RACING RAY AND RACING RALPH: THE NEW CROSS COUNTRY BROTHERS
Two new tires combine their strengths for the challenges of modern cross country courses: with Racing Ray on the front wheel and the new version of Racing Ralph on the rear wheel, Schwalbe presents this combination as a new reference for cross country.
The Cross Country has developed rapidly in recent years. Jumps, rapid changes in direction and coarse above-ground roots follow each other in rapid succession; the tracks are becoming increasingly technically demanding and faster.
“The tires for these modern courses must roll extremely smoothly and also be reliable and durable. The profile must perform reliably on different surfaces and under all weather conditions. Cornering, acceleration, grip, rolling resistance and braking performance are functions that must be perfectly balanced,” says Markus Hachmeyer, Senior Product Manager MTB Tires. “The ultimate solution was only possible by developing special front and rear tires.”
The advantages of these new tires only become apparent when they are used in combination: Racing Ray is a front tire with excellent steering characteristics, while the Racing Ralph on the rear wheel provides speed and traction. Although the new Cross Country brothers have very different profiles, Schwalbe has equipped them both with new, rounded studs, with which the Fat Albert duo has also become successful. The special thing about these is that they convert forces from every direction into a continuous driving movement and that they make the tires extremely calculable. “Errors while driving are well absorbed by the tires. If they do break out, they can quickly be corrected again,” explains Markus Hachmeyer.
Racing Ray at the front: aggressive profile and good steering characteristics
As a true front tire, the Racing Ray provides precise steering, reliable cornering and grip that inspires confidence well into the limit range. At the same time, this tire offers good and controlled braking under all conditions. The sturdy, virtually deformable shoulder blocks support a direct driving style even during extreme bends.
Despite the aggressive profile, the tire rolls smoothly, quickly and silently – on the almost closed center section with alternately arranged center blocks. With a lot of grip in the direction of travel, the tire always finds the right balance between light rolling and grip. The range between center and shoulder should not be underestimated, as that is where the transition studs are located. They make it possible for there to be continuous grip edges. The open profile of the tire ensures good self-cleaning. Racing Ray is exclusively supplied with Addix Speedgrip Compound – to create a front tire with the optimal combination of grip, speed and durability.
Racing Ralph at the rear: fast and versatile
The new Racing Ralph is more powerful than its predecessor and yet rolls lighter. The solid center blocks and the sturdy studs on the shoulder and in the transition area provide plenty of grippy edges for traction and propulsion. This, together with the open profile, provides better grip on tree roots and sloping edges, but also ensures good self-cleaning. “The rider notices how the tires immediately convert power input into propulsion - even at low speed on steep climbs in wet conditions,” says the Product Manager. At the same time, the tire rolls lightly and silently over a smooth surface. Because the rear wheel is mainly about speed, Addix Speed is the ideal compound. Although the Racing Ralph was specially developed as a rear tire, it can also be mounted as a front tire on very dry courses.
