SPECIALIZED Roadsport Wirebead Road Tyre

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.

Roadsport Folding or Roadsport Wirebead?

Both are durable training tyres for inner tubes. The Folding version has a 60 TPI casing, a puncture-resistant strip and a folding bead, so it is lighter and easier to fit (280 g in 700x26, claimed). The Wirebead uses a wire bead with bead-to-bead protection and comes in more widths, from 24 to 35 mm (360 g in 700x26). The Reflect version adds a reflective sidewall.