More than 30 years after company founder Mike Sinyard brought the Specialized Turbo to market as a high-performance clincher, the Californian company is releasing another Turbo. This time, it’s a tubeless road model.

Not yet available, the Turbo Tubeless was designed in conjunction with the tubeless Roval wheel that Specialized will sell. Weighing in at 290 grams, the S-Works Turbo Tubeless model features a supple 127tpi casing and, thanks to the lack of a tube, very low rolling resistance. Other models will be available later in the year.

“The advantages of tubeless are huge,” said Robert Choi, Specialized’s director of equipment, research and development. “You have a very comfortable riding tire. At 85 to 115psi, you can ride these all day long. The rolling resistance is equivalent to any tubular because you don’t have tubes in there.”

Specialized's Roval tubeless road wheel

Photo: Ben Delaney

Hutchinson is producing the Turbo Tubeless. Specialized designed the tire, however, and it features a dual radius tread with a harder center section and softer edges for cornering.

Like all tubeless systems, the Turbo can handle flats with either sealant liquid or a traditional tube.

“That convenience is a big plus,” Choi said. “I’ve been riding these without a flat for months, without using sealant, but if you want to use 20 to 30 grams of sealant, getting a flat would be virtually impossible.”

The Roval tubeless rims will be made by Campagnolo, which recently launched its own tubeless offering. Specialized partnered with DT Swiss for the hub, internals and spokes. The whole package will be assembled in Italy.

The front wheel will feature a carbon hub shell and alloy flanges. The rear hub has a CNC-machined body with DT Swiss’ ratcheting internal mechanism. The wheels will be available next year.