THE DECADE OF SUPER
FIVE CARCASSES THAT CHANGE EVERYTHING
Addix followed by Super: Two years ago Schwalbe came out with their new edition of MTB-compounds, now five innovative carcass constructions have emerged – fully differentiated for their intended purpose, without compromise. And clearly recognizable by their names: Super Downhill, Super Gravity, Super Trail, Super Ground and Super Race.
With the five new carcasses begins the decade of superheroes for all trails.
Season after season, more and more people discover mountain bikes as their passion. Each rider lives the adventure of MTB in her or his own way and with completely individual requirements and ambitions. Therefore, mountain bikes today are more specialized than ever – from light-weight cross country race bikes to modern trail bikes to downhill rocket sleds, with or without a motor. Developments and differentiation happen more and more dynamically in the MTB world. “Therefore, we have analysed each construction on the basis of its individual scope and spent countless hours of development and tests to optimize them down to the last detail,” says Product Manager MTB Carl Kämper. This is how ground-breaking tire constructions emerge which fulfill the most diverse requirements.
Five new constructions mark the latest level of evolution in Schwalbe’s Evolution Line. “The carcass in combination with the rubber composition and tread determine the characteristics of a tire, just like the skeleton in humans. One cannot see the construction, but it supports and holds everything together. The carcass has a massive impact on ridability; it defines performance, puncture protection and the weight of a tire. Therefore, it is extremely important to ride a purpose-built carcass,” says Carl Kämper. “The best tread and optimal rubber mix don’t bring much, if they sit on the wrong carcass.”
From Super Downhill to Super Race: The name says it all
To find out which one of the new carcass quintet is the right one to use is easy: just look at the new, self-explanatory names. Carl Kämper: “We regularly come up with innovations which the MTB community rewards with a lot of trust. When talking to cyclists and retailers, we also heard that they do not want to go through the trouble of having to compare detailed specifications such as EPI counts or carcass fabrics. Instead, they want a self-explanatory system. Now, even novices have access to a quick and easy way to select their carcass – no matter, whether they focus on downhill, trail or racing.” Now, with the introduction of the new carcasses, all MTB tires of the Evolution Line come in Tubeless Easy.
Super Downhill – Stability with no compromise
For the most courageous and aggressive riding styles of those who won’t shy away from any jump, who will ride the steepest descents, and who will attempt any obstacle. Super Downhill, unlike any other construction, represents uncompromising stability and performance, developed for the Downhill World Cup. Six carcass plies protect the tread area and also adds stability when running very low tire pressures. The side walls are extremely well protected from cuts and punctures by a combination of four carcass plies and a SnakeSkin fabric layer. A newly constructed apex protects from pinch flats and increases side wall stiffness.
Super Gravity – Robust as well as smooth
Areas feared by some, where riders and terrain challenge the product to the limit, where forks have lots of travel – that’s the home of Super Gravity tires. An extremely robust construction with four carcass plies as well as SnakeSkin fabric from bead to bead protects the tread and sides that are subject to big impacts. Just like the Downhill version, a modified apex protects from pinch flats and ensures side wall stiffness. Yet, the tire stays exceptionally flexible due to the mixed turn-up construction and offers a smooth ride.
Super Trail – The multi-talent
Almost as versatile as a multi-functional tool: Super Trail suits rides ranging from intense all-mountain to trail and enduro. The robust construction – two carcass plies on the side wall, three plies underneath the tread – combines moderate weight with low rolling resistance, immense cornering grip and puncture protection. SnakeSkin fabric from bead to bead and an apex for extra protection.
Super Ground – Always in a flow state
These tires feel right on any terrain, on flow trails as well as on long tours. The construction guarantees a well concerted synthesis of protection, light-weight and optimal riding properties. Three carcass plies underneath the entire tread and SnakeSkin fabric running from bead to bead ensure a fine-tuned ratio of safety and weight.
Super Race – Speed with souplesse
No other disciplines focus so much on rolling resistance and weight as cross country and marathon racing. In addition, the Super Race construction sets standards in suppleness – no other carcass rolls as silky over the ground and brings traction galore. The turn-up construction is characterized by its light-weight mix of materials – with two carcass plies and RaceGuard puncture protection underneath the tread as well as three carcass plies on the side wall for protection from cuts and snakebites.
Legends get better and better: New edition of Nobby Nic and Big Betty
To go with the current stage of innovation, Schwalbe has repolished two tire legends to present entirely new editions of Nobby Nic and Big Betty.
Nobby Nic, the third generation, light-weight “all-grounder” increases performance for its unique scope: Tour, All Mountain, Trail, Down Country, Cross Country. Schwalbe gave it an aggressive tread design with more pronounced and significantly more stable shoulder knobs: They allow for more precise handling all the way to the limit. Overall, the new tread brings improved performance during acceleration and braking as well as cornering grip. Self-cleaning properties have also stepped up a level for an even stronger performance in wet conditions. Its large fan club now gets to choose between the Super Trail construction with Addix Soft and the Super Ground construction with Addix Speedgrip.
Also with Big Betty, Schwalbe has made an impressive relaunch. During the late 1990s and the early 2000s, Big Betty had a cult following. Now she’s back – with extra strong shoulder knobs, long, supported braking edges and outstanding self-cleaning properties. Available as a Super Downhill or Super Gravity construction with Addix UltraSoft or Soft Compound. Downhill World Cup rider Nina Hofmann has tested the prototypes for months and was thrilled: “The extra strong shoulder knobs are very grippy in corners. And the alignment of the center knobs ensures both super easy rolling and, thanks to the extra supported braking edges, maximum braking performance. Big Betty on the rear wheel and Magic Mary on the front is my new downhill combination.“
Schwalbe’s new generations of Nobby Nic and Big Betty as well as Evolution Line MTB tires with the new Super carcass constructions will be available in August at specialist retailers. Some tire models with a Super Race carcass such as Racing Ralph and Racing Ray will be available starting in October. Prices range depending on model and size.
Further information
SCHWALBE | Ralf Bohle GmbH
Press Office
Otto-Hahn-Straße 1 | 51580 Reichshof-Wehnrath
Phone: +49 22 65 109-0 | press@schwalbe.com
www.schwalbe.com