Since mid-November 2008, the downhill versions of Big Betty and Muddy Mary have been delivered exclusively with new specifications. Although the new tires look similar to the previous ones at first glance, their inner workings have been significantly revised.

New construction
The downhill tires come from a completely new production mould. This makes them even more stable and resilient. The revised construction means less stress on the tire and more puncture protection. The tire is also easier to fit," says Michael Kull from Schwalbe Marketing, himself an active downhiller.
Two compounds are available: The Triple Nano Compound - a unique combination of three different rubber compounds - combines low rolling resistance and good grip. In competition, where every second counts, the downright sticky and further improved Gooey Gluey Compound ensures maximum traction on any surface. Multiple German downhill champion Marcus Klausmann and Team Solid in the Downhill World Cup also rely on the grip of Gooey Gluey. They rode the prototypes in 2008, and Schwalbe is launching its new downhillers as standard for 2009. The trademark of the new Big Betty and Muddy Mary downhill models are the golden labels. The foldable freeride versions are still marked with silver labels.

Downhill recall: Two new ones for one old one
The background to this is a voluntary recall that has been running since mid-August 2008. Schwalbe had discovered that the wire core in the tire bead could become loose after prolonged use, meaning that a secure fit of the tire on the rim was no longer guaranteed. Only the clincher versions for downhill use of the Big Betty, Muddy Mary, Al Mighty and Black Shark Mud models were affected. The freeride versions (folding tires) of Big Betty and Muddy Mary are excluded from the recall. As part of the recall, dealers and consumers will receive two new models of their choice for each tire sent in.

www.schwalbe.com
www.schwalbe.com/recall-downhill