Specialized bills the Eliminator as its go-to rear trail tire, and the pitch holds up: this is a fast-rolling casing built to pair with a grippier front. The 29 x 2.4 runs a GRIPTON T7 compound, which sits in the middle of Specialized's T5-through-T9 rubber scale and leans toward rolling speed and tread longevity rather than all-out cornering bite. If you spend more time pedaling to the top than plowing the fall line, that trade-off is the point.

The tread combines an aggressive block design with a tightly packed, well-balanced pattern, and a row of transition knobs bridges the channel between the center tread and the shoulder knobs. That layout is what makes the center-to-edge handoff feel predictable when you lay the bike over, rather than dropping into a dead spot mid-corner. Reviewers consistently describe it as versatile across firm to moderately loose dirt, with the caveat that it gives up some braking traction in exchange for speed.

Underneath sits the Grid Trail casing, a 60 TPI construction with bead-to-bead protection. Specialized rates it as 15% more pinch-flat resistant and 30% more puncture resistant than the standard Grid casing, and the reinforcement is what lets you drop pressure for traction without the sidewall folding on you. It's a heavier build than a light XC casing, so this is the tire for riders who value durability and support over saving grams.... Read More