Schwalbe

Rocket Ron Evo TL-Ready 29er

It's no secret that Schwalbe makes a dizzying array of tires. So, how're you supposed to determine which is best for your needs? Well, the Schwalbe Rocket Ron EVO Tubeless Ready 29-inch Tire provides the low rolling resistance of the Racing Ralph, only with a level of grip that approaches the Nobby Nic. This makes the Rocket Ron a versatile tire that holds its own from loam to hardpack.

The Rocket Ron is a fast rolling tire, and this characteristic starts with the tread pattern. The centerline of the tire rolls on short, square blocks with an alternating one-two pattern. Why? Well, between the height and the shape of the knobs, this pattern minimizes rolling resistance, while still providing plenty of grip on either muddy or hardpack trails. Meanwhile, the intermediate knobs are spaced farther apart than the center knobs. So, there's a smooth transition to the side knobs as you initiate turns. And speaking of side knobs, these have plenty of open space on the tread, which they need in order to bite when you're leaned over and turning hard.

However, there's more to a tire than tread patterns alone. And for this very reason, the Rocket Ron employs Schwalbe's PaceStar compound for its construction. But, what's in a name? Basically, PaceStar means that there's two different rubber compounds employed in this tire. The center of the tread gets a harder rubber compound, which enhances the fast-rolling properties and prolongs the life of the tire. The side knobs get a tackier, softer durometer rubber compound in order to enhance cornering grip. So, you get a tire that rolls fast and grips in turns -- the best of both worlds. To further knock down the rolling resistance, the Tubeless Ready designation indicates that these tires have an enlarged bead hook and reinforced sidewalls. Both of those traits help the tire to seat without tubes, and to maintain a constant seal with the rim. Even better, a tubeless setup equates to reductions in both weight and rolling resistance. This way, you don't waste watts during your next ride.

If you're looking for an efficient tire setup, but you need an aggressive tread pattern, consider using the Rocket Ron as a rear tire and matching it to a Nobby Nic up front. Conversely, if you're looking at Racing Ralphs for unrestricted speed, but want more traction, the Rocket Ron works well as a front tire when matched with the Racing Ralph out back.

The Schwalbe Rocket Ron Evo Tubeless Ready 29-inch Tire is available in the color Black and in a 29 x 2.25-inch size.