Specialized launches Hell of a tyre for Paris-Roubaix
Hell of the North tubular and clincher rolled out in wide widths, supple casings
This article was originally posted on Bikeradar.
To coincide with the start of the classics season, Specialized has been working on a toughened and widened version of its Turbo Cotton tyre, with two new models available from today.
The new 'Hell of the North' Tubular has been raced recently at the Tour of Flanders and Scheldeprijs under the likes of world champion Peter Sagan and cobbles master Tom Boonen.
Read more on this article:
- Boonen's goodbye bike: Pro-only front suspension for Paris-Roubaix
- Peter Sagan's custom Specialized bike for Paris-Roubaix - Gallery
- Oliver Naesen's Factor O2 - Gallery
- Defending Paris-Roubaix champ's Kangaroo cobbles bike
- Paris-Roubaix bikes: How they've evolved
The all-new tubular features a 290tpi cotton casing with a newly developed, next-generation version of the brand's sticky and soft Gripton compound for the tread. This 28mm wide tubular tips the scales at 290g and we'll be running our test pairing through the mill just as soon as the tub glue has dried.
There is also a clincher version of the 'Hell of the North' Turbo. The 28mm wide S-Works Cotton tyres we have in for test feature a 320tpi cotton casing, the same Gripton compound for the tread and tip the scales at 260g.
Specialized claims the Hell of the North Turbo offers more comfort than previous models along with less rolling resistance thanks to that ultra-supple 320tpi casing. The 28mm joins the existing Turbo cotton line-up alongside the 24mm and 26mm existing tyres.
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BikeRadar's Josh Evans and Ben Delaney have been testing the clinchers on the cobbles in Belgium and France all week (without a flat), so watch for a review soon.