Specialized Eliminator Grid Trail T7 29 x 2.3in tyre review

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.

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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.

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.

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.