The most important facts in brief

The 29-inch tires tested have a width of 2.5 inches, which translates to 60 millimetres. The trail version with the "Addix Ultra Soft" rubber compound was used. The scales stopped at 1150 grams, 30 grams below the manufacturer's specification. Schwalbe promises more traction and grip thanks to the more flexible carcass technology, as it enables a larger contact area (30 percent more at 1.5 bar tire pressure). The Albert is also said to provide greater damping. The manufacturer also recommends 0.3 to 0.5 bar higher air pressure than usual.

First impression

On the outside, the new Albert is a coarsely profiled tire with larger gaps and slotted lugs. The rubber appears soft and grippy. Tubeless mounting works straight away without any problems.

In use

On the first ride, it quickly becomes clear that nothing is the same. Anyone who is used to defining the right tire pressure by thumb pressure is lost here. This is because the tire deforms more than usual under the thumb and does not offer the counter-pressure that you are used to. The only thing that helps is to reach for an air pressure gauge or a pump with an accurate display.

Tire tests are started on the Ride with 1.15 and 1.3 bar (front/rear, for 70 kilograms fighting weight) and then the air pressure is adjusted off-road depending on the tire. According to Schwalbe, the pressure for the radial tires should be higher, so we start with 1.25/1.3 bar. As soon as we hit the first root field, we reach for the pump. The whole thing is too soft. OK, 0.3 higher and on we go. But only briefly, the tire is now a little too hard. At the end, the sweet spot is 1.4/1.5 bar. Off-road, even 0.1 bar makes a noticeable difference. The front is less sensitive than the rear, which starts to wobble more quickly if the tire has too little air.

On asphalt as well as off paved roads, the Alberts roll quietly and without giving off vibrations. The rolling resistance is just as impressive as the cornering grip, both of which are at the usual high level. The traction of the new tires is unusual and surprisingly high. If you ride up rough paths, you can see with the naked eye how the tire literally hugs sharp stones, roots and edges. This type of deformation has never been seen before. It is astonishing that - although the Alberts adapt so well over obstacles - there is no spongy feeling when cornering.

In dry conditions, the tires grip well even on roots and smooth rock. In the wet, however, the performance cannot keep up and is average, as it is in muddy conditions. It is somewhat irritating that the Alberts find normal grip on certain damp roots and immediately start to slip on others. However, never so much that you lose control, the bike can always be quickly brought back under control.

You can rely on the tires when braking. No matter how steep the terrain is and what surface you're riding on, the bite is high and the braking behavior is predictable. If the bike is pushed hard into a corner, the lugs do not bend and offer good transition into the lean angle. The high damping of the tires is also good. When riding from smooth to rough surfaces, the tires absorb so much that the transition is hardly noticeable. This also applies when landing after jumps or when the tires are briefly in the air due to the high speed of the heels, the Alberts cushion the ground contact skillfully and without annoying rebound.

After around six months of use, the top layer of rubber on the sidewalls has begun to peel off, giving "insight" into the carcass. This only happened in a few places and without any consequences in terms of handling or puncture protection. Schwalbe comments: "The described visual defect only affects the appearance and has no influence on the function, durability or safety of the tire. Nevertheless, we take such feedback very seriously and examine each individual case carefully."

Conclusion

What looks like a completely normal tire only turns out to be something completely new when used. Traction and damping quickly convey confidence and are unusually high. This is more evident in dry conditions than in the wet. There were no punctures during the ten-month test period and wear on the tread and carcass was limited.

Recommendation

Air pressure is king! With radial tires, it's worth experimenting a little, because even 0.1 bar more or less makes a noticeable difference.

Price: CHF 82.00 / EUR 73.90

Manufacturer

www.schwalbe.com