Racing Ralph

mtb– EUR

Origin

Front and rear use. Rounded tread. Standard for the era. Fast, competition-focused XC tyre. Named 'Racing' for race intent. Ralph is an alliterative name in Schwalbe's MTB line alongside Racing Ray — both names evoke personality and speed. Maxxis Larsen TT, Kenda Nevegal, Continental X-King Maxxis Rekon Race, Continental Race King, Vittoria Mezcal, Pirelli Scorpion XC

Specifications

Weight: kg

The verdict

+Strengths

Very fast rolling — quiet on hard surfaces, excellent trail momentum retention
Siped knobs: deform easily for grip on firm compound — compensates for non-sticky rubber
Predictable cornering — side knobs provide structured, non-sudden grip limit
Excellent acceleration traction from closely packed center blocks
Directional tread works well front or rear — versatile for XC setups
Good durability for a race compound (ADDIX Speed rated +25% vs predecessor)
Quick tubeless setup — pops onto rim easily
Super Ground: hookless rim compatible, bead-to-bead SnakeSkin for real-world use
E-25 approved — suitable for XC e-MTBs

−Weaknesses

ADDIX Speed: independently measured as SLOWER than predecessor PaceStar (10-18% higher rolling resistance at various pressures) — despite Schwalbe's improvement claims
Grip limits on steep loose climbs — rear wheel slip-outs noted by multiple reviewers
Not a wet-weather tyre — compound loses grip on wet roots and rocks
Gets heavier with each generation — 640g (Super Race) vs 535g (2014 LiteSkin)
Difference between Super Race and Super Ground is very small — pricing gap feels unjustified per independent testing
ADDIX Speed vs SpeedGrip compounds: performance gap is hard to detect in real-world riding
Mud clearing only average — closely packed tread packs with clay

Did you know

01Described as 'gold standard MTB tire' by bicyclerollingresistance.com — one of the highest-traffic independent tyre testing sites
02Racing Ralph Gen 1 (2005) was initially used front and rear — repositioned as primarily rear-wheel tyre in later generations as XC riders moved to specialised front/rear tread patterns
03The 2014/2015 PaceStar-compound Racing Ralph remains the benchmark for rolling performance — subsequent ADDIX versions are measurably slower despite marketing claims
04Weight has increased by ~105g from 2014 (535g LiteSkin) to 2021 (640g Super Race) at the same size — a significant regression for weight-focused XC racers
05Classic XC pairing: Racing Ralph (rear) + Racing Ray (front) — both designed by Schwalbe as complementary system. Racing Ray's micro-knobby tread for front-specific confidence.
06Racing Ralph is recommended for e-bikes with E-25 approval (25km/h pedelec) — confirms durability and compound stability under electric assist loads
07Schwalbe's 'Decade of Super' (2020) casing overhaul was meant to bring stability for 10 years — Racing Ralph Super casings still current in 2025