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.
Is it possible to develop flexible tires with maximum utilization of the contact area that offer even more grip, safety 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 safety
More comfort
thanks to more cushioning
Larger contact surface
on the ground
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 safety
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.
.png)
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.
.png)
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 the safety
factor.
.png)
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.
.png)
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 safety 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.
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!
SEE RADIAL TIRES IN ACTION
View the Radial Lineup:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT RADIAL TIRES
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 safety 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 gradually tear in a controlled manner 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.