Mix the rub ingredients together throughly and then rub a generous amount over all of the surfaces of the tri-tip.

Leave the rubbed-down roast on the counter at room temperature for about 45 minutes before cooking. As an aside, we are going to test this theory one of these days. Most people recommend letting a large cut of meat warm to room temperature before roasting. I've done this for a while now and never questioned it, but I wonder if it really makes a difference? I feel a science experiment coming on...

Light your grill and prepare for indirect grilling. This means lighting one side of the grill on high, while leaving the other side unlit. If you are using a charcoal grill, pile the coals to one side of the grill.

Once the grill is hot and ready, place the tri-tip roast on the hot side and sear for a few minutes on each side. Our goal during the sear is to create a nice dark crust on the outside of the roast. Not to seal in the juices (doesn't really seal them in), but rather to create some delicious caramelization out of the rub and surface juices of the tri-tip.

After you have seared all sides of the roast and have the color you like on the outside, move the tri-tip over to the cool side of the grill and then close the lid.

We are going to now roast the, well, roast on the cooler side of the grill, much like an oven. How long is it going to take?  The real answer is "it depends", but a total time of 25 - 30 minutes for a smaller tri-tip is usually a good starting guess.  Each tri-tip roast and grill is different though, so you really need to use a meat thermometer to make sure the roast is cooked to perfection. To most, that means medium-rare, or around 140 degrees. We want to remove at 140 degrees, which will allow the temperature to rise about 5 degrees while we rest. If you have a remote probe meat thermometer, this is a perfect use for it, so that you don't have to open the lid each time.

Once the tri-tip roast has reached your desired doneness, remove it from the grill and let it rest on a platter for 10 minutes.

Slice the roast thin and against the grain for maximum tenderness.