Specialized rolled out a number of new products aimed at gravity all-mountain and enduro riders, in conjunction with the first round of the Oregon Enduro series at Hood River, Oregon, this week. The first product to catch our attention was the Slaughter tire; a rear-specific design that pairs a tiny, ultra-fast-rolling tread pattern with the larger, grippy edging blocks of the popular Butcher tire. We rode the Slaughter while pre-riding the various stages of the Hood River event that provided the full range of terrain that included moist loam, dry-over-hard-pack, high-speed rock gardens, and high-bermed flow trails. Slaughter tires are designed to be used in conjunction with Specialized's Butcher tire up front and are intended for high-speed tracks where straight-line traction is readily available.Specialized
The Slaughter's flat tread profile ensures that the
edging blocks get to work quickly in the corners.
Introducing the Slaughter TireSpecialized will offer the Slaughter in a 2.3-inch-wide carcass for 27.5 and 29 inch wheel sizes. Three models will be offered beginning with a true downhill tire with a wire bead and a dual-ply, 60-thread-per-inch casing. The DH tire's under-tread is a stiff, 70 Shore-a hardness base-rubber which is vulcanized to a softer, tackier, 42 Shore-a harness tread. The DH tire also features sidewall stabilization pads for support and pinch-flat protection. The lightest version is the 2.3-inch Slaughter Control, which features a lighter-weight, tubeless-ready casing and a dual-compound tread design. The center tread is a fast-rolling 62 Shore-a compound, while the sturdy edging blocks are made from stickier, 50 Shore-a rubber. We rode the Slaughter Grid 2BR model that features sidewall protection and single-compound, 60 Shore-a tread rubber. The Slaughter's MSRP will match the Butcher's, which presently run around $55 to $60 USD in the AM versions, with the DH versions set at $80.
The Slaughter design is very similar to the new
Schwalbe Rock Razor, which is a good thing. The trend towards wider rims and tires has once again reshuffled the priorities of tire design. New-school tread and carcass configurations that specifically address the needs of all-mountain and enduro riders are finally proving to be much better performers than the scaled-up versions of previously successful models that most of us have come to depend upon. The Butcher and Slaughter certainly fall into the new-school category and their performance is very promising.
First Impressions: | So far, the consensus is that the new Slaughter is a winner. After riding the Slaughter on a variety of terrain, all indicators point to a tire that most riders will want to run in the rear for any situation where the trail surface presents even a minimal amount of grip. It rolls noticeably faster than the popular Specialized Purgatory in the same width, and corners much better too - and depending upon your choice of tire pressure, straight-line braking is comparable or better, due to the Slaughter's wider, flatter tread profile. Specialized is not breaking new ground with the Slaughter's semi-slick design, but they got this one right the first time. It gives riders the straight-line speed the the uber-capable Butcher can't quite match, and we expect the Butcher/Slaughter combination to be a common sight in the future. - RC |
...yes I saw what I did there
Here is a list of things that I have new in boxes in my garage, as they were phased out over the years:
126mm hub.
1" threaded steerer
Quill stem
v-brakes
cantelever brakes
rims with brake track
24" rims and tires
cable disk brakes
quick release hubs
square taper BB
Isis BB
v-brake fork
rigid fork with v-brake mounts
cromoly crankset
3" DH tire
6 speed shifter/derailler
7 speed shifter/derailler
8 speed shifter/deraiiler
various freewheels
5-bolt crankset
non disk brake hubs, and even a few used frames in good condition
triple cranksets
All of these were considered "good enough" when they were replaced as the market moved on. Its just the way it is.
The Larsen TT was available in DH casing. No weak side walls here!
Do you want to sell a metric sh*t-ton of these tires or not? There are still way more 26" wheels out there than 29" or 27", and there will be for years to come.
Mark my words now, in ten years they'll bring out 26" again and tell us all about how much better it is and why we need it!!!!!!
Maxxis 1, Specialized 0
I'm stoked that the Oregon Enduro Series matters to a company as big as Specialized. All of the stops on this tour are seriously fun places to ride... with or without a stopwatch.
Want proof 650B is taking off? Look at the hack bike Specialized put out to stop bleeding sales.
Learn a little history on the sport you love. 650B was always considered the better size, it was purely an economical decision to go with a 26 tire. The 26 wheel was a cost decision from the start of the sport, it was never the optimal choice.
Does piss me off when companies stop supporting the current crop of standards! 11 speed is the new standard for drive train but its not like Sram and Shimano have stopped making 10 speed, or 9 speed for that matter! In fact, Shimano still make 6 and 7 speed parts! Fine, they are budget low quality shit, but they are still there to be used on working bikes that need replacements and 7 speed was OLD a long time ago! There must be a shit load of people out there who own 26" wheeled Specialized bikes that would like to stick with Specialized replacement parts (Me included) but I guess I will just have to send my money in Maxxis direction. Maybe Specialized should find out how many people currently own 26" Specialized bikes from whatever year and compare that to how many 29ers they have sold in the past 5 before they stop supporting their customers!
If anything, I think is a bit of a bad move on their behalf with so much 26" stock still on bike shops.
I don't forsee changing my 26er Endo sworks anytime soon, plus IMO the little increase is wheel size is rather unnoticeable after I have tried them.
Love my bike & will stick to it for a looooong time.
Dying to try this tire and would buy straight away if available on 26, but guess will have to keep running my beloved butchers F&R for now.
@matt76, if The product i want is available in 26, then yes. That is what i like. And I have tried other wheel sizes.
I respect people's choices on their gear, hell yeah, go nuts on your wheel size, etc. But I don't like an industry telling me what is good for me when I already have my preference.
How about a the DH casing option when their current DH line is all 26er?
I had the opportunity to witness the release of the 2014 Specialized line in South & Central America and had a good chance to speak to most of the specialized team operating the concept stores in different countries through out Latin America. This is less than a year ago and when I raised the 650B topic the common answer was "this is just a hype to make more MONEY and we don't support it - that wheel size doesn't make any sense & we heavily believe on the 29er". Less than a year later they see potential loss of future sales and guess what, they have now decided to make a 650B range and in all honesty, I think is great!!!
I am not a wheel size hater, honestly, it is great to have a choice. I truly think is great you can have so many bikes to choose from and you are very fortunate for having that.
But Specialized is not giving this choice to their existing customers with this new tire when their current & past bicycles includes a huge range of 26ers. I own a 2012 Demo and 2013 Enduro, both 26er.
This tire looks amazing an I would truly like to have it. But I have no choice being this the key word of my argument.
And what about Fox with the 36, they admitted in that article that they have at least a decade or more of having to support the 26"!