SPECIALIZED S WORKS TURBO

£37.50 A solid performer for under £40

They deliver good levels of comfort when the road surface is poorly maintained

WEIGHT 240g per tyre

Specialized has grown into a big player in the tyre market. The S-Works Turbo is a high-performance offering that provides very good road handling and speed – a good choice even if your frame doesn’t say Specialized on the down tube. It’s a keenly priced tyre available in three widths – 24mm, 26mm and 28mm – and it also comes in a tubeless version.

The company’s own Gripton tread pattern is shared across its entire tyre range and delivers a nice blend of fast-rolling speed, reliable grip and durability. The wear rate is a little on the high side compared to some other tyres in this category but that’s partly offset by the relatively inexpensive price, which is half that of some tyres.

A Black Belt layer inside the 120 TPI casing helps to prevent punctures, and while the tread does cut a little easier than some tyres here, penetration to the inner tube never occurred during a long testing period. It is one of the lightest weight tyres in this test, though.

The 28mm tyre measured wider than expected on a 19mm internal rim width, ballooning to almost 30mm, so that’s something to be aware of if tyre clearance is limited on your frame. That extra volume results in the S-Works Turbo delivering good levels of comfort when the road surface is poorly maintained, though, and at lower pressures the ride quality is generally very plush. However, they’re not quite as supple-feeling as some.