Specialized Air Trak & Fast Trak 2025: Specialized launches new, lightweight cross-country tyres
Jan Timmermann
· 06.03.2025
Very few people know that Specialized's very first product was a tyre. Mike Sinyard developed a touring tyre in 1976, which was the first part of the company's history to bear the Specialized logo. The Americans may be best known for their bikes, but they have been firmly anchored in tyre development for almost 50 years. An essential building block: feedback from the world's fastest cyclists. Fifteen World Cup victories and seven world championship titles were won on Specialized mountain bike tyres in 2024. For 2025, the Americans are relaunching their tyre line-up, starting with the particularly successful XC models.
The fact that Specialized is serious about tyres is also demonstrated by the new S-Works factory based in Germany. Here, chemists and developers work closely together in the laboratory and machine park to build prototypes and supply professional athletes directly with suitable tyres. This is also where the new XC carcasses were developed, which have a decisive influence on weight, rolling resistance, puncture protection, ride feel and grip. With an average weight reduction of 64 grams and at least five percent less rolling resistance, the new Specialized Air Trak and Fast Trak tyres are set to outperform their predecessors.
The fastest bike tyres for all XC requirements
Specialized Air Trak and Fast Trak are said to be the fastest, lightest and most durable cross-country tyres ever to bear the big "S". At the same time, the tyres' areas of expertise have been sharpened to make it easier for amateur racers to choose the right rubber and enjoy genuine World Cup technology. The Specialized Air Trak is particularly fast and is intended to be a lightweight tyre for uncompromising racing use. Its partner, the Specialized Fast Trak, is recommended as an easy-rolling all-rounder for demanding racers and everyday training. Of course, Air Trak at the rear and Fast Track at the front can also be perfectly combined. Typical of the modern cross-country discipline: the tyres will only be available in 29".
The new cross country tyres from Specialized are each available with two different carcass types. The Flex-Lite carcass is primarily intended to appeal to weight-conscious XC riders. Nevertheless, the new construction promises 18 per cent more protection against cuts compared to the discontinued Renegade model. The Grid-Lite carcass benefits from slightly more puncture protection thanks to greater resistance to punctures and cuts in the sidewall. Overlapping carcass layers in the centre area of the tyre promise stability and durability. For the necessary flexibility and low weight, Specialized chooses carcasses with 60 TPI throughout.
Specialized Air Trak tyres 2025
The Specialized Air Trak will replace the previous Renegade in the product portfolio in 2025. It was developed for particularly snappy acceleration and maximum efficiency. The Flexlite rubber compound with harder T5 material on the tread and grippier T7 material on the side lugs is designed to create the perfect symbiosis of speed and grip on firm surfaces. Compared to its predecessor, strategically placed, offset knobs save up to 60 grams. The Specialized Air Trak is available from a slim 575 grams.
Details Specialised Air Trak
- Area of application: Cross country racing on hard pack tracks
- Tread pattern: Fast rolling tread, block-in-block side lugs
- Rubber compound: Gripton T5 tread, Gripton T7 side lugs
- Carcass: 60 TPI Flex Lite / Grid Lite with sidewall protection
- Available sizes: 29"
- Available widths: 2.2" (only with Flex Lite) / 2.35"
- Weights: 575 g / 585 g / 680 g
Specialized Fast Trak tyres 2025
The Specialized Fast Trak is the grippy addition to the Air Trak. A staggered arrangement of the lugs is intended to ensure that the tyre grips the ground and still offers stable handling. However, the Fast Trak should not be short on speed either. This is ensured by the shorter Gripton T5 lugs on the tread, which should roll five per cent faster than the old S-Works Fast Trak once brought up to speed. The new tyre construction also saves 55 grams on models with Flex Lite carcass and 110 grams on models with Grid Lite carcass compared to the previous year's design.
Details Specialised Fast Trak
- Range of use: Cross country in all conditions
- Tread pattern: compact tread, block-in-block side lugs
- Rubber compound: Gripton T5 tread, Gripton T7 side lugs
- Carcass: 60 TPI Flex Lite / Grid Lite with sidewall protection
- Available sizes: 29"
- Available widths: 2.2" / 2.35"
- Weights: 605 g / 615 g / 676 g / 690 g
Jan Timmermann
Editor
