Our Eurowolf, Robert, was able to visit the Schwalbe Tires HQ in Reischof, Germany, and was provided a neat experience. Getting to see what goes on behind the scenes with bicycle tire development and learning more about the specifics of tire design and manufacturing was very interesting. It was also cool to see what the brand new headquarters of a thriving bicycle company looks like. It was immediately obvious that Schwalbe strived to make their HQ a pleasant place to work, and one that encourages all the employees to enjoy commuting by bike. From the excellent bike storage and washing facilities to incentives for employees looking to commute to work, and even a workshop where they can have their machines serviced for free, it seemed like a sweet place to ride a bike to, and work.
LEARNING ABOUT EBIKE TIRE NEEDS
Talking with both Robert Mennen at HQ and Sean Cochran in the USA, it was clear that Schwalbe had prioritized three clear points in the development of their Eddy Current eMTB-specific tires:
⁍ Puncture Protection
⁍ Tread Durability
⁍ High Grip
Thanks to the drive unit on an electric mountain bike, the rolling resistance and weight are not so important as they can be overcome by the extra power. That’s not to say that these elements are not considered in the balance at all, but what’s more crucial in the eyes of the Schwalbe team is the trust the rider has in the tires; that they will be bulletproof and there will be a lot of grip for braking, accelerating and while turning. This was delivered through a number of elements of the design of the Eddy Currents.
First up, the Eddy Currents are only offered in the Addix Soft rubber compound – the second from stickiest in Schwalbe’s lineup. This compound was found to offer the best compromise between traction, durability and rolling resistance when fitted to eMTB’s. With the high mileage and intense riding that eBikes are typically subjected to, using the Ultra Soft rubber compound was found to compromise too much on the durability, so the Soft was the best compromise to retain high traction without wearing out too fast.
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