Description:The large volume and HEAVY DUTY features make BIG BETTY really tough. The tread is optimized for braking performance and steering. Even so these qualities do not make it too heavy for uphill. Betty can also have a soft side - with super-soft Gooey Gluey Compound.
Submitted by
alexandermarin
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, Colorado, USA Date Reviewed: October 20, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$46.00
Purchased At:
hibike.de
Strengths:
This is the Big Betty 2.4, Triple Compound, UST
High grip, large volume, size actually meets specification, lighter than they claim (~900g instead of 980g)
Weaknesses:
Too early to tell. Judging from triple compound Nobby Nics tire may not last all that long. Tire could be cheaper but this is mostly the low $ versus €.
Similar Products Used:
Continental Mountain King 2.4 UST, Schwalbe Nobby Nic 2.25 UST, Schwalbe Fat Albert (regular and FRO), Continental Vertical Pro, Intense CC 2.3, Panaracer...
Bike Setup:
6.3" + 6" travel
Bottom Line:
The traction is phenomenal even on snow. You can run these tires at low pressure.
I ran Schwalbe Nobby Nics 2.25 UST for quite some time. Great tires but just a bit too small for really rough riding. Wanted to replace the Nobby Nics with "bigger" Continental Mountain King 2.4 UST. Unfortunately, they turned out to be no bigger at all. Also the Conti compound, while lasting a bit longer than the Nobby Nics, did not track well. And, on top of that, I got ALL of my Conti USTs to pinch flat. In contrast, I never pinched a Nobby Nic UST.
Now I replaced my Conti 2.4 Mountain Kings UST with the Big Betty USTs. Size: no comparison. The Mountain Kings look like puny road tires next to the supposedly same sized Big Bettys. Seriously, the Mountain Kings 2.4 have the same volume as my 2.25 Nobby Nics and they were smaller than 2.25 as well. The BBs really are 2.4" wide and also quite high. If you measure with the side knobs the BB is 2.5"
In the typical Schwalbe way the tires mounted without any challenge or tools (do use the soap) on Mavic UST rims. Floor pump.. no problem. If you want to ride tubeless I recommend the UST tires, UST rims and Stans combination.
Bottom line so far after trying all these other tires: wow!
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Submitted by
cxfahrer
a Weekend Warrior
from Leipzig Date Reviewed: July 19, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
came with bike
Strengths:
good for intended use ;.)
Cheap (in Germany).
Similar Products Used:
Muddy Mary, Conti Diesel
Bike Setup:
light freeride / allmountain
Bottom Line:
I have the FR version (folding bed) with Gooeygluey in front and ORC in the back.
The ORC is AFAIK not produced anymore, which is good, because this compound is really dangerous when wet. You will slip out on a raindrop.
The Gooeygluey compound is good, when it is wet and not too cold. Funny thing, the ORC has better grip on freezing ground. The ORC doesnt wear off, but the Gooeygluey wears off just rolling around wtihout braking. Hmmm....
The profile of the tire first gave me a strange feeling, the tire will follow lines that you didnt see before.
Considering that, this tire is good on very rough downhills, that are wet or on soft ground.
On uphills the tire rolls very good, even compared to CC tire like the Fat Albert or Diesel.
I wouldnt recommend this tire on any kind of hardpack or dry ground.
Wet and muddy bikeparks are what this tire is designed for.
Maybe a Muddy Mary in front and Bigbetty in the back would be better, but there are so many better tires.
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Submitted by
bigfatadder
a Downhiller
from Wollongong, NSW, Australia Date Reviewed: June 11, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Hills
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Cool name
Weaknesses:
Doesn't do anything special except look pretty mean.
Certainly can't compare to the Maxxis FR tyres.
Similar Products Used:
Many
Bike Setup:
Ventana La Bruja
Bottom Line:
As with all Schwalbe tyres, these are much ado about nothing. They are great for timid riders, but if you rid as hard as you can they will let you down. They don't rail and don't hold straight lines, nor do they brake well. Sketchy on jumps and drops- they spit you sideways- danger, danger, danger.
These tyres are fine if you don't push them, however the gooey gluey compound is poor quality compared to the softer Maxxis tyres, with more rolling resistance! Hmmmmmm....
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Submitted by
Andrew Fatman
a Cross Country Rider
from Munich Date Reviewed: February 23, 2008
Favorite Trail:
yes
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Rabe Munich
Strengths:
About the hardcore 2,4 version with (big) tubes; really endless grip, rolls suprisingly well
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Lately: Schwalbe: Nobby Nic, Racing Ralph UST, Fat Alberts normal and front only. Michelin: XCR Mud UST - Else: some Ritchey, WTB Mutanoraptors; ICR Bears.
Bike Setup:
Hot Chili Zymotic Harttail, Marzocchi Dirt Jumper III, Shimano XT, Formula Oro Disk front
Bottom Line:
I 'm rather heavy, so both rolling resistance AND grip are quite an issue for me. One trick is, of course, to get fat tyres, and UST is a great upgrade, indeed. These BB have the best grip ever. Not even the Fat Albert Front Only (=soft rubber compound, used them both front and rear for some time) compare. There are some parts of my favorite trail which were always skechty going. With these BB on, I just fly though them. I don't even think about grip. It's just there. Amazing. Rolling resistance is higher than the best, of course. But these roll quite well on hardpack and taramac as well. No bad vibration, no undue noise. None of this brake parachute feel of some other big tyres. In summary, these BB are perfect freeride tyres, obviously. I use them on my hardtail for my usual, much more civilized outings. And with tremendous fun, to be sure. I would not use these babies in situations where the stress is on time or endurance (i.e. races or marathons). There a Racing Ralph UST would be the tyre of choice.
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Submitted by
Randy
a Weekend Warrior
from San Gabriels Date Reviewed: January 24, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Ken Burton
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$71.00
Purchased At:
Schwalbe North America
Strengths:
This review is for the Triple compound Evolution cased 2.4" Big Betty. Large lugs on the center of the tread in hard compound with added traction sipes molded into the knobs. Softer compound on the side knobbys for traction, like when needed to climb out of steep rutted trails. Absolutely stunning traction of loose over hard pack, decomposed granite or loose dolomite as found in Southern California clear up to Downieville. Good traction in stream crossings on polished rocks and while wet trying to climb out of creek beds. Stopping power while maintaining control and traction is phenomenal. It just does so many types of trails, so many riding conditions so good when run as a front tire. Pretty good in the rolling resistance for a tire that weighs 900 grams.
Weaknesses:
Price... $71 for a bicycle tire. Thumbs down.
Similar Products Used:
Nevegals, Michelin All Mountain, Maxxis
Bike Setup:
Bionicon Edison with integrated X2 Fusion and Double Agent 150mm forks, Formula K-18, sintered metal pads,Gravity Dropper w WTB LazerV Team, SRAM X7, SRAM 971 chain, 980 cassette, DT Swiss Cerit, Alex DP20 rims on Alex 2.0 1.8 2.0 spokes.
Bottom Line:
If you have money to burn, or have a bling thing for front tires, buy it. If you are on a budget, there's tires out there for 1/2 the price with 90 to 95% of the performance this one offers. New technology and R &D at a bleeding edge price.
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Submitted by
bikeman
a Downhiller
from eu Date Reviewed: December 2, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$60.00
Strengths:
LARGE VOLUME(LARGE THAN HIGHROLLER 2.5), GREAT GRIP, GREAT ROLLING, LOW WEIGHT, HEAWY DUTY FEATURES(THICK SIDEWALLS, SNAKESKIN)
Weaknesses:
NOT GOOD ON DEEP MODE BUT I DONT USE IT FOR THAT
Similar Products Used:
HIGHROLLER, MINION ...
Bottom Line:
this is the best tyre i have ridden, great for uphill, great for downhill,can take beating for agressive riding -(i have 100+ kg and no problem) the best ALLMOUNTAIN TYRE
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Submitted by
Plamen
a Weekend Warrior
from Sofia, Bulgaria Date Reviewed: September 1, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Vitosha
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$30.00
Strengths:
ultralight (890gr), perfect grip, run em at 1.8atm with no problems, other tires wears in scratches, dents and even holes in walls, but these dont !!
Weaknesses:
none at all
Similar Products Used:
Michelin Comp24S, Schwalbwe Space
Bike Setup:
1 year on 5" fully, 1 year HT - both on FR terrains/speed
Bottom Line:
1 year ORC as rear, 1 year GG as front then went as rear, now for ~6 months triple compound as front. GG wears fast as rear ! but it's normal for soft compound. Here is snow 4 months, wet 2 months in fall and 2 in spring, and 4 months total dryness, from -15'C to +40'C, those babes fly over all kind of obstructions, except of the good old stripped wet pin wood (of course), but there even michelin slips ^_^
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Submitted by
Chad G
a Weekend Warrior
from Loveland, CO Date Reviewed: May 3, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$44.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Fast rolling, excellent small bump compliance, strong sidewall
Similar Products Used:
Kendas, WTBs, Panaracers, Tiogas
Bike Setup:
6x6
Bottom Line:
One of the best tires going. They might be considered a tad heavy for general trail use, but the extra weight in the casing makes for a very compliant ride.
I found these tires to excel in everything, but primarily loose over hardpack and rocky terrain where they roll nicely over obstacles.
I highly recommend these tires!
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Submitted by
John Young
a Downhiller
from UK Date Reviewed: March 29, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Fort Bill / Dunkeld / Laggan
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
bike24
Strengths:
Fast for a FR tyre, grips on corners, if using correctly good for DH.
Great tyre, can be ridden all day or taken to the local DH track (Guey up front, triple on the back). Works better on 823's than wider rims, no noticable roll over with tyre. Fast through the corners grips well on rock, hardpack and roots, good for FR mud trails, yet to try on steep DH muddy trail where only mud tyres are any use. Have ridden and compared to Minion DHF 2.5ST front, High Roller 2.35ST Rear and the Big Betty seems faster down a hill. May even do some of the easier DH races on this tyre as it is fast in and out of the corners.
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Submitted by
Tomas
a
from Gothenburg, Sweden Date Reviewed: January 21, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Grip, price
Weaknesses:
Sidewalls might present a problem as they seem thin
Bike Setup:
All mountain bike
Bottom Line:
The Big Betty 2.4 (ORC) tires are probably the best all mountain tires today! Have used them in all kinds of weather conditions and they never give up the excellent grip. The ORC compound is the harder one which gives more miles/km compared with the soft version that is also available. The tires are not only wide but also relatively high. Make sure to check your tire clearance on your frame before buying!
Only one possible negative thing, the sidewalls seem to be rather thin and might cause problems if you ride on trails with lots of sharp rocks. I have not had any issues with these tires so far during 1+ year of usage.
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Submitted by
Jimmie
a
from Sedona, Az. USA Date Reviewed: August 14, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
fast rolling, lightweight (for a 2.4)
Weaknesses:
Very drifty at higher speeds, prone to pinch flats or burping stans if tubless, week sidewalls, have seen two "blow up" leaving a three inch split down the seam in the middle of the tread. No good for aggresive riding in the southwest.
Similar Products Used:
Minions, gazza's, wtb's, etc.
Bike Setup:
VP-free, 66, etc.
Bottom Line:
This tire rolls fast and is lightweight for a "big" tire, but being a "big" tire it lacks the burlyness that I expected from a large tire. (could of guessed that from looking at the sidewalls) this tire would work good for x-country riding in less abusive terrain.
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Submitted by
Art
a Cross Country Rider
from Telluride, CO Date Reviewed: August 5, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Excellent grip on medium, loose and hard terrain yet still roll well.
Weaknesses:
A little heavy at around 900g but they roll well anyway. The gooey compound will wear quickly.
Similar Products Used:
Blue groove 2.35, 2.5, Nevegal 2.35, Specialized Resolution 2.2,
Bike Setup:
Nomad, 66sl, Mavic 321 rims
Bottom Line:
Best front tire I've tried. Great grip on hardpack or loose. Anything is good on medium right? Next time I'll go with the harder compound. Fine as a rear but more tire then I need in back and don't go soft back there.
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Submitted by
Phillip
a Weekend Warrior
from Meridian Date Reviewed: June 2, 2006
Favorite Trail:
the undiscovered one
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At:
Mtnhighcyclery.com
Strengths:
Kick ass grip,extremely tough,handle low psi like a dream,they look good and that sweet compound name that is on the side "Gooey Gluey Compound"
Weaknesses:
I have found none as of yet.
Similar Products Used:
Mich Hot S, Nevegals etc
Bike Setup:
Fisher hardtail
Bottom Line:
Great freeride tire and I find it to be a really good tire on the xc trails but I'm sure some people would have a big concern with the weight of them(867grams on my scales)I don't I just pedal harder. Grippiest tire I have ever used. I give them quite a beating and have no damage,broken knobs,lacerations, nothing!!! No pinch flat at psi below 30. GGC is some really soft tacky rubber. I haven't seen much wear but I'm sure the ORC will have better wear. I like the grip...I'll buy some more if they wear out quick. I will give a more detailed review,not just say they have grip, after I use them a little longer.
$
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