Schwalbe Rocket Ron 2.35 Super Race Addix Speed tyre review

The Schwalbe Rocket Ron is a favourite tyre at cross-country mountain biking races and for good reason. It combines grip and speed, making it suitable for a wide range of traditional British races spanning softer and muddy tracks to firmer and faster tracks. The fastest and lightest version we have here comes with trade-offs, but when speed is critical, this is one of the best mountain bike tyres around.

Most tyre manufacturers offer multiple variations of the same pattern. The rubber compounds in a tyre are chosen to balance rolling speed, grip and longevity, and the Schwalbe rubber compound versions follow the Addix naming convention with the coloured stripe around the entire circumference indicating which compound is employed. The Rocket Ron is available in two versions: Addix Speed (red stripe) and Addix Speedgrip (blue stripe), with the main difference being that the Speed sacrifices some longevity for out and out speed.

We tested the widest 29 x 2.35in version but the tyre comes in a variety of sizes. The three most common cross-country sizes—2.1in, 2.25in, and 2.35in — are all available in Super Race and Addix Speed variants.

Schwalbe Rocket Ron 2.35 Super Race Addix Speed – Technical details

The tyre has a claimed weight of 780g but our pair were a little less at 745g and 760g, respectively, which makes them light for such a wide tyre. (For reference the 2.1in has a claimed weight of 595g while the 2.25in comes in at 630g).

The light weight is obvious when holding one. There's notable flexibility in the sidewall and it may become apparent when fitting, as it did in my case. The tyre was simple to fit on the rim but inflating with a track pump needed patience and the ability to hold the bead in place at key points while using the pump at the same time. Once the bead was in position, it remained properly inflated with no air loss.

This one usage issue is unlikely to result in problems for everyone but, after years of rarely having trouble fitting MTB tyres, the flexibility within the Rocket Ron was very evident – and I assume this was the cause of the trouble.

Schwalbe Rocket Ron 2.35 Super Race Addix Speed – Performance

You might anticipate speed or ease of climbing to be the first things you notice while using the Rocket Ron but I found the slight drone noise to be the most surprising and this was most likely due to the tread depth. In very general terms, a noisy tyre is frequently a sluggish tyre, although this was quickly disproven. The tyre pressures were adjusted during the test, beginning with the first ride in a local XC event at 18psi front, and 20psi rear, and testing a little around these in both directions. The exact preferences ranged a few psi from these levels upwards, depending on the track or course being ridden.

You might expect a high-volume tyre with a deep tread pattern to feel slow on tracks where the depth and grip aren't needed but I found they rolled very quickly and smoothly. This was even the case on surfaced roads, which will be beneficial for anyone who often rides on roads or competes in marathon events where surfaced tracks are sometimes included.

The grip is superb for climbing and braking as well as cornering, and the edge knobs provide the bite required for softer, loamy courses. They do slide out gently in a controllable manner most of the time, with the only troubles I had being on rocky trail centre surfaces with a greasy layer of muck on top.

The open tread pattern and sipes within each block aid in mud clearance as speed increases, which is an important feature for a racing tyre suited for softer conditions. When deciding on a size, it is crucial to consider your bike frame and fork clearance but, if you have ample space and do not intend to race in places with the stickiest and gloopiest mud, there is no reason not to go with the larger version.

The ride quality is exceptional, thanks in part to the thin and supple sidewall casing and the Super Race carcass tyres have always had good, low rolling resistance data when tested independently, with the same carcass on a Schwalbe Racing Ralph (though labs tests are never able to consider actual off-road riding). The Super Race has a three-layer 67tpi (Threads Per Inch) carcass or epi (Ends Per Inch) as Schwalbe refers to it and the trade-off for a lighter, thinner and more subtle carcass is an increased risk of punctures. During testing, I was fortunate not to have a puncture but the Super Race carcass only has a small strip of Raceguard puncture protection fabric around the circumference under the centre tread line, not along the sidewall sections. For further protection, the Super Ground has a Snakeskin protection covering all tread and sidewall areas.

Schwalbe Rocket Ron 2.35 Super Race Addix Speed – Verdict

The premium Schwalbe Rocket Ron tyres cost £63 and include both the Super Race and Super Ground carcass, as well as each Speed and Speedgrip compound.

It is pricey for a single tyre but it is comparable to other brand premium tyre options such as the recently tested Vittoria Mezcal XC-Race G2.0 at £55 and the Pirelli Scorpion XC-S and Scorpion XC-M designed for firmer terrain at £60. Perhaps the most significant competitor is the Continental Cross King, which can be bought in 2.3in ProTection for £68.

If speed is a top priority, the Schwalbe Rocket Ron Super Race version with Addix Speed compound will meet your expectations. Punctures may be a concern for certain riders and there is a more robust Super Ground carcass version but the Rocket Ron delivers speed beyond what you would anticipate from a design with open and deeper tread.