Cotton casings deliver a ride quality that harder nylon constructions can't match, and Specialized pairs its GRIPTON compound with an ultra-supple 320 TPI cotton casing to build the Turbo Cotton tire . The tradeoff is honest: you get a supple, fast-rolling clincher that feels closer to a tubular than most nylon tires, but tread life runs shorter than a training-grade tire. If you've been running nylon-cased race tires and want to know what the fuss over cotton is about, this is the tire that answers the question.

The 320 TPI cotton casing uses Specialized's GRIPTON compound and a layer of BlackBelt puncture resistance material under the tread. BlackBelt sits between the tread rubber and the casing to catch debris before it reaches the tube, which matters on a tire where the total center thickness measures around 2.1mm. That's thinner than most all-round training tires, so the BlackBelt layer is doing real work rather than sitting there as a marketing feature.

Sizing runs a bit smaller than the labels suggest compared to other manufacturers, so a Specialized 24 measures closer to a 23, and the 26 measures closer to a 25 from other brands. Worth accounting for when you're checking frame clearance or matching internal rim width. The tan sidewalls are the only color option, and they show road grime faster than an all-black tire.... Read More