Schwalbe’s all-new Radial lineup isn’t just a minor revision; it is a new approach to tire construction, resulting in a distinctly unique ride quality. The development of Radial technology began when the Commencal/Muc-Off downhill team approached Schwalbe to create a tire that offered more grip while also providing a higher level of rim protection to eliminate the need for any form of tire insert. To achieve these goals, Schwalbe deviated from the standard carcass design and developed a tire that can withstand the demands of Amuary Pierron while setting an entirely new standard for traction and damping.

Aside from all-new carcass construction, Schwalbe has introduced updated branding with their new lineup of tires.

Schwalbe Albert Details

Compounds: Addix Soft, Addix Ultra Soft 

Casings: Trail, Gravity

Recommended Use: Trail/Enduro/Downhill 

Configuration Tested: 29 x 2.5”, Trail casing, Addix Ultra Soft compound

What is Radial Tire Construction?

The primary difference between radial and traditional bias-ply construction is the angle at which its carcass threads are oriented. Unlike conventional tires, which use a carcass with diagonally arranged threads at a  45-degree angle from bead to bead, radial tires consist of a 90-degree thread angle. Typically, true automotive radial tires require steel or synthetic “belts” for additional support, but Schwalbe’s radial technology uses a thread angle as close to 90 degrees as possible without requiring any form of additional support. By altering the direction of the carcass threads, Schwalbe has created a tire that conforms to terrain more easily and has a larger contact area. The number of plies and ply thicknesses has remained the same, resulting in a tire that maintains the same level of puncture resistance as traditional bias-ply tires while conforming to terrain more than ever before.

The steeper thread angle of radial construction allows the tires to deform to impacts and terrain more easily.

Increased Contact Area

Schwalbe Radial technology maximizes a tire’s contact patch, increasing its traction and grip. Radial tires provide 30% more contact area than a traditional tire at the same pressure. Even when increasing a radial tire’s pressure by an additional 50%, the contact area is 15% larger than that of a traditional tire at as softer preassure. A larger contact patch means more knobs in the dirt, maximizing a tread pattern’s traction. 

Radial construction allows for a larger contact patch and more traction than traditional tires, even at higher air pressures.

Casings / Compounds

Schwalbe radial tires are available in Trail and Gravity casings with two different rubber compounds. Schwalbe’s Addix Soft compound is the firmer option, balancing tire degradation with grip, while the Addix Ultra Soft compound favors all-out performance at the cost of quicker wear. 

Tread Patterns

Schwalbe currently offers their radial tires in their classic Magic Mary tread and three entirely new tread patterns. The all-new Albert is a versatile tread pattern for everything from trail riding to downhill racing in dry and mixed conditions. The new Shredda Front and Shredda Rear are radically aggressive treads optimized for e-bikes and their associated torque and weight.

Albert

The Albert was developed in conjunction with radial casing to provide a tread pattern that is optimized for its increased contact area. The tread pattern consists of an alternating two-block / three-block design with defined side knobs that feature generous siping and a slight “L” shape. The highly repetitive tread pattern of the Albert offers performance across a range of terrain. It is better suited for dry conditions than the Magic Mary, while having a lower knob height for improved rolling speed.

The Albert features a two-block/three-block tread pattern with defined side knobs and generous siping, offering optimized performance with radial construction.

Magic Mary

The Magic Mary has been the longtime favorite among Schwalbe athletes, collecting countless downhill and enduro World Cup podiums. The Magic Mary features an alternating mid-spiked pattern for the ideal all-around characteristics for almost all tracks and conditions. The taller blocked knobs of the Magic Mary excel in loose or wet soil.

Schwalbe’s Magic Mary tread pattern is also now available in radial construction.

Shredda (Front/Rear)

The Shredda Front and Rear are some of the most aggressively spiked tread patterns ever. Both tires are radial-specific and utilize an open tread design and massive knobs for traction on soft surfaces. The Shredda Front tread pattern consists of alternating rows of spikes with added support around the base, while the Shredda Rear alternates between two supported double knobs and a row of three supported knobs. The spiked knobs of the Shredda tires are taller than those of the mud-specific Dirty Dan and are purpose-made for the added torque of an E-Bike.

Test Setup

I tested a set of 29 x 2.5 Addix Ultra Soft Albert Trail tires aboard my Stumpjumper Evo. I got a handful of rides on these tires in semi-dry fall conditions before near-constant rain and mud set in for the season. 

What PSI for Schwalbe Radial Tires? 

Schwalbe suggests starting at the same air pressure as a regular tire in a compatible casing before experimenting with higher pressures. Due to the highly flexible nature of radial construction, even with higher air pressures, riders can set up their tires across a wider effective range of PSI depending on the demands of the terrain. For riding areas littered with sharp edge rocks, radial tires can be run at higher pressures, providing more rim and picture protection without disproportionately comprising grip. 

Due to the added forgiveness of radial construction, riders run more air pressure than usual to provide additional rim protection without adversely affecting the cornering grip.

I followed Schwalbe’s recommendation and began testing with my typical 22psi front, 26psi rear. At “standard pressures” the highly conforming nature of the radial carcass was shockingly noticeable. I ultimately settled at 24 psi front, 28 psi, a setup I found provided a balance of support at higher speeds while still taking advantage of radials’ added compliance. 

Ride Impressions

The softer feel of the radial casing tires is immediately noticeable on the trail. The radial carcass has an extreme amount of initial “give” to terrain, especially over smaller rocks and roots on the center tread. There is a distinct feeling of the tires wrapping around or “crawling” over jagged rocks and roots instead of just rolling over the top of them. The Albert’s ability to maintain traction while conforming to rough terrain is highlighted on trails like Galbraith’s climbing trail Up To Something. A mellow-grade climbing trail littered with garden hose-sized roots, Up To Something requires thoughtful pedal strokes in spots to avoid dabbing a foot. The increased contact of the radial carcass paired with the tread pattern provides a fantastic pedaling grip on the various webs of shiny webs of roots, even in the wettest conditions.  

Radial tires provide an initial feel and damping of smaller chatter and vibrations, unlike any other tire I’ve used. Over uneven chattery sections of rocks or tangled roots, radial has an unbelievably muted ride quality.  The tire’s ability to absorb initial impacts greatly improves overall rider feedback and trail feel. I’d compare the sensation of radial tires on a rough gravel road to the tangible feeling of freshly serviced suspension.

The increased contact area and grippy rubber compound make the Albert Trail Ultra Soft a viable option across a range of conditions. This tire performs exceptionally well on hard-packed trails and rock slabs.

The combination of the radial carcass and the new Albert tread pattern provides a smooth, predictable feel. The widely spaced center knobs offer a seamless transition to the side knobs, providing a consistent and stable cornering feel. On flatter turns, there is a noticeable increase in traction with the tire conforming to create a large contact patch through turns. While the sensation of the softer radial carcass giving way to terrain is distinctly noticeable, I wouldn’t categorize the characteristic as “tire squirm.” It’s a ride that feels ultra-forgiving, allowing its tread pattern to conform more easily to terrain while the sidewall maintains its shape and support.

The Albert’s highly repetitive tread works in tandem with the larger contact patch to provide immense grip, especially on hard-packed surfaces. The sheer amount of rubber in contact with the ground makes the Albert extremely grippy under braking and when creeping down prolonged sections of exposed rock. The tread pattern of the Albert is versatile enough to handle a range of conditions, and I was comfortable riding it in everything from perfect fall dirt to peanut butter mud. The Alberts tightly grouped knobs shed mud better than I expected, and never felt overwhelmed by the changing conditions, although the tire is most at home when the trails are moderately dry. 

Front Performance

As a front tire, the Albert has a very predictable and secure feel, especially in dry conditions. The repetitive center tread works in conjunction with the forgiving radial carcass to create a massive contact patch. The level of traction is consistent as the tire leans through turns, and its side knobs provide a defined cornering feel that is very reluctant to break free or lose traction. Once riders get acclimated to the sensation of the radial carcass, the Albert is a tire that is easy to pilot, providing a reassuring amount of grip through turns and off-camber sections.

Rear Performance 

As a rear tire, the Alberts tread pattern continues to work together with the radial carcass to provide ample grip. The tire’s ability to wrap around terrain is noticeable when searching for traction climbing technical single track. The tread has a relatively low knob height to offset the increased rolling resistance of the radial carcass, but it still provides amazing braking traction in a straight line and on steeper terrain. While the forgiving nature of the radial construction offers feedback damping, increasing tire pressure by 2-3psi provided a balance of compliance and support.

The aggressive tread pattern of the Albert is effective in the wet, but the mid-spiked knobs of the Magic Mary are still king in saturated, loose loam.

Albert Compared to Magic Mary

Both the Albert and the Magic Mary are aggressive tread patterns developed with an emphasis on descending performance for the world’s fastest enduro and downhill racers. While both tires are versatile enough for a range of weather conditions, their tread profiles and ride characteristics differentiate them. The Albert places more of an emphasis on a balance between rolling resistance and grip, and the low-height knobs provide fantastic traction in dry or damp soil. While the Albert isn’t obsolete in wet soil, it can become a bit overwhelmed in truly muddy conditions. Comparatively, the Magic Mary features a well-spaced mid-spike tread pattern that penetrates loose or wet soil easily. Although this added traction comes at the cost of increased rolling resistance and the tendency for the knobs to squirm uncomfortably at higher speeds on hard-packed terrain. Generally, the Albert is better suited for drier climates and rocky surfaces, while the mid-spiked knobs of the Magic Mary excel in soft, loose soil.

Verdict

The Schwalbe 29 x 2.5 Addix Ultra Soft Albert Trail tires offer a unique and compliant ride, particularly noticeable in their ability to conform to rough terrain and provide excellent traction. On climbs, the tires excel at wrapping around jagged rocks and roots, maintaining grip even in wet conditions. Descending, the radial construction dampens chatter and enhances trail feel for a smoother ride. The Albert's tread pattern, with its wide-spaced knobs and large contact patch, provides impressive grip on rocky and hard-packed surfaces, making it versatile for a range of conditions, though it excels on moderately dry trails. While its performance in the wet is competent, a more aggressive tread may be better for overly-saturated, loose conditions.