The Air Trak may be Specialized's lightest mountain bike tyre yet
Cross-country and marathon mountain bikers seeking fast-rolling tyres have two new options from Specialized.
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The American cycling super brand has developed its latest tyres to deliver the lowest possible rolling resistance and rotational mass while retaining enough grip to keep confidence and control under demanding race conditions.
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Creating ultra-lightweight off-road racing tyres is always a balance between lowering mass, retaining casing integrity (to avoid needless flatting), and shaping a tread pattern that enhances rolling efficiency without completely sacrificing mechanical grip when braking or cornering.
The Air Trak advantage
The first of Specialized’s new cross-country racing tyres is the Air Trak. Designed as a racing tyre, it features a series of fast-rolling centre tread blocks, lots of clearance between the tread blocks for mud-shedding, and Specialized’s block-in-block shoulder tread pattern.
MY25_AIRTRACK_FRONT_2829_V2.jpg, by Liam Mercer
Casings are 60 TPI, and the tyre features a blended rubber compound, combining Specialized’s GRIPTON T5 on the tread blocks, with GRIPTON T7 on the shoulder tread.
Air Trak’s design is optimized for low mass, with the tread pattern design reducing weight by 60g, compared to Specialized’s previous cross-country racing tyre, the Renegade. Low rotational mass is currency when racing cross-country or marathon events, and the Air Trak offers terrifically low tyre weights.
There are 29 x 2.35in versions, one with a Grid Lite casing, at 680g, and the other in Flex Lit, at 585g. For riders seeking the lowest possible rotational mass and rolling resistance, there’s the Air Trak 29 x 2.2in, in Flex Lite casing at a claimed weight of only 575g.
Specialized has created an incredibly light new version of its Roval World Cup wheelset, at only 998g (claimed), which would make a devastating combination for racers and dashing weekend warriors, shod with Air Traks.
Ultralight ‘downcountry’ Fast Traks
Specialized has also evolved its proven Fast Trak cross-country tyre range. The rubber compound and casing specification are similar to Air Trak, but the tread pattern now features more compact centre tread blocks than the previous Fast Trak.
Engineers have also significantly reduced mass with the new Fast Trak range, without sacrificing durability. The Fast Trak’s updated tread pattern is said to make it 55g lighter in Flex Lite, and 110g lighter in Grid Lite casing.
MY25_FASTTRACK_3_4_2726_V3.jpg, by Liam Mercer
If those Fast Traks on your cross-country or downcountry bike are worn, you have four options for the new version to choose as replacements. There’s the 29 x 2.35in, in Grid Lite (690g) or Flex Lite (615g). Want an even lighter option? Specialized is also producing the new Fast Trak in 29 x 2.35in Flex Lite (615g) and 2.2in (605g).
Specialized’s new range of Air Trak and Fast Trak tyres are all priced at £40, regardless of size or casing type.
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