Specialized have always been a safe bet for tyres, and the Purgatory is no exception. It's a dual-compound tyre that’s softer on the shoulders, but even the soft bits aren’t all that soft – it’s less composed than some on rocks and roots.
On softer ground the aggressive angled tread blocks dig in and deliver though, and you reap the benefit of the harder compound when you start pedalling – the Purgatory rolls along without undue effort and lasts well too.
Given the low weight, it’s not surprising that the Purgatory has relatively thin sidewalls – if you’re hard on tyres or ride spectacularly rocky trails then you may want something meatier. It’s tubeless-ready too (or 2Bliss in Specialized-speak).
This article was originally published in Mountain Biking UK magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.