The Popular Specialized Purgatory Trail Tire Got a Major Update [Review]

I was all set to draft a review of the Specialized Purgatory mountain bike tire when I noticed something strange. The Purgatory I had been testing for months didn’t look anything like the one on the Specialized website. After a little digging I found out that Specialized had completely (and perhaps quietly) revamped the popular mainstay trail tire. Would it be an improvement? I had to get my hands on one of the new Purgatory tires to find out.

Specialized Purgatory trail tire specs

• Price: $70.
• Buy from Specialized.

The Specialized Purgatory Grid Trail 2Bliss Ready T7, as it’s officially known, is designed for XC and trail riding with various flavors available to match where your riding falls on that spectrum. The Grid Trail T7 version I tested uses the tougher of two casing construction options, and the less sticky of two compound options. This combo places it squarely in the middle of the line between light duty XC riding and aggressive trail riding.

Purgatory tires are offered in 29″ and 27.5″ diameters, and buyers are limited to a 2.4″ width across the board. This is a change from the previous version, which offered 2.6″ or 2.3″ widths. In my opinion, the 2.4″ width is a good compromise and the right choice for most trail bikes.

The Specialized Purgatory is a directional tire that can be run either front, rear, or front and rear. I chose to run it as a front tire for my tests.

Looking at the tread pattern, the only similarity between the new Purgatory and the old one is the name. Whereas the previous Purgatory tires had tightly packed knobs, the new Purgatory spreads things out and changes up the knob shapes completely.

The large center knobs, and also the side knobs, feature a “block-in-block” design that allow portions of the knobs to react independently to the terrain. It’s not unusual for mountain bike tires to feature siping — cuts in the knob designed to improve grip — though sipes are usually simple straight lines that cut clear across the block. Block-in-block cuts are more complex and separate the main block into a squared-off mini block that’s wrapped by an outer, leading block.

The new Specialized Purgatory also appears to bring the cornering knobs a touch closer to the center of the tire, giving it a more squared-off shape when it’s rolling. The new 2.4″ tire I tested weighs 995g, exactly 50g heavier than even the previous, 2.6-inch-wide version.

Inflated at about 15psi the 2.4″ Specialized Purgatory Grid Trail measures 60mm across on 32mm (internal width) rims. That converts to about 2.36″ which some might call a 2.35″, though in my book it safely rounds up to 2.4″.

On the trail

Like I said, I was all primed to write a review of the Purgatory tire earlier this summer before I realized it had been completely changed. If I could sum up the review I had planned to write for the old version (RIP), I would say it was “just okay.” Plenty of mountain bike tires like the Purgatory claim that they’re all-rounders, which is to say they’re generally bland but they get the job done.

The new (and improved) Purgatory, if I can jump right to the bottom line, is very good and much improved. For my money, a tire proves its worth when it comes to cornering, and at the front of the bike, the latest Specialized Purgatory is more predictable and consistent than ever before. In fact I would put it in the top half of the mountain bike tires I’ve tested in terms of its support and control in turns.

It’s hard to say if the block-in-block side knobs deserve all the credit, though I don’t think they hurt. Perhaps more importantly, the side knobs appear to be better buttressed and supported than they were previously, which likely adds some weight but also adds strength when push comes to shove.

The big center knobs are welcome for their ability to punch through loose soil, though perhaps not as welcome at the front end of the bike as they would be at the rear. As a front tire the Purgatory can feel draggy at times, and I definitely noticed its increased weight.

By adding more space between knobs on the Purgatory, Specialized has improved mud clearing, and I found the tire stays clean even in sticky conditions. The T7 rubber compound isn’t the softest option Specialized offers, but it delivers plenty of grip across rocks, roots, and hardpack. It’s been 100+ miles and any wear is barely noticeable.

My Specialized Purgatory tire inflated tubelessly without the need for an air compressor, and it’s held air well throughout my testing.

A lot of riders are nervous about a mountain bike tire with a trail casing (as opposed to say an enduro or DH casing), fearful of pinch flats and floppy cornering. I didn’t experience a single puncture issue with the Purgatory despite riding plenty of janky trails, and even at 15psi the tire stayed composed through the turns.

As an aside, I hate flats as much — and probably more than — the next person. However I think a lot of riders should reconsider their needs and preferences when it comes to tire casings. If you have a set of wheels manufactured within the last 3-5 years the rims are likely designed with wider rim edges that reduce the chances of pinch flats significantly. And while beefier casings can allow riders to run lower tire pressures for a more supple ride feel and better grip, that’s the same idea behind lighter-duty casings. For some, it might be possible to get the same advantages of lower pressures by going to a lighter casing and increasing tire pressure just a bit. The upshot is less weight and more room for tuning.

Pros and cons of the Specialized Purgatory trail tire

Pros

• Improved cornering grip
• All-rounder tire for a variety of trail conditions
• Durable and reliable construction
• Good value for the price

Cons

• Draggy as a front tire

Bottom line

Change is hard, and it’s always tempting to say that the old version was better than the new one. And yet, it should come as no surprise that the Specialized Purgatory was updated precisely so that it would be better. And it is.

• Price: $70.
• Buy from Specialized.
• Note: older versions of the Purgatory are also available at the link above and are priced at 50% off the original price.