I maintain that Radial(ish) tires are the biggest technological leap forward in mountain biking since 2019.
Even on hardpack. Just run the right pressures.
The trail casings are great because you can keep the total weight down and they are pinch flat resistant with higher pressures... protects the rim too.
IMO the DH casings are less impressive, which is somewhat confirmed by their rolling change this year, where they increased the weight by ~100g per tire.
Certainly entitled to your opinion... I can think of a couple other tech evolutions I'd keep over radials since 2019.
The trail casings are great because you can keep the total weight down and they are pinch flat resistant with higher pressures... protects the rim too. IMO...
The trail casings are great because you can keep the total weight down and they are pinch flat resistant with higher pressures... protects the rim too.
IMO the DH casings are less impressive, which is somewhat confirmed by their rolling change this year, where they increased the weight by ~100g per tire.
Certainly entitled to your opinion... I can think of a couple other tech evolutions I'd keep over radials since 2019.
What specifically?
I picked 2019 because that was the year (ish) that we got 64 degree HTA on enduro and trail bikes. If I got a perfectly preserved sb150 from back then, the only components I'd need to upgrade would be the tires.
Sure, other things have improved, but not nearly as much.
What specifically? I picked 2019 because that was the year (ish) that we got 64 degree HTA on enduro and trail bikes. If I got a perfectly...
What specifically?
I picked 2019 because that was the year (ish) that we got 64 degree HTA on enduro and trail bikes. If I got a perfectly preserved sb150 from back then, the only components I'd need to upgrade would be the tires.
Sure, other things have improved, but not nearly as much.
obviously this is heavily opinionated… but on an enduro bike if the option was radial tires or 38 stanchioned forks, I’m absolutely taking a 38 or Zeb over radial casings.
Second is mullet wheels, big fan on enduro bikes. Also would take that and Maxxis or Conti over being forced to ride full 29.
The trail casings are great because you can keep the total weight down and they are pinch flat resistant with higher pressures... protects the rim too. IMO...
The trail casings are great because you can keep the total weight down and they are pinch flat resistant with higher pressures... protects the rim too.
IMO the DH casings are less impressive, which is somewhat confirmed by their rolling change this year, where they increased the weight by ~100g per tire.
Certainly entitled to your opinion... I can think of a couple other tech evolutions I'd keep over radials since 2019.
honestly, all that separates the top tires is going to come down to opinions. tires do perform differently on varied terrain, but of the tires focused on a style of riding they're more similar than not, and it's preference / riding style that makes one particular tire the best for a given rider.
every now than then, you'll see a top rider go from one team to another and be unhappy about the tires they now ride.. but generally, pros just adapt and get it done with whatever is under them. the most important element in winning a race is still the rider, by far.
the pros on schwalbe are riding radials in the front, for sure. you keep referring to a lack of support, but yes schwalbe reinforced the gen 2 casings (both gravity and trail), and pros are winning on them. rear is a mix.
it's not hype, there is more mechanical grip. this doesn't mean someone is going to value it over a tire with less traction but more support. weirdly, I can feel the grip but I haven't noticed increased rolling resistance, which is the #1 reason people report not liking radials on the rear. it could be there and I don't notice, this all adds up to someone's preference.
honestly, all that separates the top tires is going to come down to opinions. tires do perform differently on varied terrain, but of the tires focused...
honestly, all that separates the top tires is going to come down to opinions. tires do perform differently on varied terrain, but of the tires focused on a style of riding they're more similar than not, and it's preference / riding style that makes one particular tire the best for a given rider.
every now than then, you'll see a top rider go from one team to another and be unhappy about the tires they now ride.. but generally, pros just adapt and get it done with whatever is under them. the most important element in winning a race is still the rider, by far.
the pros on schwalbe are riding radials in the front, for sure. you keep referring to a lack of support, but yes schwalbe reinforced the gen 2 casings (both gravity and trail), and pros are winning on them. rear is a mix.
it's not hype, there is more mechanical grip. this doesn't mean someone is going to value it over a tire with less traction but more support. weirdly, I can feel the grip but I haven't noticed increased rolling resistance, which is the #1 reason people report not liking radials on the rear. it could be there and I don't notice, this all adds up to someone's preference.
You're kind of contradicting yourself. Up top you say "generally, pros just adapt and get it done with whatever is under them. The most important element in winning a race is still the rider, by far," which means the tire isn't the deciding factor. Then you say "it's not hype, there is more mechanical grip."
I just think they're overhyped.
It's not even unanimous among Schwalbe's own riders. Jonty Williamson ran a standard non-radial Magic Mary up front at Lenzerheide. If radial were a clear advantage, a Schwalbe-sponsored factory rider wouldn't be leaving it on the table.
Maxxis went a completely different direction, too: a stiffer tire with a reinforced sidewall, which is pretty much the opposite of the radial approach.
honestly, all that separates the top tires is going to come down to opinions. tires do perform differently on varied terrain, but of the tires focused...
honestly, all that separates the top tires is going to come down to opinions. tires do perform differently on varied terrain, but of the tires focused on a style of riding they're more similar than not, and it's preference / riding style that makes one particular tire the best for a given rider.
every now than then, you'll see a top rider go from one team to another and be unhappy about the tires they now ride.. but generally, pros just adapt and get it done with whatever is under them. the most important element in winning a race is still the rider, by far.
the pros on schwalbe are riding radials in the front, for sure. you keep referring to a lack of support, but yes schwalbe reinforced the gen 2 casings (both gravity and trail), and pros are winning on them. rear is a mix.
it's not hype, there is more mechanical grip. this doesn't mean someone is going to value it over a tire with less traction but more support. weirdly, I can feel the grip but I haven't noticed increased rolling resistance, which is the #1 reason people report not liking radials on the rear. it could be there and I don't notice, this all adds up to someone's preference.
You're kind of contradicting yourself. Up top you say "generally, pros just adapt and get it done with whatever is under them. The most important element...
You're kind of contradicting yourself. Up top you say "generally, pros just adapt and get it done with whatever is under them. The most important element in winning a race is still the rider, by far," which means the tire isn't the deciding factor. Then you say "it's not hype, there is more mechanical grip."
I just think they're overhyped.
It's not even unanimous among Schwalbe's own riders. Jonty Williamson ran a standard non-radial Magic Mary up front at Lenzerheide. If radial were a clear advantage, a Schwalbe-sponsored factory rider wouldn't be leaving it on the table.
Maxxis went a completely different direction, too: a stiffer tire with a reinforced sidewall, which is pretty much the opposite of the radial approach.
you conveniently skipped the entire part where I said it's ultimately preference, apparently just so you could argue with me.
you conveniently skipped the entire part where I said it's ultimately preference, apparently just so you could argue with me. otherwise, we would all be on that...
you conveniently skipped the entire part where I said it's ultimately preference, apparently just so you could argue with me.
otherwise, we would all be on that one best tire.
Again, we got Schwalbe riders not picking radial.
Maxxis going with an entirely different tech.
You say radials are a clear advantage and then say tire choice doesn’t matter for pros.
I’m not trying to argue, it’s just not clear what your point is….
you conveniently skipped the entire part where I said it's ultimately preference, apparently just so you could argue with me. otherwise, we would all be on that...
you conveniently skipped the entire part where I said it's ultimately preference, apparently just so you could argue with me.
Again, we got Schwalbe riders not picking radial.Maxxis going with an entirely different tech.You say radials are a clear advantage and then say tire choice doesn’t...
Again, we got Schwalbe riders not picking radial.
Maxxis going with an entirely different tech.
You say radials are a clear advantage and then say tire choice doesn’t matter for pros.
I’m not trying to argue, it’s just not clear what your point is….
you invented that in your own head, in the same space where it's relevant for you to keep arguing with anyone who dares to like radials while you do not.
what I said was "it's not hype, there is more mechanical grip. this doesn't mean someone is going to value it over a tire with less traction but more support."
the obvious (or not?) intent of this is an assertion that grip alone doesn't make a tire the best. rolling speed doesn't even do that, either, despite every discipline winning by rolling the fastest between start and finish.
lots of things go into a tire that people feel performs well. you probably can name at least 3 things you like better about your favorite tire compared to some other tire you've ridden in the same category.
you invented that in your own head, in the same space where it's relevant for you to keep arguing with anyone who dares to like radials...
you invented that in your own head, in the same space where it's relevant for you to keep arguing with anyone who dares to like radials while you do not.
what I said was "it's not hype, there is more mechanical grip. this doesn't mean someone is going to value it over a tire with less traction but more support."
the obvious (or not?) intent of this is an assertion that grip alone doesn't make a tire the best. rolling speed doesn't even do that, either, despite every discipline winning by rolling the fastest between start and finish.
lots of things go into a tire that people feel performs well. you probably can name at least 3 things you like better about your favorite tire compared to some other tire you've ridden in the same category.
Two replies now and you still haven't touched a single point. Jonty running a non-radial Magic Mary? Maxxis going stiffer instead? Nothing. Just "you invented that in your own head."
And for the record, my first post here says the trail casings are great. I like radials. My issue is the DH casings: they're overhyped and they lack support. Schwalbe basically admitted it when they added ~100g per tire this year to stiffen them up. You don't bulk up a casing that was already working.
I just don't think radials are the biggest leap since 2019, and you agreeing it's "ultimately preference" kind of proves that.
Address the actual points or don't, but the armchair psychoanalysis isn't an argument.
The trail casings are great because you can keep the total weight down and they are pinch flat resistant with higher pressures... protects the rim too. IMO...
The trail casings are great because you can keep the total weight down and they are pinch flat resistant with higher pressures... protects the rim too.
IMO the DH casings are less impressive, which is somewhat confirmed by their rolling change this year, where they increased the weight by ~100g per tire.
Certainly entitled to your opinion... I can think of a couple other tech evolutions I'd keep over radials since 2019.
honestly, all that separates the top tires is going to come down to opinions. tires do perform differently on varied terrain, but of the tires focused...
honestly, all that separates the top tires is going to come down to opinions. tires do perform differently on varied terrain, but of the tires focused on a style of riding they're more similar than not, and it's preference / riding style that makes one particular tire the best for a given rider.
every now than then, you'll see a top rider go from one team to another and be unhappy about the tires they now ride.. but generally, pros just adapt and get it done with whatever is under them. the most important element in winning a race is still the rider, by far.
the pros on schwalbe are riding radials in the front, for sure. you keep referring to a lack of support, but yes schwalbe reinforced the gen 2 casings (both gravity and trail), and pros are winning on them. rear is a mix.
it's not hype, there is more mechanical grip. this doesn't mean someone is going to value it over a tire with less traction but more support. weirdly, I can feel the grip but I haven't noticed increased rolling resistance, which is the #1 reason people report not liking radials on the rear. it could be there and I don't notice, this all adds up to someone's preference.
I'll disagree, having both now I don't see a use case where I'd pick the Albert over the Romy ever. The Romy is just a better...
I'll disagree, having both now I don't see a use case where I'd pick the Albert over the Romy ever. The Romy is just a better tire everywhere. I don't think the Albert needs to exist anymore.
This! Albert rolls slower than Romy, corners worse, and doesn't have braking or cornering grip to justify rolling resistance over a Magic Mary.
In my experience, the side knobs of the MM are relatively small and squirmy when leaned over on hardpack, compared to an Argotal or High Roller...
In my experience, the side knobs of the MM are relatively small and squirmy when leaned over on hardpack, compared to an Argotal or High Roller. Those 2 tires do pretty well on mixed conditions summer trails that go back and forth from blown out loose to hardpack. Also, because those tires have a small open transition zone, there's feedback to the rider when you've got the tire onto the big side knobs. In those conditions, the TC is a closer comparison, but is not ideal due to the exaggerated transition zone (notice how the sponsored athletes almost never run it up front anymore).
Good rundown for Schwalbe, but they already know this from their pro teams who have been asking for the 2:2:2 to match the High Roller III and Argotal.
The trail casings are great because you can keep the total weight down and they are pinch flat resistant with higher pressures... protects the rim too.
IMO the DH casings are less impressive, which is somewhat confirmed by their rolling change this year, where they increased the weight by ~100g per tire.
Certainly entitled to your opinion... I can think of a couple other tech evolutions I'd keep over radials since 2019.
What specifically?
I picked 2019 because that was the year (ish) that we got 64 degree HTA on enduro and trail bikes. If I got a perfectly preserved sb150 from back then, the only components I'd need to upgrade would be the tires.
Sure, other things have improved, but not nearly as much.
obviously this is heavily opinionated… but on an enduro bike if the option was radial tires or 38 stanchioned forks, I’m absolutely taking a 38 or Zeb over radial casings.
Second is mullet wheels, big fan on enduro bikes. Also would take that and Maxxis or Conti over being forced to ride full 29.
honestly, all that separates the top tires is going to come down to opinions. tires do perform differently on varied terrain, but of the tires focused on a style of riding they're more similar than not, and it's preference / riding style that makes one particular tire the best for a given rider.
every now than then, you'll see a top rider go from one team to another and be unhappy about the tires they now ride.. but generally, pros just adapt and get it done with whatever is under them. the most important element in winning a race is still the rider, by far.
the pros on schwalbe are riding radials in the front, for sure. you keep referring to a lack of support, but yes schwalbe reinforced the gen 2 casings (both gravity and trail), and pros are winning on them. rear is a mix.
it's not hype, there is more mechanical grip. this doesn't mean someone is going to value it over a tire with less traction but more support. weirdly, I can feel the grip but I haven't noticed increased rolling resistance, which is the #1 reason people report not liking radials on the rear. it could be there and I don't notice, this all adds up to someone's preference.
You're kind of contradicting yourself. Up top you say "generally, pros just adapt and get it done with whatever is under them. The most important element in winning a race is still the rider, by far," which means the tire isn't the deciding factor. Then you say "it's not hype, there is more mechanical grip."
I just think they're overhyped.
It's not even unanimous among Schwalbe's own riders. Jonty Williamson ran a standard non-radial Magic Mary up front at Lenzerheide. If radial were a clear advantage, a Schwalbe-sponsored factory rider wouldn't be leaving it on the table.
Maxxis went a completely different direction, too: a stiffer tire with a reinforced sidewall, which is pretty much the opposite of the radial approach.
you conveniently skipped the entire part where I said it's ultimately preference, apparently just so you could argue with me.
otherwise, we would all be on that one best tire.
Again, we got Schwalbe riders not picking radial.
Maxxis going with an entirely different tech.
You say radials are a clear advantage and then say tire choice doesn’t matter for pros.
I’m not trying to argue, it’s just not clear what your point is….
you invented that in your own head, in the same space where it's relevant for you to keep arguing with anyone who dares to like radials while you do not.
what I said was "it's not hype, there is more mechanical grip. this doesn't mean someone is going to value it over a tire with less traction but more support."
the obvious (or not?) intent of this is an assertion that grip alone doesn't make a tire the best. rolling speed doesn't even do that, either, despite every discipline winning by rolling the fastest between start and finish.
lots of things go into a tire that people feel performs well. you probably can name at least 3 things you like better about your favorite tire compared to some other tire you've ridden in the same category.
Two replies now and you still haven't touched a single point. Jonty running a non-radial Magic Mary? Maxxis going stiffer instead? Nothing. Just "you invented that in your own head."
And for the record, my first post here says the trail casings are great. I like radials. My issue is the DH casings: they're overhyped and they lack support. Schwalbe basically admitted it when they added ~100g per tire this year to stiffen them up. You don't bulk up a casing that was already working.
I just don't think radials are the biggest leap since 2019, and you agreeing it's "ultimately preference" kind of proves that.
Address the actual points or don't, but the armchair psychoanalysis isn't an argument.
Trail casing didn’t change
This! Albert rolls slower than Romy, corners worse, and doesn't have braking or cornering grip to justify rolling resistance over a Magic Mary.
Good rundown for Schwalbe, but they already know this from their pro teams who have been asking for the 2:2:2 to match the High Roller III and Argotal.
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