THE RADIAL REVOLUTION

More grip, more smooth, more trail


Is it possible to develop flexible tires with maximum utilization of the contact area that offer even more grip, control and comfort?


Yes, it is!

RADIAL REVOLUTION: REDEFINING MOUNTAIN BIKE TIRES

The latest development from the Schwalbe LAB: With the innovative radial tire technology two new MTB tires are coming onto the market. The basis for this new technology is the completely rethought carcass construction.

More grip
for even more control

More comfort
thanks to more cushioning

Larger contact surface
on the ground


“We have a lot more rubber on the ground and several lugs that are constantly in contact with the ground. In combination with the larger contact area of the radial tires, this gives you exceptional control when riding, whether braking or accelerating. The tire adapts extremely well.“


Carl Friedrich Kämper
Product Management & Development MTB

“Usually, when you’re looking for a comfortable tyre, it’s often not precise and efficient. But the new construction of the Albert answers these problems. You can push a lot on every corner, without causing damage or any excessive deformation of the sidewall. “


Kilian Bron
Enduro / Freeride MTB Athlet

“Happy to find a better comfort
and a better grip with the new radial carcass construction.“


Amaury Pierron
Professional DH Racer

THE ADVANTAGES OF RADIAL



Carcass threads at a more obtuse angle than other tires

30% more contact area with the same air pressure

More grip, more damping, more control


WHAT DOES RADIAL MEAN?

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.

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The structure of radial tires

With our radial tires, we are turning the MTB world on its head. We have always asked ourselves the following question during development: 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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World Cup Approved


We developed the tires in the Downhill World Cup. Amaury Pierron made a brilliant comeback this year after his return. With our 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!

HOW RADIAL TIRES WORK

Learn from Carl Friedrich Kamper - Product Management & Development MTB - how we developed Radial tires for MTB

THE NEW PRODUCTS

The new radial tires come in three new profiles: Albert, Shredda (Front / Rear) and Magic Mary Radial. 

ALBERT

ALBERT


closed and round profile for more control
special knob pattern for continuous grip
excels in hard-packed terrain

TO THE PRODUCT

SHREDDA (FRONT)

SHREDDA (FRONT)

extreme tread depth
for excellent grip
very good climbing characteristics with the E-MTB
Loves loose and muddy surfaces

TO THE PRODUCT

SHREDDA (REAR)

SHREDDA (REAR)


perfect for E-MTBs
ensures very good stability when riding
for maximum uphill performance

TO THE PRODUCT

MAGIC MARY

MAGIC MARY

The iconic Magic Mary with radial carcass
For more contact area and even more grip
Ideal for loose surfaces and natural trails

TO THE PRODUCT

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT RADIAL TIRES

In a bias-ply tire, the threads of the carcass lie at a 45° angle to the direction of travel. This is the standard construction method for bicycle tires. In radial tires, on the other hand, the threads lie at a 90° angle, but require a so-called belt under the tread. Schwalbe radial tires have a much more obtuse angle than conventional cross-ply tires, but do not require a belt.

Due to the blunter angle of the carcass threads, the tire can deform more selectively. As a result, it follows bumps many times better than a bias-ply tire and always maintains contact with the ground. The result: more grip, more comfort and more control off-road. In addition, the contact area increases by approx. 30% with the same air pressure.

Due to the larger contact area with the ground, Schwalbe radial tires always have more rubber in contact with the ground. As a result, rolling resistance increases slightly. However, this can be almost compensated for by clever tread designs, as already demonstrated on the ALBERT, for example.

This is intentional and is due to the higher number of weft threads in the carcass as a result of the blunter carcass angle. Weft threads are necessary in the production of tire carcasses to facilitate processing in production through to assembly. After fitting, these naturally break-in during riding.

As a rule, bicycle tires are always slightly narrower to ensure that they fit into the frame. However, this dimension can vary depending on the design and the inner rim width. A freshly fitted tire, both bias-ply and radial, will expand and widen a little over time, and the air pressure and tire construction also play a role. At maximum air pressure, the tire becomes wider than at low pressure. The tire width is measured at maximum air pressure at the widest point, i.e. from outer lug to outer lug.

Although Schwalbe radial tires are considerably more flexible under the tread, they behave almost identically to cross-ply tires in terms of lateral stiffness. This means that they can fully exploit their advantages on uneven surfaces, but do not become more unstable due to our special carcass construction.

We recommend initially using the same air pressure as a cross-ply tire with a comparable carcass construction (e.g. Gravity or Super Gravity). However, since Schwalbe radial tires are more flexible than conventional cross-ply tires even at higher pressures and retain their positive characteristics, the air pressure can be adapted much better to the riding conditions. For example, if the track conditions require a higher pressure to prevent punctures, this is easily possible with Schwalbe radial tires without having to accept disproportionately large compromises in grip.

Since we have only adjusted the angle of the carcass threads, but not the number of carcass plies or the material thickness, Schwalbe radial tires are no more susceptible to punctures than bias ply tires. The cut and puncture protection therefore remains positive.

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