ABOUT THE SPECIALIZED RADIAL TIRE LINE
Why Radial Matters.
Riders are usually forced to choose between two conflicting traits: radial compliance for grip, and lateral stiffness for support. Standard casings tie those two qualities together more tightly, which means adding PSI to save cornering support usually kills grip. Specialized says the Grid Gravity Radial solves that problem through its casing architecture, avoiding the need for pressure juggling. The result is a tire that keeps cornering support, while dramatically lowering radial stiffness. That means more conformity to the ground, more traction, and a ride feel that stays composed on rough, natural terrain, when pushing hard.
Specialized claims the radial casing increases tire footprint by 30%, giving riders more rubber on the ground. That test was performed on the company’s rolling resistance test rig using a Roval 30mm inner-width rim, 19psi tire pressure, and a 121lb/55kg load to reflect a realistic one-wheel system load for the average rider. That same testing process helped Specialized evaluate how changing casing angle changed the ride feel, contact patch, and performance.
Specialized says the only way to really understand tire performance is to know every ingredient and every step of the process, which is why it built its own factory for tire development projects. At the VormWalde factory, the team developed multiple casing angles, then sent prototypes to a third-party objective laboratory for testing while also ride-testing them with experienced riders. That process was aimed at finding the right balance of confidence, control, and fun on natural trails. Specialized says the S-Works Tire Factory and its staff are what turn those experiments into a high-precision, mass-production reality with outside manufacturing partners.
The Casing Sweet Spot.
The core idea behind the Grid Gravity Radial is simple: riders want grip and support, but most tires make them trade one for the other. Specialized says radial compliance means ground conformity and grip, while lateral stiffness brings stability and predictable cornering. In a standard casing, pressure changes affect both more similarly, but in a radial casing, they diverge more.
Specialized increased the casing thread angle beyond the typical 45–50º to 70º, and says that gave them the ideal sweet spot for natural trail riding.
The new design drops radial stiffness by 30%, while only trimming 7% from the tire’s lateral stiffness, striking a sweet balance between comfort and precision. You get noticeably more compliance and bump absorption without sacrificing cornering control, all while running close to the same tire pressures they’re already used to. They found that when you push the casing angle too far, the tire loses too much lateral support and starts needing more pressure again. Specialized says this specific angle is the balance point that gives Grid Gravity Radial its character.
Models Available.
The first tires to hit the market with the new Radial Casing are the Butcher Grid Gravity and Eliminator Grid Gravity. Both tread patterns land at $90, just $5 more than their non-radial cousins. Both tread patterns are offered in both 27.5” and 29”, all at 2.4” wide. When it comes to weight, both the Butcher and Eliminator are the same weights in each size compared to the standard Grid Gravity casing. I did not verify this before putting them on the bike, but I will report back for our long-term review. The 29” options land at 1330g, with the 27.5” variant landing at 1240g. Per the product page of the non-radial version, these new tires actually weigh 20g less, which was a surprise to me.
THE DIRT
I want to give you my first thoughts on the tires, but with a slight asterisk. We have been super lucky, with some of the best dirt conditions in Spokane I can remember in recent years. This hero dirt will make any tire feel its best, so there is some further testing to be done.
With that said, I set 3 PR’s and snagged a KOM on my first outing with the tires, something that was a huge surprise to me, as I was riding at a very normal pace. Clearly I just held more speed through all the corners than I normally do, but without feeling like I was pushing the limits. Not only were the casings new to me, but it has been a few years since I have ridden the Butcher and Eliminator tread patterns. My first impressions of the tires were no doubt very good, but further testing in varied conditions is required.
As time on the tires went on, I got more and more comfortable with the casing and tread patterns. They have remained super predictable so far, with no weird quirks I have felt the need to address. Specialized says you can get away with your normal tire pressures, which I found to be accurate. I normally run 22 front and 25 rear in gravity or DH tires; there was no difference in my setup on these tires for the first few rides. I did go up to 23F and 26R since there was no lack of grip; which offered a slightly improved rolling speed without a vast difference in grip. I have stuck with this pressure for all my rides.
I need to get these tires in some different conditions – specifically blown-out summer dirt and wet roots – to really give the final verdict on where they stack up. For now, I can say my confidence in front-end grip is about as good as it can get. I have not been searching for new tire pressures to give more grip or tip-toeing into flat corners, which are typically my nemesis. Additionally, while I have put about 75 miles on the tires, long-term durability is still up in the air. So far they are showing minimal wear, which is a relief.
The Wolf’s First Impression
First impressions of Specialized’s entry to the radial tire market have been nothing short of impressive. While dirt conditions have been all-time; the tires have shown great predictability across a wide variety of terrain so far. Will these take the top step as my go-to tire choice? Chances are high, but time will tell once the conditions start to dry out this summer. Stay tuned for our long-term review! 
Price: $90
Website: Specialized.com
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ABOUT THE WOLF
Cole’s den is in Spokane WA, where he relocated a few years back. Growing up in the lush, loamy playgrounds of the PNW, his soul is forever tied to steep, rooty descents and that unmistakable squish of perfect dirt. After 19 years of shredding, Cole’s been on every kind of rig out there. Once a die-hard fan of big travel bikes, he’s now on a quest for the mythical short-travel do-it-all machine. And yes, skids may be for kids, but this middle-aged manchild is here to prove they’re also for anyone who loves having a damn good time.
Rank: Professional Amateur
Size: 6’1” / 185cm | 170lbs / 77kg
Social: @adventuresbycole
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