Schwalbe Racing Ralph Tyre 29er SnakeSkin Tubeless Ready
If you're looking for a fast-rolling tire for XC racing and riding on hardpack trails, you're unlikely to find anything quite as good as the Racing Ralph. Built to win, the 29er Ralph uses a high-tech casing with a triple compound PaceStar rubber to balance weight, rolling resistance & durability and is now also Tubeless compatible for those wanting to ditch their tubes for a lightweight setup. Schwalbe tires are renowned as being some of the best mountain bike tyres on the market and using the highest quality rubbers in multi-compound designs, carefully engineered tread patterns and super dense casings for a supple and compliant ride are the key reasons why the Schwalbe MTB range is just so good. Being at the premium end of the market, they provide the very best ride quality and traction available, which makes them an ideal upgrade over the stock tyres on your bike due to their ability to transform the ride. The Schwalbe Racing Ralph has long been known as THE tyre for XC racing and trail riding, almost giving riders an unfair advantage over their competition. The Racing Ralph tyre gives smooth, dependable grip that gently breaks traction in loose conditions in a very predictable manner, which is perfect for those looking to squeeze more speed and flow into their trail. While it is not the best in mud or really loose terrain, it can hold it's own against other XC race tyres, making it a great choice for Enduro and Marathon racers who are likely to encounter multiple trail conditions.

SnakeSkin Model
For 2012, Schwalbe have stepped up to the plate with a redesigned Racing Ralph that is not only lighter, it also has 20% lower rolling resistance compared to the previous model. Recognising that not everyone wants to use a heavy UST tyre when running a tubeless setup, Schwalbe have revised the bead on the Ralph to make it tubeless compatible. While the tyre doesn't have a full airtight casing, you can seal it up tubeless on a compatible wheelset with the addition of a sealant such as Stans No Tubes. We would still recommend the full UST Tubeless model for harder riders, or those wanting to run lower pressures on rockier terrain, but for those wanting a superlight tubeless setup - this is your option. Sidewalls feature the SnakeSkin treatment to improve durability and abrasion resistance while still allowing the Ralph to stay around the 605 gram mark - not bad for a tubeless 29er!
Like the rest of the premium tyre line, the Schwalbe Racing Ralph uses Schwalbe's Triple Compound rubber technology dubbed 'PaceStar'. Schwalbe recognizes that it's not possible for one compound to do it all, so they've combined three to optimize the tire's performance wherever possible. While tyres like the Muddy Mary and Hans Dampf use a stickier compound, the PaceStar rubber utilises a more efficient rubber compound for the Ralph to help decrease rolling resistance and improve the wear rate. The low-profile tread of the Racing Ralph is fast, but is actually an excellent cornering tire thanks to its U-Blocks. A U-Block is a block of tread angled 20 degrees or so towards the outside of the tire. A small sipe doesn't quite divide the block, creating the "U". The U-Block works to counteract the natural outward force the tire is under when cornering, helping to control the forces and keep the bike stable. Bumping up the width to 2.25", the mid-sized Ralph increases overall volume over the 2.1" model for improved traction and absorption properties whilst also providing a more comfortable ride. Both racers and trail riders can benefit from this higher volume design, and you'll really see it shine on loamey soil and hardpack trails where it is best suited. While the 2.25" Ralph is grippy and predictable, pairing it up with a Nobby Nic up front is a great way to increase front-end stability for improved rider confidence in rougher and loose terrain.

EVO vs Performance
For 2012, Schwalbe have introduced 2 distinct ranges in their tyre lineup; EVO and Performance. While they have always had the EVO models, they have introduced the cheaper 'Performance' range to compete with lower-priced offerings from other brands such as Maxxis and Kenda. Each tyre is available in both models, which is to say that you can get a Racing Ralph Performance tyre and a Racing Ralph EVO tyre. You will see the cheaper Performance tyres used on many complete bikes from Giant and Merida, as they allow you to get the Schwalbe name at about a 30% cheaper pricepoint. While they may share the 'Racing Ralph' or 'Nobby Nic' name, the difference between them is the quality of the tyres casing and rubber compounds, leading to a substantial difference in speed, grip, suppleness and acceleration. Aside from being about 10-15% lighter, the EVO models are also Tubeless Ready, so the thicker bead lock means they can safely be used on a tubeless wheelset along with some latex sealant. The Performance range uses a single rubber compound that is much cheaper to produce but misses out on the ride quality that you get with the EVO models. For this reason, we are exclusively stocking the EVO range from Schwalbe, as believe a high-quality tyre can make a massive (and noticeable) difference to the overall ride characteristics of your mountain bike. If you want maximum grip, acceleration with a smooth & supple ride, the choice is easy.

• Size: 29 x 2.25"
• Weight: 605 grams
• Type: Folding 
• Version: Tubeless Ready
• Casing: EVO, SnakeSkin Sidewalls
• TPI: 67 
• Pressure (PSI): 20-35 psi
• Compound: PaceStar Triple Compound
• Recommended Use: XC riding & racing for dry, dusty and rocky conditions