MTB Tire Test: Schwalbe Thunder Burt TL-E PaceStar

NOTE: We have a test available of a newer version of this tire: Schwalbe Thunder Burt Super Ground Addix Speed 2021

This Thunder Burt Evolution SnakeSkin Tubeless Easy 29 x 2.25 is a 2015 model year tire. From the beginning of November 2014, the Thunder Burt 2.25 will be available in a SnakeSkin version. The slightly smaller 2.1 Thunder Burt is still available in LiteSkin, SnakeSkin, and RaceGuard versions. This tire was sent to me by Schwalbe Holland for test purposes; I want to thank them for this! It also shows they have a lot of confidence in their products.

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Starting with the 2015 model year, Schwalbe seems to have gone for a different naming scheme. The Tubeless Ready tires aren't available anymore and appear to be replaced by LiteSkin tires. The SnakeSkin versions now have a new "Tubeless Easy" label. It seems like Schwalbe is recommending the SnakeSkin tires if you want to go tubeless because of much easier set up. You should still be able to run the LiteSkins tubeless but set up isn't as easy.

The SnakeSkin part means this Thunder Burt has reinforced sidewalls and a 67 TPI carcass instead of the 127 TPI carcass of the LiteSkin tires. If you ride near sharp rocks a lot or get a lot of sidewall cuts, this might be something to go for. I'm not sure what the differences are regarding rolling resistance. My best guess is that the rolling resistance of SnakeSkin tires to be a bit higher than the lighter and more subtle LiteSkin tires.

Manufacturer Specifications

Manufacturer Specs
Brand	Schwalbe
Model	Thunder Burt TL-E PaceStar
Year	2015
Supplied By	Supplied by Schwalbe
New or Used	New
Mileage	0 km
Price Range	High
Buy At	Ad Amazon.com
Manufacturer part number	11600657
TPI	67
Compound	PaceStar
Bead	Folding
ETRTO	57-622
Size Inch	29"
Width Inch	2.25
Specified Weight	575 grams
Max Air Pressure (psi)	54
Made In	Members Only
Available Sizes	29x2.25 29x2.10 27.5x2.25 27.5x2.10

Schwalbe Thunder Burt TL-E PaceStar Test Results

Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements

Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements
Specified Weight	575 grams
Measured Weight	573 grams
Measured Width Carcass	54 mm (un-round)
Measured Width Tread	53 mm
Measured Height	51 mm (un-round)
Measured Knob Height Center	1.4 mm
Measured Knob Height Edge	3.8 mm
Measured Total Thickness Center (excluding knobs)	1.4 mm
Measured Total Thickness Sidewall	Members Only
All size measurements are taken at an air pressure of 35 psi / 2.4 bars on a 17.8 mm inner width rim.

The Thunder Burt sent to me by Schwalbe Holland comes in with a weight of 573 grams, which is very close to it's specified weight of 575 grams. Of course, knob height is very low with center knobs at 1.4 mm and side knobs at 3.8 mm. Volume is reasonable with a width of 54 mm and a height of 51 mm.

Rolling Resistance Test Results

Rolling Resistance Test Results
Inner Tube	None (40 ml sealant) (current protocol)	Conti MTB 29 (225 gr butyl) (test protocol)
Rolling Resistance 55 PSI / 3.8 Bar	Members Only	Members Only
Rolling Resistance 45 PSI / 3.1 Bar	Members Only	Members Only
Rolling Resistance 35 PSI / 2.4 Bar	16.5 Watts CRR: 0.00495	20.0 Watts CRR: 0.00600
Rolling Resistance 25 PSI / 1.7 Bar	17.8 Watts CRR: 0.00534	22.3 Watts CRR: 0.00668
All numbers are for a single tire at a speed of 29 km/h / 18 mph and a load of 42.5 kg / 94 lbs. Use the formula: RR (Watts) = CRR * speed (m/s) * load (N) to calculate rolling resistance at a given speed and load.

Rolling Resistance is excellent for a tire with reinforced sidewalls, it beats the Continental Race King by 0.1 watts at a pressure of 25 psi / 1.7 bars and comes close at higher pressures. The Thunder Burt looks like an excellent compromise between the Racing Ralph and Furious Fred.

Puncture Resistance Test Results

Puncture Resistance Test Results (higher is better)
Total Puncture Score Tread	29 Points
Total Puncture Score Sidewall	Members Only
Tread Puncture Force Sharp Needle	8 Points
Tread Puncture Force Blunt Needle	No Data
Tread Total Tire Thickness	1.4 mm
Sidewall Puncture Force Sharp Needle	Members Only
Sidewall Puncture Force Blunt Needle	No Data
Sidewall Total Tire Thickness	Members Only

Puncture Resistance is slightly better when compared to a Race King of Racing Ralph Tubeless-Ready. At this moment, I'm only able to test the puncture resistance of the tread area. I do am working on a sidewall puncture resistance test as well, which should show a bigger difference between the SnakeSkin and LiteSkin versions.

Hard Surface Static Grip Test Results

Static Grip Test Results
Wet Grip Average	No Data
Wet Grip Center	No Data
Wet Grip Edge	No Data
Measured Knob Height Center	1.4 mm
Measured Knob Height Edge	3.8 mm
Grip in points = coefficient of friction * 100 MTB grip test rim width = 30.0 mm
Wet Grip Test and Off-Road Tires (info)

Conclusion

Depending on air pressure, the rolling resistance of the Thunder Burt SnakeSkin is slightly lower or slightly higher when compared to the Continental Race King RaceSport that has been in the top position for a long time. Choosing between the Continental Race King and Schwalbe Thunder Burt SnakeSkin seems to be a trade-off between more or fewer knobs, stronger or weaker sidewalls and ease of tubeless set up.

If you're shopping for a mountain bike tire with very low rolling resistance, easy tubeless set up, reinforced sidewalls and you don't need a lot of big knobs, the Thunder Burt SnakeSkin is a great choice. The LiteSkin version of the Thunder Burt should be even faster.

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RATING: 5.0 / 5
TEST VERDICT: Highly Recommended

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