The latest Specialized S-Works Turbo TLR Race tyre is reasonably quick, with decent grip levels, and promises more puncture protection than the fastest rubber – and all at a reasonable price. There are only two sizes available, which is a shame, but they do come in a tan wall as well as an all-black version, and are relatively easy to fit.
> Buy now: Specialized S-Works Turbo TLR Race for £60 from Specialized
There seems to be more high-end race rubber on the market than ever before, whether it’s Vittoria’s latest Corsa Pro Speed or Continental’s Archetype designed for none other than Pogacar and his teammates. Still, for the rest of us mere mortals, those fast options with minimal protection and paper-thin carcasses often cause more headaches than they solve.
That’s where tyres like the Turbo TLR fit in nicely: fast, but with enough material and protection to get you through a season’s riding without any dramas. Ideal for those of us without a team car following behind.
The Turbo TLR adopts a similar approach to tyres from other brands in this price range, with a nylon three-ply construction with a threads per inch (TPI) count of 120. Although this isn’t a particularly high count, it will help keep the cost down. For example, Specialized’s more expensive but tube-only Cotton range is 320TPI.
The weight, at 264g on the road.cc Scales of Truth (1g less than Specialized claims), is relatively light considering this tyre is designed for both training and racing. However, it feels more robust than true race options. Specialized claims this tyre is 20g lighter than the originals, which it attributes to an efficient construction, although it doesn’t disclose the specifics.
That’s not the only improvement, as Specialized also claims it’s 10% faster rolling, courtesy of a combination of its own Gripton T2 and T5 compounds. It’s a tubeless design, although you can fit tubes if you want. I ran them tubeless for the duration of the review period, experiencing minimal air loss and no issues with sealing or punctures.
Fitting is often a fraught affair with tubeless setups, but no such issues here. Both front and rear fitted easily using just a standard tyre lever and inflated with a normal pump. I ran 30ml of Peaty’s sealant in both, and both popped onto the 21mm internal rim easily.
They only come in two sizes, 28mm as tested, or a 30mm. That’s a bit of a shame; I’ve been running wider rubber for a while now. These came in at 28.24mm on my Elite Drive Six wheels with 21mm internal rims, which is actually a little narrower than the rims themselves.
This felt relatively narrow, and I think they would actually make a great all-round tyre in a 32 or even 35mm option.
After 500 or so miles on the grippy local roads of the Peak District and several rides around the lanes of the Lincolnshire Wolds, they are holding up well with barely any signs of use, no nicks or cuts and zero punctures. They dropped around 10psi when I first fitted them, but a short shake-down ride did the trick, and ever since, they’ve held air as well as any other tubeless setup I’ve used.
I settled on 65psi, which for my 80kg weight gave the best compromise between rolling speed, grip, and comfort. The ride was firm but not harsh; however, ride quality and perceived comfort will always vary from rider to rider and depend on the pressure you decide to run.
They have plenty of grip in the dry, and thanks to our unseasonably warm spring and summer, I’ve only had the chance to test them briefly in the wet, where they felt surefooted with plenty of feedback. Not quite Continental GP levels of wet-weather performance, but close, with no scary loss of traction at any time.
Value
The Turbo TLR isn’t cheap, but the price is on a par with that of its competitors.
For example, the Vittoria Corsa N.Ext TLR, which is grippy, fast rolling and has good puncture resistance, is £69.99. In its 28mm width it’s a little lighter than the S-Works Turbo, and the seven-size range covers 24-34mm.
The Continental Grand Prix TR is £54.95, and we found it grippy, supple and easy to set up tubeless.
The Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Tubeless is a slightly tougher option, and a little heavier, but like the Vittoria it’s available in four sizes. The RRP is £60-65 depending on diameter and type.
Our best road bike tyres buyer’s guide rounds up more of our favourite rubber.
Conclusion
Overall, the Turbo TLR is a good tyre, and gives me what I want in training and racing rubber. It’s fast, grippy, easy to fit, and robust enough to last, all at a reasonable price. I’d like a wider version, and you’ll need to run it tubeless to get the best mix of low rolling resistance and comfort, but these are some of the easiest tyres I’ve set up without tubes.
Verdict
Good all-round race and training rubber, with plenty of grip and durability and an affordable price
> Buy now: Specialized S-Works Turbo TLR Race for £60 from Specialized
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Specialized S-Works Turbo TLR Race Tyre
Size tested: 700×28
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’s S-Works Turbo TLR Race Tyre is a high-end road tyre designed for racing, training and general riding and sits third in its range of race rubber behind the RapidAir TLR and the Cotton folding, which is only currently available in a tubed version.
The Turbo TLR is designed as more of an all-rounder than its more expensive siblings, blending good grip, durability and increased puncture protection, which should make it the ideal UK summer tyre, though it’s only offered in a 28 or 30mm width, which will limit its appeal compared with similar offerings from Schwalbe and Continental.
Specialized says: “Our fastest, most durable road tyre for racing and training.
“For the ultimate combination of road speed and durability, S-Works Turbo TLR delivers. Optimized GRIPTON dual T2/T5 compound tread improves rolling resistance by 10%, while an efficient construction reduces weight by 20g for faster acceleration and climbing. Durable TLR casing with an added puncture resistant strip makes this the tyre of choice all season long in wet or dry conditions. For racing and training on a single tyre, S-Works Turbo TLR is the perfect choice.”
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
From Specialized:
Tread
Fast-rolling center with reduced sidewall tread for added speed
Compound
GRIPTON T2/T5 compound for all-condition speed
Casing
120TPI 3-ply, puncture resistant strip
Wheel Pairing Recommendation
Roval Rapide & Alpinist
Approximate Weight
700x28c, 275g
700x28c TAN, 265g
700x30c, 285g
700x30c TAN, 275g
In the hand, they feel like a quality item, and look well made and feel surprisingly robust without feeling too weighty.
Fitting is often the Achilles heel when it comes to quite a few tubeless tyres – but there were no issues here. They were tight enough on a hooked rim to offer reassurance they’ll stay on, but not so hard that I had to fight with them to get them seated. I needed a tyre lever to snap them in place, but they went up with a standard pump and seated easily enough with a reassuring pop.
Rolling resistance claims are difficult to verify outside of a lab, but they appear reasonably quick. Not as supple or as fast as the set of Ere Research cotton tyres I had on or my go-to year-round tyre, the Schwalbe Pro One, but not what I’d describe as slow. I settled on 65psi at my 80kg weight after some experimentation, which I felt provided the best balance of speed and comfort.
Speaking of comfort, they actually felt a little narrow, which seems a crazy thing to say about a 28mm tyre, but also shows how quickly your perception of things can change.
Durability is difficult to comment on, but after 500 miles on grippy Peak District roads and rural Lincolnshire lanes, there have been no signs of wear and zero punctures.
Not the lightest, but not exactly heavy either, which I’d say is ideal for a fast race tyre that offers better durability and puncture resistance than some superlight options.
Having used plenty of 30mm-plus tyres lately, these 28s felt narrow to me, but they did measure up at 28.24mm on wheels with a 21mm internal rim. I would have preferred the marginally higher volume 30mm version, or a 32mm, but for a 28mm tubeless tyre, comfort was as expected, though it’s worth noting that it mainly depends on your choice of pressure.
Although not cheap at £60, they are in line with other high-end tyres, coming in a fiver more than the equivalent Continental Grand Prix TR but a tenner less than the Vittoria Corsa N.Ext TLR, which shares many similarities with the Specialized.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
They roll well, have plenty of grip and feedback from the road, and hold air, without being a nightmare to fit. It’s a bit too early to give a definitive view on durability, though the early signs are good.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
They were easy to fit, held air well and had plenty of grip and feedback, which meant I could corner with confidence.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
I’m a fan of tan wall tyres, but I much prefer a darker finish, more in line with Specialized’s own cotton range, and I’d like to see some wider, higher-volume versions on offer.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
I’d say the Turbo TLR is good overall. It rolls well and, so far, has proved durable, with no punctures, but I’d like to see a wider range of sizes with more volume.
About the tester
Age: 41 Height: 175cm Weight: 79kg
I usually ride: cervelo aspero My best bike is:
I’ve been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, mtb, gravel
