MTB Tire Test: Specialized S-Works Fast Trak 2BR T5/T7
Contents and Test Summary
- Introduction
- Manufacturer Specifications
- Size, Weight, Thickness
- Rolling Resistance: 26.0 Watts
- Puncture Resistance: 24 Points
- Static Wet Grip: 64 Points
- Conclusion: 3.0 / 5 Recommended
- Comments
- Specialized S-Works Fast Trak 2BR T5/T7
NOTE: We added hard surface wet grip test data on 2023-6-9. The rating of the Specialized S-Works Fast Trak 2BR T5/T7 has been upgraded by 0.2 points because of very good results in the hard surface wet grip test.
Specialized renewed their mountain bike tires in 2021 and introduced the T5, T7, and T9, versions where the T(number) stands for the hardness of the compound. The S-Works Fast Trak 2 Bliss Ready T5/T7 comes with a dual compound with the T5 compound (faster) in the center and the T7 compound (grippier) along the edge of the tire.
The S-Works version of the new Fast Trak is the only version with a dual compound. Also available are CONTROL (more protection) versions that come with a single compound and are available in either the T5 compound for more speed or the T7 compound for more grip. An even more protected GRID version is also available, but that one is only available with the T7 compound.
The new "T versions" of the Fast Trak also come with a redesigned "Block-In-Block" tread pattern that, according to Specialized, is an overall improvement over the older tread pattern that we've known for quite some time. We're not sure if the casing has changed, but it's still specified as 120 TPI for the S-Works version and 60 TPI for the CONTROL and GRID versions.
The S-Works version that we've tested is the lightest version of the Fast Trak, but we're not sure if it's also the fastest considering it comes with the slower T7 compound along the edge of the tire. Let's just dive into the test results and see if we can spot some surprises.
Manufacturer Specifications
| Manufacturer Specs | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Specialized |
| Model | S-Works Fast Trak 2BR T5/T7 |
| Year | 2022 |
| Supplied By | Bought in store |
| New or Used | New |
| Mileage | 0 km |
| Price Range | High |
| Buy At | |
| Manufacturer part number | 00122-4022 |
| TPI | 120 |
| Compound | Gripton T5/T7 |
| Bead | Folding |
| ETRTO | 60-622 |
| Size Inch | 29" |
| Width Inch | 2.35 |
| Specified Weight | 615 grams |
| Max Air Pressure (psi) | 50 |
| Made In | Members Only |
| Available Sizes |
29x2.20 29x2.35 |
Specialized S-Works Fast Trak 2BR T5/T7 Test Results
Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements
| Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements | |
|---|---|
| Specified Weight | 615 grams |
| Measured Weight | 628 grams |
| Measured Width Carcass | 57 mm (un-round) |
| Measured Width Tread | 58 mm |
| Measured Height | 54 mm (un-round) |
| Measured Knob Height Center | 2.5 mm |
| Measured Knob Height Edge | 3.3 mm |
| Measured Total Thickness Center (excluding knobs) | 1.8 mm |
| Measured Total Thickness Sidewall | Members Only |
| All size measurements are taken at an air pressure of 35 psi / 2.4 bars on a 17.8 mm inner width rim. | |
Rolling Resistance Test Results
| Rolling Resistance Test Results | ||
|---|---|---|
| Inner Tube |
None (40 ml sealant) (current protocol) | Conti MTB 29 (225 gr butyl) (test protocol) |
| Rolling Resistance 55 PSI / 3.8 Bar |
Members Only | Members Only |
| Rolling Resistance 45 PSI / 3.1 Bar |
Members Only | Members Only |
| Rolling Resistance 35 PSI / 2.4 Bar |
24.1 Watts CRR: 0.00722 | 27.6 Watts CRR: 0.00827 |
| Rolling Resistance 25 PSI / 1.7 Bar |
26.0 Watts CRR: 0.00779 | 30.5 Watts CRR: 0.00914 |
| All numbers are for a single tire at a speed of 29 km/h / 18 mph and a load of 42.5 kg / 94 lbs. Use the formula: RR (Watts) = CRR * speed (m/s) * load (N) to calculate rolling resistance at a given speed and load. |
||
Puncture Resistance Test Results
| Puncture Resistance Test Results (higher is better) | |
|---|---|
| Total Puncture Score Tread | 24 Points |
| Total Puncture Score Sidewall | Members Only |
| Tread Puncture Force Sharp Needle | Members Only |
| Tread Puncture Force Blunt Needle | Members Only |
| Tread Total Tire Thickness | 1.8 mm |
| Sidewall Puncture Force Sharp Needle | Members Only |
| Sidewall Puncture Force Blunt Needle | Members Only |
| Sidewall Total Tire Thickness | Members Only |
Hard Surface Static Grip Test Results
| Static Grip Test Results | |
|---|---|
| Wet Grip Average | 64 Points |
| Wet Grip Center | Members Only |
| Wet Grip Edge | Members Only |
| Measured Knob Height Center | 2.5 mm |
| Measured Knob Height Edge | 3.3 mm |
| Grip in points = coefficient of friction * 100 MTB grip test rim width = 30.0 mm |
|
| Wet Grip Test and Off-Road Tires (info) | |
Conclusion
- Specialized S-Works Fast Trak 2BR T5/T7
(100% is fastest - lightest - highest - strongest)
The Specialized Fast Trak S-Works 2Bliss Ready T5/T7 isn't the fast XC tire we hoped it would be. At the lowest air pressure of 25 psi / 1.7 bars, rolling resistance comes in at 30.5 watts (single tire) which is more than 10 watts higher than the Continental Race King Protection that offers a similar knob height. We're also not impressed by the performance in the puncture tests, with a low score in the tread puncture test and a very low score in the sidewall test.
When we compare the new S-Works Fast Trak T5/T7 to the older pre-Gripton compound version we tested back in 2016 (read our review), we see the older version outperforming the newer version in all our tests. We're also surprised this new version of the Fast Trak comes from a different factory, but we're not sure how much the factory change has to do with the lower-than-expected performance.
RATING:
3.0
/ 5
TEST VERDICT:
Recommended