Specialized Fast Trak MTB Tire: Light, Fast, Cheap: Pick Three

[@ferencvarju651]

My chisel came with these in the t5 control edition. I did the Utopia Gravel race on them and found it pretty easy to hang with the gravel guys even on tarmac. The only reason I switched to a pair of Rekon Race tires after the Fast Traks wore out is that the RR’s flatter profile and more substantial side knobs give me mire cornering confidence to compensate for my lack of cornering skills :) Otherwise I found the fast traks fantastic, and under a more skilled pilot, I think they’d be faster than the Rekon Race.

[@discostu333]

Great review! The only downside that I've found with these compared with a Ground Control on the back is that you loose some rear braking traction on very steep and loose sections (going up and coming down). Everywhere else they are frighteningly fast and hang on really well.

[@JussaSmiff]

Guy you are an Oracle I purchased my On-One Rocky Road off the back of your review and also been running Fast Trak now for 12 months, just picked up some more in Tan Wall for £30 using a recent Bog Off Offer which as you out was an absolute bargain. Couldn’t be happier with both bike and rubber. Great reviews and certainly helped me out.

[@GuyKesTV]

@@JussaSmiff excellent mate, happy to help

[@electricallergychanneleach3120]

Just picked up two of these in t5 control for £30 thanks to this review!! Thanks Guy

[@RossFinnie]

I really liked the Fast Trak Control T5s on my XC hardtail for cutting about the west of Scotland - they were light, quick rolling, and mega cheap. However, after about a year, the sidewalls had gone really brittle and started to crack and leak sealant, so they ended up going in the bin.

[@johndef5075]

I have the 2.35 t7 t5 Sworks on my new Epic build. Im xc oriented so theyre perfect for me. And so light. They spin up nice even on my alloy rims.

[@paulmurden7621]

I have one of these on the rear and it's done all my winter (UK) riding, sketchy in deep mud but does well and fast as fcuk elsewhere.

[@brucehumphries6889]

The beard actually makes you look younger…direct opposite on mine!! Good review as always

[@GuyKesTV]

Haha cheers mate, I guess it hides some of the wrinkles. Quite good for hiding snacks too

[@sholehan]

T7 Grid 2Bliss in 29.2.35 is eighteen quid currently in the UK!

[@MillerRL96]

Have you been able to test the new purgatory? Really interested in that tire but not much info on it.

[@GuyKesTV]

Yeah I've ridden it quite a lot. It lives in that weird area where it's not as grippy as a full trail tire but then it's noticeable quicker. So similar to Schwalbe Hans Dampf/Nobby Nick and Maxxis Dissector. It does have a grip gap between upright and full lean, but again that seems very common with this sort of tire too. Seems a bit more pressure sensitive and prone to folding than the Butcher too. Considering it's half the price of most other brands though it's a good choice for mixed weather summer front or year round rear.

[@MillerRL96]

@@GuyKesTV ahhh sounds like I might enjoy it. My favorite summer combo right now is the Nobby Nic front with Wicked Will rear but I’m shredding the side knobs in wicked will and for $90 a tire I might switch to Purgatory front and ground control rear. Idk I’m fast enough for a fast trak haha.

[@MyCristian84]

@@MillerRL96was thinking about that combo as well when my front dissector is gone, alternatively I was thinking on eliminator front but worried about being too draggy, cheers!

[@TheRickysee]

I did the renegade FastTrack combo in the T5 simply because there were the lightest tires I could find, and yes, I was happy with the price. I have to say I am pleasantly surprised they have turned out to be winners good grip I flats, and I only have the two 2.25

[@tylerbruce5731]

I run the T7 in Dubai where is sandy/dusty with sharp ass rocks and the are awesome tires. Really surprised. Even use them for xco racing.

[@RoyamI93]

Hey, how those compare to the Racing Ray?

[@ChlorophyllCrusher]

Guy, do you anticipate S moving these to 2.4? Seems XCO pros are settling there, and in my region - Eastern Canada - all our sharp rock demands 2.4 and 2.6 tires. I’ve only had 2.35 work with liners. Also, what’s your view on light casing 2.6 for front? Like S-Works casing: too big for a light casing to make sense/work with pressure that is actually efficient and grippy?

[@GuyKesTV]

Unfortunately it seems like the industry has lost its enthusiasm for 2.6in tyres which is a real shame as they're great for float. Not heard any suggestions that Spesh will be moving to 2.4in either. TBH they could get away with calling these 2.4 as they're still a lot wider than the Maxxis '2.4in' tires like Forekaster and Rekon. That's not much help is it, sorry 😬

[@benbrindle8165]

@@GuyKesTVlet’s not forget most of the “2.4” come nowhere near it anyway :D best going off ertro sizing in mm because if you actually convert the sizes most brands are way off in the inch sizing!

[@scottsmith7338]

I love these tyres and in a weird way think they have more grip than the Ground Control……well more predictable at least and I am riding in and around trail in Southern Scotland.

[@GuyKesTV]

I'm not going to argue with you Scott. They rarely seem to properly let go whatever the conditions. They just get a bit drifty but generally sort themselves out before you hit the deck, esp the T7 or S-Works versions

[@Sir_climb_alot]

Had this on the rear of my exie and this thing slid all over the place in dry conditions. Didn't think it rolled any faster than a ground control.

[@pacoperez2780]

Good to know. Running GCs right now and thinking about switching to Fast Traks.

[@Tom-mb7cf]

Great news that these tyres are £30 again. I can remember thinking they were a bargain for £30 back in 2015!

[@GuyKesTV]

@@Tom-mb7cf two for one ATMO in the UK 👍🏻

[@SteveMcEvoy-t8n]

Guys. Are you running this rear and front? Or matching it to a butcher on the front

[@GuyKesTV]

@@SteveMcEvoy-t8n I’ve done both depending on terrain / how hard I want to push. It’s surprisingly trustworthy on the front though

[@jawanzabanyard1400]

how is the fast trak compared to vitorria mexcal ?

[@GuyKesTV]

More grip, similar speed, Control is more predictable at lower pressures, S-Works is much lighter, both are much cheaper. New 2.4 Mezcal is larger though

[@wulfheremercianwarrior2747]

Does tyre ride well on cycle paths ?

[@GuyKesTV]

@@wulfheremercianwarrior2747 yes

[@wulfheremercianwarrior2747]

Thanks for reply subbed

[@tombretton2933]

Hi Guy! If you were running the S-Works Fast Trak on rear, what would you pair with it for the front? Thanks

[@GuyKesTV]

The T5/T7 mix means the S-works goes well up front too TBH. If you want more bite though I’d go Ground Control T7

[@tombretton2933]

​@@GuyKesTV Ahh ok. Would you recommend run it on the front and something else on the rear as a better XC combo?

[@GuyKesTV]

@@tombretton2933 Personally I don't think the Renegade is any faster either so I'd not bother switching to that. Maybe put a Fast Trak Control T5 on the rear for a bit more puncture protection?

[@scottmcmillan3655]

I run the S-Works Fast Track on the rear and a Ground Control T5 on the front on my S-Works Epic Evo 7. I have a ton of grip up front and the rear is very grippy with a controllable slide, if needed . I run 22psi on the front and 25 psi on the rear but I will drop pressure about 2 psi if conditions are wet. My weight is about 150lbs and my bike weighs 22lb 8ozs with pedals and bottle cages.

[@irwinhaihambo4609]

Ground control upfront, my terrain is dry, dusty and rocky…

[@HUKIT.]

Do they come with dork discs?

[@benbrindle8165]

The main difference is the 60 vs 120 tpi for the protection. There’s no actual “layer” or anything, and it just works with that simplicity. Raved about these wherever I can. Always ran the sworks until >2.1 came out; and now ride the control purely out of not feeling any difference whatsoever and the added peace of mind. Best balance of weight, rolling resistance, control grip and VALUE! The T7 came on the front of the epic pro Ltd and the renegade gun wall came on the back of the epic ht and both are impossible to find. The t7 and t5 feel the same though tbh on the front of both bikes for FT, no dramas in the wet for either the side knobs dig in way more than I expected. The renegade stays on the back until winter regardless of weather. The side knobs slide out slightly more on the renegade on the man made stuff, and spin out on the natural mud, but for riding the road there, renegade is worth it on the rear for road and fireroad. Running FT/Ren 3 seasons and winter FT/FT. I’ve run every type of fast track since they came out (sounding old!) and all the xc options from maxxis, schwalbe, and conti and the others sort of over engineer and over market and over price their tyres. The only reason specialized tyres are not on every bike imo is that they are labelled specialized and the mixing of brands and even spesh as a brand is quite polarizing. On the 29mm internal rims they’re designed for mine have filled out at 60 mm (2.36”) and on old Mavic 21 mm internal rims they are 55 mm (2.17”) so the rim width internal matters. They’re more “bulby” on older thinner rims. Renegade come out near exact in weight, speed, and sizing. The renegade has the edge on the smoother stuff, and particularly sandy and sandy mud, and pebbles (looking at you Cannock chase. Fast track has the edge in cornering as the knobs are quite larger and in the mud too.

[@GuyKesTV]

@@benbrindle8165 totally agree on all of this Ben 👍🏻