Bike Perfect Verdict
Our favorite high-velocity hooligan rear tire gets even tougher without sacrificing speed or feel, but we’ve lost the true trail version
Pros
- +
Blisteringly quick
- +
Extra bomb-proofing
- +
Still a decent weight
- +
Surprisingly grippy
Cons
- -
No lighter version anymore
- -
Shoulder knobs can rip
- -
High official prices
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Schwalbe’s Rock Razor already has an outstanding reputation of XC speed with serious toughness and way more grip and wet-weather control than you’d expect. The shift onto its new Super Trail carcass adds even more bomb-proof protection, it still feels great and it’s not overweight either. We’re gutted its culled the lighter options though and Schwalbe’s new names are very confusing.
Compared to the previous SnakeSkin version, the Rock Razor Super Trail is built with Apex sidewall reinforcement sheets as well as a chafer strip above the bead to protect against pinch flats. Weight rises to just over a kilo, which is roughly where the previous Super Gravity version sat so why they’ve called it Super Trail and not Super Enduro we don’t know. Like the Magic Mary, there’s no lighter-weight Super Ground version either, which is a big shame for more conventional/less mental trail riders.
The Super Trail is still light enough to accelerate okay though. The combination of tiny center knobs, shoulder knobs that are low enough on the carcass to not drag on hard pack instantly and Schwalbe’s fast-rolling Addix SpeedGrip compound adds a gear or more of speed when pedaling or rolling. While braking tends to become a skid very quickly, it still manages to return a consistently surprising level of driving grip even when things get damp. The shoulder knobs carve turns surprisingly well too, so while fitting a Razor definitely introduces speedway tendencies, it’s rare for the rear wheel to end up in front of you or put you on your rump. Just be careful not to be too heavy-handed with the brakes as you slide, as we have seen some Razors get knobs badly ripped which obviously shortens an otherwise impressive life span.
Easy tubeless installation is now the norm across most tires, including Schwalbe's, and the Super Trail carcass is generously corpulent for a buoyantly floated ride feel, despite the extra reinforcement. While official RRPs are high you can often find big price reductions online, and there are some SnakeSkin versions still around if you don’t need this beefier option.
- Schwalbe Magic Mary Super Trail tire review
- Schwalbe Rock Razor Super Trail tire review
- Vittoria Mazza and Agarro tires tested
Verdict
With average riders and enduro racers hitting the trails harder, an even more reinforced version of Schwalbe’s already outstanding rear tire makes sense. It's done a great job of retaining its blistering speed, great ride feel and surprising grip levels while boosting survivability too. In other words, the benchmark shredders semi-slick just got even better. We just wish the company had kept a Super Ground version for the many devoted fans of the SnakeSkin version.
Tech Specs: Schwalbe Rock Razor Super Trail tire
- Price: $89.00 / £64.99
- Weight:1025g (Super Trail 29x2.35in)
- Width: 61mm (29x2.35in)
- Sizes: 27.5x2.35, 27.5x2.6, 29x2.35
