At higher pressures, the tyre’s slick centre sits slightly proud of the surrounding tread, on a rounded profile. Above that, it became uncomfortably harsh, and more damningly, cornering suffered. I weigh in at about 72kg, and considered 50psi the absolute upper limit for this tyre to function well. Specialized’s advised range for the Pathfinder is 50-80psi, which strikes me as weirdly high. You’ll want to factor in some time to dial in the optimal pressure, though. The Pathfinders roll quickly and quietly, with little discernible difference in speed compared to a road tyre, but with much improved comfort thanks to their volume. It’s not a unique tyre in catering for these strengths, sharing a similar profile to the WTB Byway and the Donnelly X’Plor USH.
If the surface could be described as a ‘road’ – whether sealed or unsealed – the Pathfinder is pretty great. Over those hundreds of kilometres of testing, I kept coming back to the one question that Specialized seems to answer in the affirmative: could the Pathfinder be the one tyre for most applications? Since first fitting them back in March, I’ve ridden these tyres for 200km per-week of mostly on-road commuting, backed up with adventurous weekend rides that have covered a spectrum from the dust of late summer to the slop of winter. Once I eventually got them re-installed – after quite some angst – they measured in at a smidge over 39mm actual width on the 19mm internal DT Swiss rim. When I transferred them after a month of riding to a DT Swiss P1800 wheelset, they stubbornly refused to inflate even with an Air Tool Blast canister, so I think it’s fair to say that your results may vary. They mounted with a floorpump on the first wheelset I mounted them on – a Light Bicycles carbon clincher – and held pressure overnight without sealant. Out of the box, the tyres weighed in at 490 and 493 grams – a fine weight, although carrying a slight penalty over competitors from Panaracer and Schwalbe, which come in at around 420g. When Specialized sent a pair of 700×38 Pathfinders over for review, I was curious to see whether their claimed versatility would marry up with my previous positive associations with the brand’s tyres. And like the Roubaix Pro, it is also adorned with a couple more zesty monikers – it features Specialized’s ‘Gripton’ compound, and it is ‘2Bliss Ready’ (tubeless ready).
#Path finder tires pro
Like the Roubaix Pro, the Pathfinder Pro features Specialized’s BlackBelt puncture protection and acceptably supple 120TPI Endurant casing. The Roubaix Pro is one of my favourite fat slicks, offering minimal compromise in speed and excellent durability I got more than 7,000km out of a pair before a puncture.
I’ve had good luck with Specialized’s tyres in the past. International markets also get 650Bx47, and the option of ‘transparent’ sidewalls across the board (a rather nice, but still less mindblowing than it sounds, brown gumwall). In Australia it’s available in 700×38 and 700×42 sizes (black only). The Pathfinder appears to strike a middle-ground between most of the above, with a slick centre tread that transitions to a closely-spaced diamond pattern and more aggressive chevrons on the outer edge. The Terra: A wet weather CX tyre, available in 700×33 and 700×38. The Trigger: For “asphalt, hard-pack, and gravel paths”, available in 700×33 tubulars, and 700×38 and 700×47 clincher. The Tracer: A CX tyre for “dry and intermediate” conditions, available in 700×33 and 700×38. The Sawtooth: A versatile herringbone pattern, available in sizes from 700×38 and up. The Roubaix Pro: A bigger-volume slick road tyre, available in 700×32. It bolsters a tyre line-up that includes: The brand claims it “delivers the versatility that … adventure-laden rides deserve: fast rolling, lots of grip, and a whole lot of fun.” The brand’s new Pathfinder Pro 2Bliss Ready tyre is Specialized’s latest gravel tyre, and at face value, seems one of its most versatile offerings yet. Specialized is one of the mainstream originators of the ambiguously defined gravel category, with a broad and growing range of adventure-oriented products on offer.
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