MTB Tire Test: Specialized S-Works Renegade 2BR T5/T7

The S-Works Renegade 2Bliss Ready T5/T7 is Specialized's fastest cross-country mountain bike tire, and after nearly 10 years of tire testing, we're finally going to look at the latest version of the Renegade. When we compare the Specialized Renegade to the Specialized Fast Trak (read our review), which we've tested in several different versions over the years, the Renegade should be the faster tire.

The tread pattern of the Renegade consists of more but smaller knobs when compared to the Fast Trak, which comes with much bigger knobs spaced further apart. We expect the Renegade to do better in dry conditions, while the Fast Trak also looks good for wetter conditions. The Fast Trak might just get you through winter, depending on your local conditions. Our hard surface wet grip tests show that the Renegade performs much better on hard surfaces, and if you ride a lot of tarmac, it will definitely be the better choice.

From a construction point of view, the S-Works Renegade 2Bliss Ready T5/T7 and S-Works Fast Trak 2Bliss Ready T5/T7 feature the same construction, which is confirmed by our tests. The S-Works version with dual T5/T7 compound should be the fastest edition of the Renegade, and it comes with a light 120 TPI casing that reminds us a bit of the old tubeless-ready mountain bike tires of the past. The first-generation tubeless-ready tires had sidewalls that were barely strong and airtight enough to hold the sealant.

The tubeless-ready tire construction has progressed over the years, and even though the sidewalls are thin and vulnerable to cuts, they hold air much better than those first-generation tubeless-ready tires of the past. Next to the race-ready S-Works versions, Specialized also offers "Control" versions of their off-road tires with a thicker 60 TPI casing that should be more resistant to cuts and tears and hold the air in even better.

We've tested the 29x2.35 version of the Specialized S-Works Renegade 2Bliss Ready T5/T7, and we're going to compare it to the S-Works Fast Trak 2Bliss Ready T5/T7 and a selection of similar mountain bike tires from competing brands.

Manufacturer Specifications

Manufacturer Specs
Brand	Specialized
Model	S-Works Renegade 2BR T5/T7
Year	2024
Supplied By	Bought in store
New or Used	New
Mileage	0 km
Price Range	High
Buy At
Manufacturer part number	00122-6022
TPI	120
Compound	Gripton T5/T7
Bead	Folding
ETRTO	60-622
Size Inch	28"
Width Inch	2.35
Specified Weight	590 grams
Max Air Pressure (psi)	50
Made In	Members Only
Available Sizes	29x2.2 29x2.35

Specialized S-Works Renegade 2BR T5/T7 Test Results

Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements

Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements
Specified Weight	590 grams
Measured Weight	610 grams
Measured Width Carcass	57 mm (un-round)
Measured Width Tread	56 mm
Measured Height	53 mm (un-round)
Measured Knob Height Center	2.0 mm
Measured Knob Height Edge	2.9 mm
Measured Total Thickness Center (excluding knobs)	2 mm
Measured Total Thickness Sidewall	Members Only
All size measurements are taken at an air pressure of 35 psi / 2.4 bars on a 17.8 mm inner width rim.

Rolling Resistance Test Results

Rolling Resistance Test Results
Inner Tube	None (40 ml sealant)
Rolling Resistance 55 PSI / 3.8 Bar	Members Only
Rolling Resistance 45 PSI / 3.1 Bar	Members Only
Rolling Resistance 35 PSI / 2.4 Bar	23.1 Watts CRR: 0.00692
Rolling Resistance 25 PSI / 1.7 Bar	25.9 Watts CRR: 0.00776
All numbers are for a single tire at a speed of 29 km/h / 18 mph and a load of 42.5 kg / 94 lbs. Use the formula: RR (Watts) = CRR * speed (m/s) * load (N) to calculate rolling resistance at a given speed and load.

Puncture Resistance Test Results

Puncture Resistance Test Results (higher is better)
Total Puncture Score Tread	26 Points
Total Puncture Score Sidewall	Members Only
Tread Puncture Force Sharp Needle	Members Only
Tread Puncture Force Blunt Needle	Members Only
Tread Total Tire Thickness	2 mm
Sidewall Puncture Force Sharp Needle	Members Only
Sidewall Puncture Force Blunt Needle	Members Only
Sidewall Total Tire Thickness	Members Only

Hard Surface Static Grip Test Results

Static Grip Test Results
Wet Grip Average	71 Points
Wet Grip Center	Members Only
Wet Grip Edge	Members Only
Measured Knob Height Center	2.0 mm
Measured Knob Height Edge	2.9 mm
Grip in points = coefficient of friction * 100 MTB grip test rim width = 30.0 mm
Wet Grip Test and Off-Road Tires (info)

Conclusion

Although the differences are minor, the S-Works Renegade 2Bliss Ready T5/T7 performs a bit stronger in our tests than the Fast Trak (read our review) equipped with the exact same casing and Gripton T5/T7 compound. The Renegade is a bit lighter and rolls slightly faster at higher air pressures. At the lower end of the air pressure range, both tires come in surprisingly close to each other.

There are no differences in the puncture tests, and we again find Specialized's 120 TPI S-Works casing to be one of the weakest on the market. Both the tread and sidewall puncture scores come in on the low end, and almost all currently available mountain bike tires from competing brands score better in the puncture tests. If you want a set-and-forget tire, we recommend you look at the "Control" versions of Specialized's tires, which come with a more robust casing and should perform better in these tests.

The S-Works Renegade excels in our hard surface wet grip test, where it grabs the number 1 position of all mountain bike tires we've tested to date. The Renegade also performs much better in this test than the Fast Trak, and that's the result of the "small block" tread pattern that works much better on hard surfaces thanks to a larger contact patch and less flexing of the knobs.

Choosing between the Renegade and Fast Trak comes down to the conditions you expect to ride in the most and your personal preferences. Picking the right mountain bike tire is hard, but our test results help make that choice easier.

Compare the Specialized S-Works Renegade against the S-Works Fast Trak side by side on our comparison section

RATING: 3.3 / 5
TEST VERDICT: Recommended

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