Schwalbe basically inventedThe balloon bike in 2001, so youd expectTheir 29er offeringTo perform. It doesnt disappoint with a kevlar belt for puncture prevention. 700c / 29er size Note: wont fit many frames/forks (exceptThose specifically designed for aTire ofThis size)
Strengths: traction, rolling resistance, cushion, price
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
Had these on Alex DT20 rims on my Marin Alpine Trail 29er. I am no racer/expert but these tires not only worked REALLY well on pavement, but also on fire/dirt roads around here in Grand Lake, CO and also Winter Park and Fraiser. I ran them at about 60-65 lbs and found that was good with my hardtail bike. I do agree, it is not the best on loose dirt, but that is not what it is made for. I did do the Fraiser River trail (mix of dirt double track, pavement and hardpack) up to Winter Park resort and beyond (on rollins pass road) without to many issues.
The wet traction on pavement was pretty awesome too, never really went mudding in them so cant tell.
Overall, a GREAT big tire, worth the cash and will likely put them back on when the snow starts falling (and getting me back on the pavement).
I am 6.5 tall and 280lbs.
Strengths: Sturdy, smooth, stable, quiet ride on streets and hard pack. Reflective stripe great at night.
Weaknesses: Heavy. Not good on sand or gravel. Slow compared to road bike.
Bottom Line:
Have had the 60 mm. 29ers for 3000+ miles). Back getting slick in middle and has had two flats in last six months.
Am a small guy, 130 lbs on a 17.5 Fisher Cobia, so notice tail thud when inflated at 50psi. Backed off to 45 is better, below 40 too sluggish.
Be careful in corners on loose surfaces!
Powers through potholes, up and off curbs, over rail tracks, etc.. Great momentum when it gets rolling. None of that obnoxious buzzing sound and vibration that nubbies give on smooth surfaces.
FUN! Unique experience, much more relaxing than twitchy road bike.
Safe and stable feeling in heavy traffic.
Strengths: These are big, burly, tough slicks. Reflective sidewall is nice.
Weaknesses: These are big, burly tough slicks. Tire roll. Price.
Bottom Line:
I am not a huge fan of these tires. I had the 28x2.35 size and they were monsterous. Tire pressure was a trick... run it high enough to kill off tire roll, but low enough that you still get the cushy ride. If you are looking for bomb-proof slicks for a 29er, these are it. They even are passible on hard pack. The major problem is that they weigh a ton and are not any better than running a low-knob tire on pavement. You are better off with a WTB Vulpine or Stans Raven. Priced a little high as well.
Weaknesses: weight ( kind of ) large contact patch
Bottom Line:
The Schwable Big Apple tires have been great. For my 9er, Im no expert on tires, but for road use, they seem to be a great choice. PSI max are 72, I uhad them at 65. My only complaint is that I would like them to be a little more narrow on the contact patch. For me a street tire should be narrow and fast, these are close. i know they are for a MTB , but its a street tire. Over all stirdy road feel, great response on turns, and they really feel well built. Weight for me is not an issue If you have a need to use a full street tire these are probly one of the best out there. I would buy again, cost is on par with most top notch tires.
Submitted by
inlikeflynt1956
a Cross Country Rider
from Southern CA
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2011
Strengths: Comfortable ride
Weaknesses: Heavy if you're a WW
Bottom Line:
I haven't seen a review for the 26" version of the 2.35 so here goes.
Initially, I was concerned about rolling resistance due to the width.
Had to decide if I wanted speed or comfort (1.95, 2.1 or 2.3).
I chose comfort since the Big Dummy I was building was designed for utilitarian duties.
Man, these things blew me away!
Got 'em inflated to 40psi, rolling resistance is not an issue, and I am able to make great time.
I can now travel with peace of mind and comfort riding to work on some less than stellar surfaces.
I am now highly considering a pair for my SS Gryphon as well.
Got to give credit to the Germans for engineering excellence.
Bike Setup: Specialized Hardrock 29er running 29X2.215
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
DV29SL2
a Weekend Warrior
from Clarksville, IN USA
Date Reviewed: May 25, 2011
Strengths: More cushion means less pushin!
Weaknesses: To some they would be heavy, but I need the extra conditioning ;)
Bottom Line:
I started cycling again in April '11 after about 11 years. After a month of mostly pavement use, I replaced the Kenda Small Block 8's with a pair of Continental Touring Plus (700 x 37). Those were smooth and fast, but just didn't fit my frame (XL, the pedals could scrape when I leaned into turns, and they didn't handle curbs and bad roads well for someone my size). I came across these and I'm glad I did! They're not as fast off the line as the Conti's, but my top speed has increased significantly; I'll be able to verify that when I get a better cyclocomputer. The Big Apples have no issues handling curbs, cracks, uneven pavement, or my weight. I highly recommend these for any clydesdale rider who's looking for a smooth tire for the road.
Submitted by
LandSpeed
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles, CA
Date Reviewed: February 16, 2011
Strengths: Too many to list. Read "The Bottom Line," below.
Weaknesses: Zero. I don't notice the weight. It's fast as all get out.
Bottom Line:
First of all, I do so much riding on the street it's not even funny. My nickname on this website is "The Road Warrior." And, I've got this to say about the Big Apple: This is, hands down, the best road slick you're going to find. I put the 28" x 2.35" onto my hardtail for training on the road (this is the size for a 29er wheel), and I really love it, so far. What an awesome design. Innovative, but simple. I wouldn't ride anything else on the street, now that I've tried this one. And I've ridden quite a few different MTB slicks and hybrid tires, such as the specialized borough, older specialized hybrids, etc. Nothing gives you the plush, fast, tacky ride that this one does. I'd compare it to a super moto tire... it's designed the same way, if you think about it. I shot some canyons tonight at around 30-35 mph in the dark, tonight, and didn't feel uncomfortable; I rounded some 90 degree turns at 25 mph+ going downhill and didn't feel uncomfortable; I jumped logs on sidewalks, plowed potholes, boinged off of high curbs (1+ ft), and the tire didn't even flinch. Compared to the CX style tire I was running before, I won't ever go back. I'm running this tubeless on a stans flow wheel with hope pro II hubs, by the way. Best upgrade I've ever made.
Similar Products Used: Specialized borough XC, borough pro, older model hybrid slicks, CX tires (specialized "freeroad"), dirt/street tires.
Bike Setup: Redline d460 1x9 29er, with a front shock (used to be rigid).
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Badidea
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Rosa, CA
Date Reviewed: February 16, 2011
Strengths: Low rolling resistance, puncture resistance, looks awesome
Weaknesses: weight
Bottom Line:
Put these on my new Giant Talon I to ride through town and on paved and hardpack trails. I loved riding this thing before, now I cannot go a day without hopping on for at least a ride around the block. I went with the 60mm front and back. These things are fat, hard and superfast. Should see the look on roadbikers face when your keeping time with them, or pedestrians when your coming head on. Sometimes I feel guilty having so much fun, but i get over it quickly...
Submitted by
schnee
a Weekend Warrior
from California
Date Reviewed: March 14, 2010
Strengths: Improbably smooth and fast rolling for the size and weight, grippy, reflective sidewalls
Weaknesses: Heavy, slight oversteer
Bottom Line:
I put the biggest Big Apples on the widest rim I could find as an experiment, to see if ridiculous overkill was fun, and YES it is.
I've only used slick tires with road or cross bikes, never a mountain bike, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Turns out they are quiet, smooth, and roll seemingly forever. Way closer to a road bike than I'd even hoped.
Slight oversteer was a tad surprising when I hit a speed bump while leaning over pretty hard, but since I'm used to knobby fat tires - i.e. not suitable for high speed tight turns on pavement at all - but it's far more confidence-inspiring than the alternative.
These are the wire beads, so they're heavy and dirt cheap. Supposedly they will last forever, we'll see.
Similar Products Used: WTB ExiWolf, Continental SportContact
Bike Setup: Haro Mary - 29er set up as a 1x9
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
rothog
a Cross Country Rider
from Perth Amboy,NJ USA
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2008
Strengths: Fast, Quiet easy to install.
Weaknesses: I don't if it's me but all you guys give it a good review.
Bottom Line:
I used this tire on the rear for about six month and it's been nothing but deflated a third of the time. I've been using it mostly for commuting and a flat is guarantee one out of three rides (25 miles). it's frustrating but it's a fast tire. It could also be bad luck. I'm looking into the halo twin rail next.
Submitted by
John Holloway
a Weekend Warrior
from Amsterdam, Netherlands
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2008
Strengths: Fast-rolling, quiet, bump absorption, braking grip, acceleration and CORNERING!
Weaknesses: Weight. And one of the set of two (price is per tire) not as round as it could be. Difficult to align the tire so that it's accurately centered without lateral runout.
Bottom Line:
I use the Cadex for fast daily travel to work and back (15 km a day) and pretty much all other transport around Amsterdam. About (at least) 140 km per week, summer and winter. Normally as fast as I can go. These tires enable me to ride a number of gears higher and the ride is smooooth. What stands out above all the expected strengths, for me, is the way the bike has developed turn-in! You think of the direction you want to go and it's already turning. Instead of under-steering on asphalt, cement pavers or hardpacked fine gravel (Amsterdam bike path and street surfaces, ranging from new to badly rutted and uneven), the bike now wants to turn in and follow my line, verging on a hint of oversteer, all the way through the corner, whether it's slow or fast, wide or tight. As a result, it's almost as if you have to exert a very slight steering pressure in the opposite direction. (This 'oversteer' decreases with increased pressure but is always there.) It gives extremely accurate feel while cornering, incredible steering accuracy - and huge confidence. The grip is great but you feel that if it had to let go (and it seems to do this very progressively, accompanied by appropriate sliding/scraping sound effects) - then you are already set up for small compensating steering movements, against the slide! OK, this is all at bike level, so really small sideways slipping movements, but this tendency, plus the huge contact area and high stability, means that you unthinkingly provide steering inputs to control the small amounts of front wheel wash-out and rear lateral slide that occur, for example, while cornering on sandy asphalt. It's the tire that thinks and reacts for you. I just wish the much lighter, much faster and probably rounder Schwalbe Super Moto had the same degree of puncture protection! I have never experienced such a radical difference in speed, comfort, handling and fun from a tire swap - not on a car, motorbike or bike!
Similar Products Used: None. Previous tires on this bike were knobblies. Previous bikes were road.
Bike Setup: Reconditioned 1992 Giant Cadex ALM-1, standard.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Wil T Smith
a Cross Country Rider
from Valparaiso, IN
Date Reviewed: March 15, 2008
Strengths: WIDE!!! Wider is better.
Look the wider the tire, the greater the effective diameter of the mounted wheel. This makes things smoother and with 2.35 it is pinch flat proof.
Plus, with the greater volume you can can get very smooth rolling tires and much lower pressures.
Weaknesses: Well for some people it will be too big to fit in their frame. I have to squeeze this through my Karate Monkey brake bosses. It rubs my front derailleur in it's lowest position. I can tune it out with gripshifts. But those using triggers might have to make some compromises.
Bottom Line:
These tires turn your 29er into a steamrolling road bike.
$30 is a little more than I would pay for a cheap 26er slick, but I have a feeling these tires will last a LONG time.
Bike Setup: Karate Monkey X9/XT setup. The Apples have their own wheelset (XT/Delgados deemed unworthy for offroad use). It's a quick switch to "road mode".
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jim
a Cross Country Rider
from Maelbourne Beach, FL
Date Reviewed: January 27, 2008
Strengths: Durability, posh ride
Weaknesses: A bit heavy
Bottom Line:
This is my third post, which is breaking the rules. Hopefully this will be overlooked. I thought it would be worthwhile to provide impressions over the life of the product. The tires have 3000 road miles on them now and I continue to be impressed. No flats in the last 1000 miles. Tires have been inflated to 45 PSI. The tread is not deep to begin with and it's worn slick on a strip about 3/4" wide on the center of the rear tire. The rear tire is otherwise holding up well and appears to still have significant service life remaining. The front tire still has a lot of tread remaining. I may rotate the tires, but I've also heard it's better to let the rear wear out, then rotate the front tire to the back and put a new one up front.
Similar Products Used: None --- just some 38mm road tires
Bike Setup: Gary Fisher X-Caliber w/Thudbuster ST seat post
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
S M
a Weekend Warrior
from New York, NY
Date Reviewed: December 12, 2007
Strengths: Durable, fast, cush
Weaknesses: Heavy
Bottom Line:
I have the 26 x 2.0 sized Big Apples but since there isn't a review section for them I'm putting my 2 cents in here. These are the cadillac of tires... I use mine at 35 psi and they glide over potholes, cobblestone, pavement, curbs. Had them for 9 months used only for daily commuting on pavement... handle rain very well. My bike is pretty stocky, these add weight too, but momentum speed is good enough and traction good enough it's never an issue. If you're looking for a commuting tire that's a puncture resistant tank that absorbs shocks like a champ and moves like a road tire... these are highly recommended.
