FANATIK TIRE GUIDE
Gravity Favorites
Our favorite tires for enduro, downhill, and aggressive riding. Compare the treads and find the right tire for your terrain.
Magic Mary
Category
Trail | Enduro | DH
Terrain
Mixed | Loose | Wet
Position
Front | Rear
Aggressive, open tread for predictable cornering and powerful braking in loose and mixed conditions.
Shop Magic Mary
Tacky Chan
Category
Enduro | DH
Terrain
Mixed | Loose | Loose Over Hard
Position
Front | Rear
Fast-rolling gravity tread with strong braking traction and confident cornering grip.
Shop Tacky Chan
Albert
Category
Trail | Enduro | DH
Terrain
Hardpack | Mixed | Rocky
Position
Front | Rear
High-contact tread delivers excellent grip and control on hard, rocky, and mixed terrain.
Shop Albert
Shredda (R)
Category
Enduro | DH | e-MTB
Terrain
Loose | Soft | Wet
Position
Rear
Aggressive, widely spaced tread for maximum traction and mud clearance in loose, soft, and wet conditions.
Shop ShreddaProven tire pairings for every condition
Find Your Ideal Gravity Combo
*Choose Trail Pro for a lighter setup or Gravity Pro for more support and protection. Heavier or more aggressive riders may prefer Gravity Pro. For e-bikes, we recommend Gravity Pro.
Not sure which casing is right for you? Learn more about Schwalbe casings.
Fanatik Review
Albert vs Magic Mary: Which Tire Is Right for You?
We put the Schwalbe Albert and Magic Mary Radial tires head-to-head to compare grip, rolling speed, and performance across different terrain. Read the full review to see which tire better fits your riding.
FANATIK TIRE GUIDE
Trail Favorites
The sweet spot for most riders. These versatile treads offer the best balance of grip, rolling speed, and durability for everyday trail riding.
Albert
Category
Trail | Enduro | DH
Terrain
Hardpack | Mixed | Rocky
Position
Front | Rear
High-contact tread delivers excellent grip and control on hard, rocky, and mixed terrain.
Shop Albert
Romy
Category
Trail | All-Mountain
Terrain
Hardpack | Mixed | Rocky
Position
Front | Rear
Lightweight trail tire with a tight center tread for fast rolling and aggressive shoulder lugs for confident cornering grip.
Shop RomyMagic Mary
Category
Trail | Enduro | DH
Terrain
Mixed | Loose | Wet
Position
Front | Rear
Aggressive, open tread for predictable cornering and powerful braking in loose and mixed conditions.
Shop Magic MaryProven tire pairings for every condition
Find Your Ideal Trail Combo
FANATIK TIRE GUIDE
E-MTB Favorites
Tires built for the added weight and power of an e-MTB, with options for everything from everyday trail riding to steep, loose terrain.
Shredda (F)
Category
Enduro | DH | e-MTB
Terrain
Loose | Soft | Wet
Position
Front
Aggressive, widely spaced tread for maximum traction and mud clearance in loose, soft, and wet conditions.
Shop ShreddaShredda (R)
Category
Enduro | DH | e-MTB
Terrain
Loose | Soft | Wet
Position
Rear
Aggressive, widely spaced tread for maximum traction and mud clearance in loose, soft, and wet conditions.
Shop Shredda
Eddy Current
Category
Trail | Enduro | e-MTB
Terrain
Mixed | Hardpack | Rocky
Position
Rear
E-MTB-specific rear tread with strong climbing and braking traction, support, and durability.
Shop Eddy CurrentAlbert
Category
Trail | Enduro | DH
Terrain
Hardpack | Mixed | Rocky
Position
Front | Rear
High-contact tread delivers excellent grip and control on hard, rocky, and mixed terrain.
Shop AlbertMagic Mary
Category
Trail | Enduro | DH
Terrain
Mixed | Loose | Wet
Position
Front | Rear
Aggressive, open tread for predictable cornering and powerful braking in loose and mixed conditions.
Shop Magic MaryProven tire pairings for every condition
Find Your Ideal E-MTB Combo
COMPLETE YOUR SETUP
Choose Your Casing
The right tread is only half the equation. Choosing the proper construction can improve durability, ride feel, and flat resistance.
Gravity Pro
Maximum Support + Protection
A more robust construction designed for aggressive riding, higher loads, and harder impacts.
Best for
Enduro, downhill, e-MTB, heavier or more aggressive riders
Tradeoff
More weight and lower pedaling efficiency than Trail Pro
Trail Pro
Lighter + More Compliant
A lighter construction that balances support, damping, and puncture protection for a wide range of trail riding.
Best for
Trail riding, lighter riders, riders prioritizing lower weight and compliance
Tradeoff
Less support and protection than Gravity Pro
COMPLETE YOUR SETUP
Choose Your Compound
Schwalbe rubber compounds determine how your tires grip, roll, and wear. Here's how to choose the right compound for your riding.
Ultra Soft
Maximum Traction
Schwalbe's softest MTB compound, designed for maximum grip and damping in demanding terrain and wet conditions.
Best for
Front tires, gravity riding, wet conditions
Tradeoff
Higher rolling resistance and faster wear
Soft
Grip + Versatility
A versatile compound that balances traction, damping, rolling speed, and durability for trail, enduro, and downhill riding.
Best for
Rear tires, aggressive trail and gravity riding
Tradeoff
Less outright grip than Ultra Soft
Mid
Speed + Durability
A firmer, faster-rolling compound designed to balance grip with lower rolling resistance and longer tread life.
Best for
Trail riding, firmer terrain, riders prioritizing efficiency and durability
Tradeoff
Less grip and damping than Soft or Ultra Soft
FANATIK RECOMMENDS
OUR GO-TO COMPOUND SETUP
Front: ULTRA SOFT
Rear: SOFT
Here in the PNW, we typically run Ultra Soft up front for maximum grip and damping, with Soft out back to balance traction with rolling speed and durability. It's our go-to combination for aggressive trail and gravity riding.
FANATIK RECOMMENDS
OUR GO-TO CASING SETUP
Front: TRAIL PRO
Rear: GRAVITY PRO
We typically run Trail Pro up front to keep the tire lighter and more compliant, with Gravity Pro out back for added support, puncture protection, and durability where it’s needed most.
Adjust for your riding: Heavier, more aggressive, or e-MTB riders may prefer Gravity Pro front and rear. Lighter riders or those riding less aggressive terrain can run Trail Pro front and rear to reduce weight and improve pedaling efficiency.
What is the Radial Revolution?
Radial Technology
More grip, better damping, and greater control. Schwalbe Radial technology helps tires stay planted and composed through rough terrain, giving riders more confidence when the trail gets demanding.
So, does it actually make a difference? Watch our trail test below to find out.
What does Radial mean?
Schwalbe Radial tires use a redesigned carcass construction, with the casing threads arranged at a more obtuse angle than the 45° angle found in conventional bicycle tires. This allows the carcass material to overlap for a shorter distance with less tension, letting the tire deform more selectively and respond more freely to bumps and uneven terrain.
The result is a more flexible casing that can better conform to the trail.
Advantages of Radial
The more flexible casing creates up to 30% more contact area at the same tire pressure, helping the tread maintain contact with uneven terrain.
- Carcass threads at a more obtuse angle than other tires
- 30% more contact area with the same air pressure
- More grip, more damping, more control
THE WORD ON THE TRAIL
WHAT RIDERS ARE SAYING
Do yourselves a favor and grab a pair!!!! Incredible tires!
The radial tires make a huge difference and you can run minimally 5lbs more air in your tires and get the same grip. Best enduro set up I’ve had yet!
“Magic Mary / Tacky Chan radials impressed!
