Radial Carcass Schwalble Tyres

happened in the car world may decades ago.. (yuk ever driven on crossplys! horrble)

Have we done this?

https://www.schwalbe.com/en/radialtires-mtb

also

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZKpGRRCD5g

on the LW as well:

https://theloamwolf.com/2024/08/08/the-new-schwalbe-radial-casing-dissected/

So crossplys on the front & radials on the rear, or the other way round. I can never remember….. ;o)

All that popped into my head when I read “radial” was my driving instructor saying radial – rear.

F1 tyres were crossply long after road cars went to  radial. Apparently radial tyres were unpredictable at the limit.

as I’ve never pushed a mountain bike tyre to the limit, I welcome this news.

Nice innovation.

But no more alliterative names?

F1 tyres were crossply long after road cars went to  radial. Apparently radial tyres were unpredictable at the limit.

My guess is that F1 tyres used to have quite high aspect ratios so the stiffer sidewalls of cross-plys helped stop the tyres flexing too much. Also, they have to deal with a massive range of loads due to downforce increasing from zero when stationary to several tonnes at high speed. I remember when touring cars switched to radials in the 80s and there was a bit of a learning curve for the teams to get them to work properly – the more flexy sidewalls required different suspension settings.

What do MX bikes use? I just assumed that MTB tyres would be lightweight variations on those.

I’m sure one of the videos in it claimed that Motocross tyres were radial.

What isn’t clear to me is how a more flexible Sidewall is the best thing ever for everyone yet people spec double down or dh casing with stiffer sidewalls for harder riding.

None of the new schwalbe tyres are less than 1200g so it’s clear which end of the market they’re pitched at.

What isn’t clear to me is how a more flexible Sidewall is the best thing ever for everyone yet people spec double down or dh casing with stiffer sidewalls for harder riding.

Presumably the idea is that you get a larger, more flexible contact patch at the same tyre pressure – more rubber on the ground, so better grip – but without the sidewall itself deflecting and causing pinch flats, so different from simply having a thinner sidewall.

It’ll also, presumably, mean more rolling resistance on smooth surfaces, though maybe not on rougher ones.

It’ll also, presumably, mean more rolling resistance on smooth surfaces

I think part of the benefit of radials (on cars anyway)  is that the sidewalls are more flexible so you get less rolling resistance than with a stiffer cross-ply.

But no more alliterative names?

Asking the real question.

It used to be the “Fat Albert”, but, as someone who works in weight management programmes, I know that word is cancelled now.

Maybe they should have called it the Bum Guy (as it’s a copy of the Assegai)?

Albert Shredstein ?

Same logic as Tacky Chan.

What @BadlyWiredDog said basically…

I loved the cross ply racing slicks I used to use on my Caterham 7, brilliant tyres

From the FAQ re tears in the tire appearing of you bend them:

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.

I’m out.

Reminds me of the Michelin X adverts in the 60’s!

These new tyres are gravity or emtb use. Can’t wait to try the more XC oriented offerings.