The very greatest highway bike tyres, from a pace and grip perspective at the very least, are inclined to even be extra fragile than could also be optimum for basic use. Extra supple sidewalls, lighter weight, thinner rubber tread to avoid wasting grams and smaller puncture safety strips are all frequent options on the very pointy finish of the efficiency pyramid. Hell, even carcasses are constituted of cotton, as per the new Vittoria Corsa Professional and Corsa Professional Management.
With customers an increasing number of demanding race-ready tech for his or her on a regular basis driving, Specialised has merged collectively tech from its top-end Turbo vary and its endurance Roubaix sequence to create the Mondo, and what it claims is the lightest and quickest endurance highway tyre, with distinctive sturdiness.
Race tech for on a regular basis?
The Mondo does seem like a hybrid tyre. Not within the sense that you just’ll see it on what are actually labelled ‘flat bar gravel bikes’ however insofar because the rubber compounds are lifted straight from the newest technology of the model’s very profitable Turbo vary, with a quick rolling, extra sturdy T2 compound within the centre, and a softer, extra grippy T5 rubber on the shoulders.
The tread sample too is certainly closely impressed by the present ranges on both facet of it. A slick centre, as per each the Roubaix and Turbo strains, with parallel striations on the shoulders as per the Turbo, relatively than the diamond file sample of the Roubaix. The stipes are deeper and extra pronounced than the Turbo, and on the very excessive edge flip again on themselves by 90 levels. That is possible a stylistic affectation nonetheless for probably the most half, until you enterprise someplace closely off camber; to hit that portion of the tyre basically cornering would see a drastic lean.
Underneath the hood, so to talk is the place issues diverge from each established fashions. Whereas the Turbo utilises the Blackbelt casing, and the Roubaix the triple layer Endurant casing, the Mondo includes a new hybrid ‘Grid Race’ 120 TPI casing that seems from the small print we’ve to be single-ply as per the Blackbelt, with the identical central breaker, however with a extra expansive puncture safety strip throughout the central portion of the tyre, and a pair of strips on the sidewalls to withstand sidewall cuts and slashes.
Key stats and pricing
The Mondo is, as you’d count on, tubeless prepared. You possibly can choose it up in 28c, 32c, and 35c varieties, however no narrower; Specialised has clearly banked on individuals wanting extra endurance-focused tyres and in addition wanting bigger volumes.
The Mondo apparently, has 11% decrease rolling resistance than the earlier class-leading endurance tyre (the mannequin of which isn’t acknowledged), and 12% higher when it comes to puncture safety than “our earlier greatest”. Once more, it’s not clear which earlier greatest they’re referring to, however our guess is the Turbo. By way of weight, it’s additionally 5% lighter than the closest competitor, once more an unspoken mannequin.
If you wish to package your self out then count on to pay £55 a tyre or roughly $70.
