Designed to sit between the semi-slick Thunder Burt and oblong-treaded Racing Ralph, the new Schwalbe Rick XC serves as a dry conditions race tire that works front and rear.
But it’s more than just a new tread pattern for the brand, it’s also their first 2.4″ width in a cross country-specific tire. As such, it looks like a great rear tire to pair with something a little grabbier on the front for mixed conditions, but at the moment their other fastest tires top out at 2.25″ and 2.3″. For now, anyway.
Small, low-profile center knobs provide more climbing and braking traction than the barely-there nubs on the Thunder Burt, but roll faster than the Racing Ralph’s paddle-like tread. Rectangular transition knobs with files between them lead to taller shoulder cornering knobs.
Combined, they say it “combines grip and low rolling resistance like no other Schwalbe XC tire”. It’s also E-25 e-bike rated, and comes in two versions and two sizes:
- 29 x 2.25 Super Race I Addix Speed
- 29 x 2.25 Super Ground I Addix Speedgrip
- 29 x 2.40 Super Race I Addix Speed
- 29 x 2.40 Super Ground I Addix Speedgrip
The tan-wall Addix Speed models have a higher durometer rubber that rolls faster but has slightly less grip. The black wall Addix Speedgrip models are a bit softer and gripper, but with slightly more rolling resistance. Weights are the same between them by size – 29×2.25″ are 680g, and 29×2.4″ are 760g.
Available now, MSRP €68.90 (about $90 USD).
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