Schwalbe Tyre Guide | Online Bike Experts

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Schwalbe MTB tyres are packed full of technology. With puncture protection, grippy rubber compounds and tread patterns designed for different surfaces. See the range of technologies that give their mountain bike tyres a performance edge.

Protection

Smartguard

Protection Level 7 – Smartguard offers the highest level of puncture protection. A 5mm thick layer of special Indian rubber sits under the tread offering durable protection against objects penetrating through the tread. The Indian rubber layer is highly elastic for better handling.

Double Defence Greenguard

Protection Level 6 – Combining a Greenguard Indian Rubber layer under the tread puncture protection with SnakeSkin side wall protection, these tyres offer superior puncture protection.

Greenguard

Protection Level 5 – Greenguard uses the same Indian Rubber insert under the tread as Smartguard but at 3mm is slightly thinner.

Raceguard

Protection Level 4 – A double layer of Nylon fabric under the tread offers good protection for light, sporty tyres.

K-Guard

Protection Level 3 – A natural rubber layer, reinforced with Kevlar fibres under the tread offers the minimum standard for puncture protection in Schwalbe tyres.

SnakeSkin

Sidewall Protection – SnakeSkin is a monofilament fabric on the sidewall of the tyre which provides the best cut protection for sidewalls.

Rubber Compounds

ADDIX

The new rubber compound for all Schwalbe EVO tyres, ADDIX is available in four different rubber compounds for different mountain bike disciplines. Both the formula and the manufacturing process has been refined to offer stable performance over the whole life of the tyre. All ADDIX tyres are have improved durability.

ADDIX Speed

This is the compound for XC racers. The ADDIX Speed compound is incredibly fast rolling. Compared to the previous PaceStar compound ADDIX Speed is faster, grippier as well as being more durable and resilient.

ADDIX Speedgrip

A universal compound for Cross-country and trail mountain biking. ADDIX Speedgrip is available for the majority of the EVO tyres. Compared to the previous PaceStar compound Speedgrip offers a lot more grip while only sacrificing a small amount of rolling resistance. Damping and durability are significantly improves.

ADDIX Soft

From enduro and downhill to trail riding, the ADDIX Soft compound bridges all these disciplines. Compared to the previous TrailStar compound ADDIX Soft is considerably faster rolling as well as offering more grip. Like all ADDIX tyres durability is also greatly increased. ADDIX Soft tyres can be used as a front tyre combined with Speedgrip for more speed, or as a rear tyre when combined with Ultra Soft for more grip.

ADDIX Ultra Soft

This is the compound for hardcore enduro and downhill riding. Compared to the previous VertStar compound ADDIX Ultra Soft offers improved levels of grip and damping as well as being faster rolling. ADDIX Ultra Soft is suitable for all-weather use thanks to significantly improved low-temperature grip and damping properties.

ADDIX Performance

ADDIX compound for performance tyres. This is a universal compound similar to ADDIX Speedgrip on the EVO tyres just not a light or a fast.

Triple Compound

Triple compound tyres have different compounds in as the base, centre and shoulder sections of the tyre. Softer shoulder compounds give you more cornering grip, while harder center compounds offer improved durability and lower rolling resistance.

Tyre Types

Tubeless Ready

This tubeless technology is found on performance line tyres. Extra strong bead cores and rubber reinforced sidewalls are featured on all Tubeless Ready TL tyres.

Tubeless Easy MTB

Tubeless Easy mountain bike tyres feature monofilament Snakeskin fabric on the sidewalls which makes tubeless conversion very easy and safe. Snakeskin also offers the best side wall cut protection. This technology is found on all MTB EVO line tyres.

Apex Reinforced

Apex reinforced sidewalls have two layers of extremely robust motorcycle carcass sandwiched in the side walls to offer very stable support at low tyre pressures. Apex Reinforced tyres also have snakeskin protection on the sidewalls for added protection against cuts.

Downhill

The most durable tyres. Downhill tyres have 6 layers of carcass under the tread. The side walls have four layers with additional SnakeSkin and two Apex protection layers giving seven layers in all.

Bikepark

Built for smashing out run after run on uplift days, Bikepark tyres are unbelievably robust and incredibly durable. With Bikepark you get a lot of tyre for a fraction of the cost.

Super Gravity

Bridging the gap between downhill and trail MTB tyres, Super Gravity tyres are more stable with almost DH levels of protection. Snakeskin all around the tyre offers excellent protection against cuts while the thicker side walls offer better support. These tyres are significantly lighter than DH tyres.

Evo Line

Evolution line tyres feature all the best materials and technologies available for the very best performance. For the very best possible choose EVO tyres.

Liteskin

These are the lightest MTB tyre option. Liteskin tyres forego SnakeSkin protection but still have extra-strong beads. Tubeless conversion is possible but will require tubeless sealant to seal the side walls.

Performance Line

These tyres offer the ideal balance between performance and value for money. Performance line tyres are excellent quality and ae designed for intensive use.