Good roller for all-purpose use
Written: Sep 04 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Low rolling resistance, relatively light
Cons: Poor wet weather cornering/braking
The Bottom Line: An Excellent all-around tire for dry and hardpack riding and cross-country racing.
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| sammy_marvelle's Full Review: Specialized Rockster Team |
Specialized started out in 1974 as a tire company, so it would stand to reason that they might know a little about manufacturing tires. The Rockster Team is a perfect example of Specialized's experience in the tire market and their ability to create an excellent all-purpose tire.
The Rockster Team weighs in at around 500 grams, making it fairly light compared to other tires in its class. It uses a Kevlar bead and a little bit thinner of a casing than a lot of other tires at this price point.
But a thinner casing means it's more prone to puncture flats, right? Not actually. All of Specialized's tires from their base model $20 tires on up use what they call "Flak Jacket" technology. In a nutshell, Flak Jacket refers to two layers of Kevlar running from one edge of the tread to the other, creating an incredibly puncture-resistant casing while keeping the overall weight of the tire to a minimum and maintaining a supple ride.
The only downfall of the Flak Jacket is that it leaves the sidewalls relatively unprotected. Though most riders consider that a minimum risk, due to the fact that less than 5% of all puncture flats penetrate through the sidewall. If that is a concert, Specialized also makes a line of tires with their Armadillo technology (three layers of Kevlar running from bead to bead).
The tread on the Rockster Team is well designed for its intended purpose. It has plenty of tread to handle light cross-country riding and racing in dry conditions and maintains a smooth center ridge to reduce overall rolling resistance. Exaggerated side lugs help maintain cornering in less-than-ideal conditions.
While this tire thrives on pavement and hardpack surfaces, it loses a lot of its luster when conditions begin to deteriorate. Losing traction often almost at the first sign of moisture, the Rockster Team's braking distance is greatly increased and cornering speed is greatly reduced in wet or muddy conditions.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
sammy_marvelle
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Location: Eau Claire, WI, USA
Reviews written: 19
Trusted by: 1 member
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