Specialized Eliminator Grid Trail T7 29 x 2.3in tyre review
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Specialized Eliminator Grid Trail T7 29 x 2.3in tyre review

Spesh’s all-rounder looks to master every trail condition

Our rating

3

60.00
45.00

Ian Linton / Immediate Media

Published: January 29, 2021 at 3:00 pm

Our review
Fast rolling tyre, better suited to less extreme weather and trail conditions

Pros:

Consistent general traction; easy to predict a drift in turns

Cons:

Braking grip not great, especially in the wet; carcass strength not ideal for the rear

Specialized says the Eliminator Grid Trail T7 tyre combines aggressive tread block designs with a more balanced and tightly-packed tread pattern, permitting it to strike a balance between bite on soft ground and grip on hardpack trails.

It also claims the row of three parallel knobs helps to bridge the transition between centre and outer knobs when cornering.

Rather than a focus on any specific conditions, it appears versatility is key for the Eliminator.

  • Weight: 934g
  • Width: 2.4in (measured on 30mm rim)
  • Best suited: Rear, dry hardpack

Specialized Eliminator Grid Trail T7 performance

Although the Eliminator’s profile was fairly square, even though it measured up wider than Spesh’s claims, it was possible to lean the bike well over in the turns before it broke traction.

It was easy to predict when the tyre was going to drift too, making it fun to slide around turns.

General traction was also consistent in the dry on a wide range of surfaces and it was easy to pre-empt where the limits were.

Specialized Eliminator Grid Trail T7 mountain bike tyre
The tightly spaced tread means it's good on dry hardpack trails. Ian Linton / Immediate Media

In the wet, grip was limited, especially on boggy or muddy terrain or over wet rocky and rooty sections where it would break traction quickly and without much warning.

I found braking on wet terrain the same; it was easy to lock up and lacked purchase because the tread didn’t stick to the ground or bite into it. Dry trails were fine, though.

It did have low levels of rolling resistance, not requiring masses of effort to keep speed.

The thinnest Trail carcass was a bit weak for the rear tyre and, although it didn’t rip or puncture during the test period, it was easy to burp and squirm in turns with small amounts of sealant around the bead and a loss of pressure as evidence.

Specialized Eliminator Grid Trail T7 mountain bike tyre
The T7 compound is Specialized's harder rubber. Ian Linton / Immediate Media

The Eliminator only needed 20psi to fully seat and seal on my 30mm internal width test rims and didn’t lose any air during the testing process.

Despite using Spesh’s T7 compound, the Eliminator is best-suited to speed rather than outright grip.

How we tested

We pitted 10 all-mountain/enduro tyres against each other on a host of conditions, testing back-to-back on the same trails, to find out which one we think is worth your time and money.

The five pairs of tyres were all fitted on the same 30mm (internal width) rims and inflated to similar pressures, with slight variances to reflect tyre volume.

Also tested

Product

Brand specialized
Price 45.00 GBP,60.00 USD
Weight 934.0000, GRAM (29x2.3) -

Features

br_TPI 60
Features Compound: Gripton T7