With the launch of Schwalbe’s new radial casing tires the brand has gained some serious traction in the race for the ultimate mtb tires. For years they have been asking themselves “How can we make the best possible use of the limited contact area of a tire?”
The basis for this is the completely rethought construction of the carcass. The carcass threads, which run diagonally across the tire at a 45° angle in conventional bicycle tires, are arranged at a much more obtuse angle in our radial tires. This technology opens up a completely new dimension in the function of bicycle tires.
Schwalbe developed and tested the tires in the Downhill World Cup. Amaury Pierron made a brilliant comeback this year after his return. With their radial tires, he won in Val di Sole by almost 5 seconds and in Let Gets by well over 6 seconds – an eternity in racing! And that one was an absolute mudder making it even more impressive.
We are so excited to try these out for ourselves. Schwalbe currently offers four different tread patterns. The Albert model pictured here guarantees grip and control in all situations. Of course they come in different sizes, casing thicknesses – trail or a more durable gravity version, and two different rubber compounds – soft and ultra soft.
What makes these tires ride so well? Read here for all the info!
Punctual deformation: The carcass material overlaps for a shorter time and with less tension. As a result, the tire deforms more selectively and can react much more flexibly and adaptably to unevenness without sacrificing control.
Higher contact area: Radial tires offer approx. 30% more contact area than conventional tires at the same air pressure. Even if the air pressure is increased by 50%, the contact area is still 15% larger.
More grip, more damping, more of the trail: The increased contact area and the more flexible response behavior provide significantly more grip, more damping, more control and more comfort – so you get more out of the trail! The tire absorbs impacts better and uses the suspension travel more effectively – it literally sucks itself into the ground. This applies to both mountain bikes and e-MTBs, which provide significantly more traction on the ground with radial tires.
