Road Bike Tire Test: Specialized S-Works Turbo TLR 28

Specialized recently presented an entirely new lineup of bicycle tires, with the new tires identifiable by the TLR label instead of the 2Bliss Ready label Specialized previously used. Specialized's most famous racing tire has also received an update, and it is now simply called the S-Works Turbo TLR, making it clear to those unfamiliar with Specialized's naming scheme that this is a tubeless-ready tire.

According to Specialized, the S-Works Turbo TLR is the ultimate combination of speed and durability. Compared to the previous generation of the S-Works Turbo (read our review), the T5/T7 Gripton compound has been optimized, and rolling resistance has improved by 10%. The TLR casing features an extra puncture-resistant layer under the tread, making the tire suitable for use in all seasons and wet or dry conditions.

The latest version of the S-Works Turbo is also 5 to 20 grams lighter than the previous generation, and surprisingly, the tanwall versions are 10 grams lighter than the versions with black sidewalls. By the way, we can't recall a tanwall version of the previous model, so this is also a new addition.

When we compare the new and old S-Works Turbo side by side, we also notice that the tread pattern has changed. The old version had taller "knobs" on the sides of the tread, and although it appears that the new version still has them, they are now minimal in height. This is an improvement aimed at enhancing grip on the sides of the tire on hard surfaces, which is more appropriate for a racing tire since it is almost always used on paved roads.

We tested the new S-Works Turbo TLR in the size 28-622 with black sidewalls and are going to compare it with the previous 2Bliss Ready generation (read our review), the S-Works Mondo 2 Bliss Ready (read our review), and a range of comparable tires from competing manufacturers.

Although it rolls a bit faster than the previous generation S-Works Turbo, the new Specialized S-Works Turbo TLR doesn't roll as fast as you might expect based on the "Turbo" part in the name. On the other hand, the puncture resistance of the tread is even higher at 73 points than the previous generation, and significantly higher than most competing tires, which typically top out in the 50-60 points range.

The weight is also slightly lower on our new sample (271 grams) compared to our sample of the old generation (298 grams). We also see a significant improvement in the wet grip tests, with both the center and edge grip increasing by 13% and 17% respectively, making the new S-Works Turbo one of the best gripping tires we've tested to date. We attribute some of this to compound improvements and a significant portion to the tread pattern, which is now more "slick" than the previous generation.

The negative part is in the sidewalls, which are thinner and weaker than those of the previous generation. We did not see any problems with sealing, so these weaker sidewalls might also be the result of improvements to the sidewall construction of tubeless tires in general that do not require the thick sidewalls we've grown accustomed to.

Overall, the new S-Works Turbo is a good improvement over the old generation. We would love to see a faster "Race" version that trades the high puncture resistance for a lower rolling resistance and weight.