Unreleased Specialized Mondo tyre spotted at Paris-Roubaix – here’s what we know so far

New S-Works tyre used by select riders at Paris-Roubaix

By George Scott

Published: Sunday, 09 April 2023 at 12:00 am

Specialized has a new road tyre named the Mondo, used this weekend by the brand’s sponsored teams at Paris-Roubaix.

If the Mondo name sounds familiar, that’s because it is – however, the original Specialized Mondo was discontinued more than ten years ago (BikeRadar’s most recent review dates back to 2007).

Our photographer on the ground at Paris-Roubaix spotted the Mondo on the bike of Lotte Kopecky at Saturday’s Paris-Roubaix Femmes.

The Mondo was then also used by select Bora-Hansgrohe Soudal-Quickstep, Total Energies riders during Sunday’s men’s edition of Paris-Roubaix.

Peter Sagan, in his final Paris-Roubaix, was among those riders, using the Mondo in a 32mm width.

What we know so far

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Lotte Kopecky was among the riders using Specialized’s new, unreleased Mondo tyre at Paris-Roubaix Femmes.
James York / Matt Grayson / Our Media

Unsurprisingly, Specialized is remaining tight-lipped about the unreleased tyre.

However, we can see the tyre is made from Specialized’s Gripton compound, with a T2 and T5 mix, as is the case with the brand’s current flagship road tyres, the S-Works Turbo and S-Works Turbo RapidAir.

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The tyre, part of the top-end S-Works line-up, appears to use Specialized’s T2/T5 Gripton compound.
James York / Matt Grayson / Our Media

Both were introduced last year, with the Turbo pitched as an all-season race tyre, and the RapidAir as a racier option, with a lighter casing to match. The Turbo weighs a claimed 260g in a 26mm size, with the Turbo RapidAir coming in at a claimed 230g in the same size.

In terms of tread, the new Mondo appears to use a chevron pattern on the shoulders, before switching to an angular dash and a smooth central strip.

Gripton compound but no puncture protection

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Peter Sagan also used the Mondo in Sunday’s men’s race.
James York / Matt Grayson / Our Media

Back to the compound, and Gripton T2 prioritises low rolling resistance, according to Specialized, while T5 adds grip and durability, so is typically used on the shoulders of the tyre.

The Mondo is 2Bliss Ready – that’s Specialized’s way of saying it can be used tubeless – but, unlike the S-Works Turbo, the Mondo’s sidewall makes no mention of a puncture protection belt.

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Is this a new flagship road tyre from Specialized.
James York / Matt Grayson / Our Media

That’s all we know for now. Could this be a flagship tyre that forgoes additional puncture protection in favour of race-day speed? Or is this a new tyre designed specifically to be used in the wider sizes common at Paris-Roubaix?

We’ll bring you more when we have it.