLR
320 TPI Poly-Cotton-Corespun TLR casing: a strong polyester core with supple cotton fibres and seamless vulcanisation.
Best for: Road racing

320 TPICotton Folding (tubes)

Compound: GRIPTON T2/T5
GRIPTON T2/T5 dual compound: Specialized puts its fastest T2 rubber in the centre for speed and longevity on the straights, and T5 on the shoulders for grip through the corners.
Casing: Poly-cotton
320 TPI poly-cotton casing, for use with inner tubes.
Best for: Road racing (with inner tubes)

Compare with

SPECIALIZED SWorks Turbo TLR Competition Road Tyre - BlackChoose it for racing and training on one tyre: GRIPTON T2/T5 and a durable 120 TPI TLR casing.
SPECIALIZED Cotton TLR Road Tyre - Tan SidewallChoose it for the smoothest ride: 320 TPI poly-cotton TLR casing, tubeless.

Black

Size 700x28

Description

Specialized’s fastest road race tyre: 220 g in 700x26, and, per Specialized, 33 seconds faster over 40 km than its predecessor, with 2 watts less aero drag and 3 watts less rolling resistance. The two-ply RapidAir casing and GRIPTON T2/T5 compound are built for race day; for racing and training on one tyre, the S-Works Turbo TLR is tougher.