This tire has awesome grip, both straight line and in curves. It works as well in wet conditions as it does in dry. The blocks are further apart than on the Racing Ralph, yet it runs just as well.
Submitted by
AlP
a Cross Country Rider
from West Yorkshire, UK Date Reviewed: November 24, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Le Tour Singletrack, Chamonix
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Online
Strengths:
Super light + fast rolling, decent grip, durable on the front
Weaknesses:
They don't last long on the back!
Similar Products Used:
Velociraptor, Maxxis Aspen + Rendez, Jones AXC, Schwalbe Smart Sam
Bike Setup:
Trek Fuel, heavily customised + Stans rims
Bottom Line:
As Schwalbe say, this a grippy fast rolling tyre for competition use and at that they excel. However, I've now been running a Ron (tubeless w/ sealant) on the front for 4 months for all my riding: 2 months out in the Alps on dry summer trails and a wet autumn here in the UK - about 1200km in all - and still no signs of wear, ie a great front XC tyre (so long as you don't live anywhere with sharp rocks locally, or they'll shred..) On the back though it's the opposite, they wear really quickly - so race only on the rear (I have a Smart Sam on the back now for general riding). To give an idea of what they're good for - I do a lot of fast, long XC rides, big climbs in the Alps, blast trails at Gisburn regularly when I'm home, a few adventure races and MTB orienteering - been excellent for all of this, and great cornering grip. I'm 74kg in kit + run 2.0 Bar rear, 1.8 Bar front - tubeless w/ sealant, which seem to work well.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
pktrain
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, CO Date Reviewed: October 4, 2009
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Super light, fast, grippy in a straight line
Weaknesses:
Super fragile, washy in loose stuff
Similar Products Used:
Specialized, Panaracer Dart/Smoke, Fire XC Pro, etc.
Bike Setup:
2009 Trek Top Fuel set-up tubeless with Caffe Latex on Bonty RXL wheels
Bottom Line:
These are SICK race tires for mostly non-rocky XC trails. They roll FAST on pavement and dirt and hook up well on climbs and descents. You'll laugh silly when you climb with these things. They're pretty washy and break loose suddenly in loose stuff (especially corners) but the slide is consistent and predictable. They also set up nicely with a Caffe Latex tubeless set-up (I'm 150 lb. and found 22/24 psi to be sweet).
Keep in mind these are RACE-ONLY tires. The Schwalbe guys at Interbike even told me straight-up these are "5- or 6-ride tires". They told me people have been calling in complaining about the lack of durability of these tires. The 2010 Schwalbe catalog even has a "warning" that these are "competition-use only" as well. I write this review after having 2 sidewall cuts and 1 puncture in 6 rides. Ron doesn't like rocks! You definitely gotta be careful what you run over with these tires.
Basically the bottom line is if you can keep air in these things, you will go FAST, REALLY FAST actually. Half the time I've been able to shave a full 10-15 min. off of a favorite usually 3-hr. loop with these tires. The other half I've given back that time covered in latex throwing tubes in to get home.
4 flaming chills because they are uber-expensive (list on Schwalbe's website is USD$83/tire), 5 overall because they are absolutely outstanding for their intended purpose to go fast for a ride or a few.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
yeti4ever
a Weekend Warrior
from hou,tx Date Reviewed: August 30, 2009
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$37.00
Purchased At:
bikesomewhere.com
Strengths:
excellent grip
Weaknesses:
still thinking... can't come up with any. ah, well maybe only a few stores sell them and expensive.
Similar Products Used:
onza porcs, and lots of others; am a tire freak
Bike Setup:
yeti arc, xtr gruppo, schwalbe tires: front: rocket ron, rear: fat alberts (2.25s for both); fox shox;
Bottom Line:
i'm basically a tire fanatic and really look into the compound formulation and the design of the knobs; for trails in houston, onza porcs run the best (I still have one porc tire!and still use it until the rocket ron came into my life,) but after checking out the net for tires, I saw the tire pattern of rocket rons. They look like they hook up. So I took the chance and bought one for my front. Lo and behold, these tires kick _ss! I don't use my porcs anymore, cuz these tires are way freaking light and just grips like super glue on hard pack and roots. I love these tires! I suggest, if you ride dirt trails with lots of roots this tire is it. I haven't tried it on rocks yet, but will add to this review once I hit Austin.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
teebor76xc
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada eh?! Date Reviewed: July 30, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Tap & Die ~ Kingdom Trails
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
www.sweetpetes.com
Strengths:
Light, Traction, Cost
Weaknesses:
none to date
Similar Products Used:
Racing Ralphs, Conti Explorers, Hutch Pythons, Pana Fire XC
Bike Setup:
just the way i like it thanks!
Bottom Line:
Bought these tires in the 2.25 width for a trip from canuckistan through Quebec and into Vermont for the week. Slapped the tires on prior to departure and never looked back! These things are the sh!t! They hooked up day in day out. I even rode them soft one day and no pinch flats, which ain't bad for a 230 pound rider with the grace of an elephant. I should also mention they are some 20grams lighter than the racing ralphs.
Rocket Ron's, I love you.
get them, seat them, love them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
justinallen
a Cross Country Rider
from salt lake city, ut, usa Date Reviewed: June 16, 2009
Favorite Trail:
great western from scotts pass
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$67.00
Purchased At:
comp. cycle
Strengths:
light weight, The tire pattern is great at self cleaning.
Weaknesses:
light weight
Similar Products Used:
maxxis
Bike Setup:
Titus racer x at 23.9 lbs.
Bottom Line:
I hammered these at the local little cottonwood quary trail which is more like down hill than xc. I am very impressed. are there better tires out there? YES BUT NONE ARE EVEN CLOSE TO BEING THIS LIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!! WELL WORTH THE MONEY .... THEY HELP UP VERY WELL. I will buy Schwalbe's again and I do recommend them to all my friends. Keep in mind that they are very light so they will not hold up as well as some but you get to ride them at a much lower weight.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bellullabob
a Racer
from rhody Date Reviewed: May 26, 2009
Favorite Trail:
anything that requires my attention
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Light, full knobby, great grip (esp in front), rolls fast for a knobby
Weaknesses:
thin side walls (though that is to be expected for a 420 grms 2.1 tire!). Schwable aint cheap, but worth it...
Similar Products Used:
Pythons, fast tracks, fire xc, nevegals, etc...
Bike Setup:
S-works epic
Bottom Line:
Love thesw tires, and they are my new goto race tires for anything but dry compact conditions. Light, fast, and grippy!!! Esp in the loose & wet stuff. I had the rear w/ a tube and higher psi and it was slipping a bit, but w/ stans and at 30psi, it is great. Front w/ stans is just fantastic. I can't speak of wear yet as I have not had them long enough.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Robin
a Cross Country Rider
from Johannesburg Date Reviewed: March 6, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Mankele
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
Linden Cycle
Strengths:
Grippy in loose conditions. Light weight, especially with tubeless conversion. Easy to mount tire and seat. Seals well with Bontrager Rim Strips and Mavix X221 rims.
Weaknesses:
Side wall strength questionable. Nervous in corners I found. Tire lets go with little warning!
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Roll-X Pro.
Bike Setup:
Epic'04.
Bottom Line:
Great tire. Light weight, low cost. Will have to see how they hold up on rocky trails.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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