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review

Specialized Roubaix Pro

8
£35.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Grippy tyre offering excellent performance in all weather conditions
Easy rolling
Excellent all-weather grip
Sharp pricing
Sticking to the minimum recommended pressure means you feel every bump
Weight: 
255g

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The Specialized Roubaix Pro is a very good all-weather training and commuting tyre. With a slick central tread and heavily siped shoulders, it balances smooth, easy rolling with predictable handling on loose and wet surfaces. If you stick to the minimum recommended inflation pressure you do get to feel every bump in the road, but if you're looking for the best road bike tyres you can get for this kind of money, they're well worth considering.

The Roubaix Pro is marketed by Specialized as an endurance road tyre, so you'd expect it to be long lasting and hardwearing. It's also, as the name suggests, ideal for mixed surfaces.

This model has been around for a few years now, and appears to have a cult following; and if the reviews on the Specialized website are anything to go by, it'll be sticking around for years to come. On my first ride on the Roubaix Pros, I was straight out onto damp roads for a spin around Manchester, and I found it hard to disagree with the reviews I'd read.

They offer plenty of grip on damp and loose surfaces, yet are sprightly and responsive off the mark, and once they were spinning along, I didn't feel like I was working any harder than usual. What was immediately noticeable, however, was how unforgiving the Roubaix Pros are if you stick to the high minimum recommended pressure of 115-125psi; that, and a fairly narrow width, mean they do little to absorb hard surfaces.

2022 Specialized Roubaix Pro Full.JPG

The tyres feature a 120tpi casing and Specialized's Gripton compound. With a slick central tread, they not only roll smoothly and efficiently, but have stable high speed characteristics – no wobbles or loss of traction when cornering on descents above 30mph, while the shoulders offer assured handling on loose and damp surfaces.

2022 Specialized Roubaix Pro Tread.JPG

The Roubaix Pros are 120tpi (threads per inch) and include Specialized's Endurant bead-to-bead casing and BlackBelt technology (a layer of aramid fibres under the tread).

Unlike Shaun's issues when reviewing the Specialized Roadsport tyres, I didn't experience any problems during my rides – whether I was trundling through Cheshire lanes, down loose surfaces or around Manchester. Of course, this could be down to sheer luck, or it could be the additional BlackBelt technology the Roubaix Pros feature.

> Puncture prevention 101: learn how to swerve flats with these 11 top tricks

You can read about these different technologies on Specialized's website, but briefly: the Endurant casing is wrapped around the tyre and doubled back on itself, which Specialized claims results in the tyre offering puncture resistance and defence against sidewall/shoulder tears, while the BlackBelt tech is tightly woven aramid fibres placed directly under the tread to provide protection against sharp debris.

Sizing

Specialized offers the Roubaix Pro tyres in three width 'ranges': 23/25mm, 25/28mm and 30/32mm, the sizes depending on the wheel you mount them on and their internal rim width.

2022 Specialized Roubaix Pro.jpg

When mounting them on my 35mm-deep BMC CRD-351 wheels with a 17mm internal width and 25mm outer, the Roubaix Pros did require tyre levers for the last 20 per cent – much like my experience with Continental GP5000s and Pirelli Velos.

Value

The Roubaix Pros are a decent price for a tyre of their quality. The CST Czar Dual Compound tyres Shaun tested recently are slightly cheaper at £29.15, and he rated them for their wet weather handling and decent puncture protection. They're also lighter, although they don't feature a 120tpi casing, so you might find them slightly harder work once you're going.

The Pirelli P7 Sports that Steve tested last year are cheaper still at £28.99 (for the 28mm – £26.99 for the 24mm, £27.99 for the 26mm), but he did note their significant weight and sluggish feel.

The Vittoria Rubino Pro G2.0s (as tested by Stu in 2020) that came standard on my BMC are more expensive at £44.99, and I wasn't particularly impressed by their ride quality or their rolling resistance, though they were equally impressive on loose and wet surfaces.

Conclusion

The Specialized Roubaix Pro tyres are a great option if you're looking for a dependable winter, training or commuting tyre. With their 120tpi casing and mixed tread design, they offer a responsive ride with assured handling in wet and loose conditions. Specialized hasn't compromised on the Roubaix Pro's durability either, with the inclusion of its Endurant casing and BlackBelt technology ensuring you can experience miles of worry-free cycling. If you run them at their recommended minimum pressure, though, it does result in an uncompromising ride quality that ensures you feel every bump.

Verdict

Grippy tyre offering excellent performance in all weather conditions

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Specialized Roubaix Pro

Size tested: 700x23/25

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Specialized says: 'The Roubaix Pro is an endurance road tire that's well suited for smooth and rough roads alike.'

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Specialized lists:

Bead-to-bead Endurant casing

BlackBelt puncture protection technology

Recommended Pressure: 115-125psi

Approximate Weight: 260g

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Its 120tpi construction ensures smooth rolling and low resistance thanks to the central tread, and the shoulder sipes provide good traction on wet and loose surfaces.

Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
7/10

Comparable to similar tyres, such as the CST Czar.

Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
6/10

Compared with the Vittoria Corsa G2.0s that came fitted as standard with my BMC, the Specialized Roubaix Pro offers a more comfortable and refined ride. My only gripe is that if you stick to the recommended high pressure the Roubaix Pros mean you can feel every bump in the road.

Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Smooth-riding characteristics and assured handling matched with all-weather grip. If you stick to the high minimum pressures, though, there's a distinct lack of comfort.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

All-weather grip. They felt secure on the road, providing increased confidence and allowing for tighter cornering and later braking.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

If you stick to the high minimum pressure then comfort is reduced.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

They're slightly more expensive than Pirelli's P7 Sports but those are heavier and more sluggish, and slightly more than CST's Czars – but those have a lower tpi. They're a tenner less than Vittoria's Rubino Pros and offer a better ride quality.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes – a great training tyre, especially for the winter.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

They're very good road tyres offering excellent grip in all weather conditions. They wouldn't be my choice of tyre during the summer, unless solely used for commuting, but really do come into their own in winter. They're also good value at £35 each.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 24  Height: 173  Weight: 72

I usually ride: BMC Teammachine SLR ONE  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Under 5 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, general fitness riding,

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16 comments

Avatar
Roady | 1 year ago
0 likes

Had a set of these (original 2015/16 versions) in 25/28 on my 2016 Diverge. Fairly ok experience, found them a little heavy (coming from other branded 25mm's) but no problems. Was sceptical but when going Tubeless on 21mm internal rims (Zipp 30 course) a few years later replaced them with the newer 28/30 2bliss version - probably this version as felt quite a bit lighter than the older ones (even 2bliss vs tubed). They've become my winter go-to & recommendation - when purely road riding.

I ran them year round for 2 years, then another 3 years as just winter tyres. That set did probably 15,000+ miles. Had maybe 2 or 3 punctures which wouldn't seal during that time - generally blamed on sealant due to age rather than the tyres themselves. Taking them off after a winter of commuting/riding will generally find 6-10 thorns stuck through the casing not causing any problems (beauty of TL!). Replaced them this winter with the 30/32 version mainly due to price. LBS giving me a good club/regular discount making them cheaper than non TL tyres. Less than £30 each! Running them fairly low valuing comfort and grip over speed, 50psi front and 60psi rear (I'm 77kg), sometimes letting them get as low as 30psi before topping up. They do feel a bit 'boaty' at times and mudguard clearance starting to be an issue. Would happily go back to the 28/30's next time. Great tyres!

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Robert Hardy | 1 year ago
0 likes

I have been using the 25/28 tyres for three years and love them, on gravel roads and tarmac. I run them at 90 psi on the back and 80 on the front (lower on gravel roads) with no problems. The tyres now have several holes through the top layer of rubber from flints but only one puncture, so the puncture protection seems to work well. I will certainly be replacing them with another pair.

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RoubaixCube | 1 year ago
0 likes

Funny that you should review this tyre. I picked up two sets of them just last night off TREDZ with the black friday discount which bought the price down closer to around £20-25 per tyre. There werent any official reviews that i could find apart from the odd one reviewing the 30-32mm tyre for CX/Gravel use. Customer reviews on retail websites are very positive though and thats why i took the plunge but i was still very on the fence about the purchase right down to the moment the black friday discount was about to expire.

They will replace a fairly new but old looking 5 month old set of Vittoria Rubino Pro's*  that have given me nothing but grief as soon as they replaced my really old set of Rubino Pro III's.

The new Rubino Pro's dont have anywhere near the same amount of puncture protection as the older Pro III's. I can literally feel the difference in the tyres themselves, with one being more rigid in the center of the tread than the other due to the puncture protection layers.

Im dealing with at least 1-3 punctures every month where as the Pro III's were like once or twice a year if i was super unlucky and Im still just as careful when it comes to not rolling over patches of glass and other rubbish on the road.

I'll be running these Roubaix tyres at 80-90 PSi as that is what HUNT recommends for my wheels.

 

(*When I say Rubino Pro's -- I mean the cheap ones that can be had for £20 and under from Wiggle - the ones that replaced the Pro III's when the Pro III's were discontinued.)

Avatar
levestane | 1 year ago
1 like

At 120 psi you have about 1.7 square inches of rubber on the road, a little over 0.8 si per wheel. Better not hit a leaf.

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check12 | 1 year ago
0 likes

Arrival doesn't say if these are tube or tubeless tyres? 
also those pressures? - lol no chance specialised, I'll just use different tyres thanks 

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stonojnr replied to check12 | 1 year ago
0 likes

These are tubes, they'd be labelled 2bliss in Spec speak to be tubeless

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check12 replied to stonojnr | 1 year ago
0 likes

Seems like you can get them in both flavours and looks like this review is of the tube type tyre - unless the reviewer wants to correct me? 

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stonojnr replied to check12 | 1 year ago
0 likes

Yep as I said, these are the tube tyres,they'd be labelled Specialized Roubaix Pro 2bliss, if they were the tubeless variety.

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check12 replied to stonojnr | 1 year ago
0 likes

Thanks, I misread your comment 

Avatar
stonojnr | 1 year ago
0 likes

I had two punctures on different wheels on concecutive rides with these tyres, Id say you were lucky not to get any punctures with them.

The first was a 1cm cut across the centre of the tyre after Id simply ridden through a puddle on a country lane,it went straight through all the fancy claimed tech of the tyre and cut the inner tube, instant deflation.

Second was a slow puncture, but it was no bigger than a few mm long sliver of glass which had speared again through the centre thickest line of the tyre and the 120tpi + blackbelt, where youd think you had most protection and created a sharp point on the inner surface of the tyre which pierced the tube.

For me theyre at best summer tyres on dry roads, theyre no good when the roads will be wet and full of debris for months in winter. So I don't rate them higher than 2 out of 5.

fwiw they were the 30/32 I ran at around 85psi and they were less than 6months old, the mould lines hadn't even fully worn off yet

Avatar
clayfit | 1 year ago
0 likes

Spec recommend 45-90psi for the 32mm tyre. Did you misread minimum for maximum?

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mark1a replied to clayfit | 1 year ago
0 likes
clayfit wrote:

Spec recommend 45-90psi for the 32mm tyre. Did you misread minimum for maximum?

75-95psi on the 30/32mm, 115-125psi on 23/25mm. 

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to clayfit | 1 year ago
1 like
clayfit wrote:

Spec recommend 45-90psi for the 32mm tyre. Did you misread minimum for maximum?

Surprisingly, it's what Specialized have on their website:

700 x 23mm/25mm, psi 115-125, approximate weight 260g
700 x 25mm/28mm, psi 85-95, approximate weight 300g
700 x 30mm/32mm, psi 75-95, approximate weight 355g

Avatar
Steve K replied to hawkinspeter | 1 year ago
0 likes

If the tyres are really like the lower size on their size range, those don't sound that unreasonable.  (By which, I mean, for example, I run my 25mm Conti 4 seasons at 95psi.)

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to Steve K | 1 year ago
1 like
Steve K wrote:

If the tyres are really like the lower size on their size range, those don't sound that unreasonable.  (By which, I mean, for example, I run my 25mm Conti 4 seasons at 95psi.)

I'm more surprised by the very high minimum pressure. I used to run 25mm tyres at around 100psi so I don't have anything against high pressures, but minimum 115psi for their 24mm tyre seems excessive.

Avatar
IanMSpencer replied to hawkinspeter | 1 year ago
3 likes

I think there would be rims that are incompatible with that pressure.

I wish tyre makers would explain their pressure recommendations. I think most people would be puzzled as to why the "Roubaix" brand would be designed for running at rock hard pressures would be at all suitable for rough roads.

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