MTB Tire Test: Schwalbe Hans Dampf PaceStar

The Schwalbe Hans Dampf is a step up from the popular Schwalbe Nobby Nic concerning knob height and weight. I feel the Hans Dampf almost goes out of scope of the main subject this website is all about; most people looking at tires like the Hans Dampf are more interested in grip and durability than pure speed. The interesting thing about the Hans Dampf is that it's available with the PaceStar compound that's also used on the fast Schwalbe XC tires, but also with a grippier TrailStar compound.

Choosing between the PaceStar compound and TrailStar compound can be tough when no hard data is available about the exact differences between these two compounds. When looking at Schwalbe's website, the speed rating of the PaceStar compound is 3.5 out of 6, and the speed rating of the TrailStar compound is 3.0 out of 6. When going by their ratings, you would assume the higher grip would come at the cost of just a little bit of extra rolling resistance.

I did not only test the PaceStar version of the Hans Dampf but the TrailStar version as well. You can find the Hans Dampf TrailStar review here: Hans Dampf TrailStar . You can also compare both these tires side by side on the comparison section: PaceStar Vs TrailStar. Check these articles if you're considering the TrailStar version as the difference between these compounds is immense.

Manufacturer Specifications

Manufacturer Specs
Brand	Schwalbe
Model	Hans Dampf PaceStar
Year	2017
Supplied By	Bought in store
New or Used	New
Mileage	0 km
Price Range	High
Buy At
Manufacturer part number	11600362.02
TPI	67
Compound	PaceStar
Bead	Folding
ETRTO	60-622
Size Inch	29"
Width Inch	2.35
Specified Weight	850 grams
Max Air Pressure (psi)	50
Made In	Members Only
Available Sizes	29x2.35 27.5x2.35 26x2.35

Schwalbe Hans Dampf PaceStar Test Results

Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements

Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements
Specified Weight	850 grams
Measured Weight	815 grams
Measured Width Carcass	56 mm (un-round)
Measured Width Tread	60 mm
Measured Height	55 mm (un-round)
Measured Knob Height Center	3.8 mm
Measured Knob Height Edge	5.8 mm
Measured Total Thickness Center (excluding knobs)	1.85 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 specified weight of the Hans Dampf PaceStar 29 x 2.35 is 850 grams; my sample comes in a good bit lower and has a weight of just 815 grams. On a 17C rim, at an air pressure of 35 psi / 2.4 bars, the maximum width of the casing is 56 mm, the knobs stick out a bit further resulting in a maximum tire width of 60 mm. The maximum height is 55 mm.

The tread pattern of the Hans Dampf is another step up from the Nobby Nic with center knobs that are just slightly higher and edge knobs that are much bigger (6.0 Vs 4.7 mm). The thickness of the sidewalls (0.80 mm) is pretty much the same as the Nobby Nic SnakeSkin which came in at 0.85 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	20.2 Watts CRR: 0.00606	23.7 Watts CRR: 0.00710
Rolling Resistance 25 PSI / 1.7 Bar	22.6 Watts CRR: 0.00677	27.1 Watts CRR: 0.00812
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 of the Hans Dampf with PaceStar compound is pretty much spot on to what I expected from a Schwalbe tire with this compound. Although the Hans Dampf is quite a knobby mountain bike tire, rolling resistance is still decent. When compared to the Nobby Nic (read review) that uses the same compound, rolling resistance of the Hans Dampf comes in just 8% higher. At the low air pressure of 25 psi / 1.7 bars, the Hans Dampf comes in at 27.1 watts as compared to the 25.0 watts of the Nobby Nic.

When we throw the Schwalbe Thunder Burt SnakeSkin into the comparison mix as well; It's pretty clear to me that the dominant force that determines the rolling resistance of a tire is the rubber compound. The Thunder Burt is a semi-slick tire with SnakeSkin sidewalls and the same PaceStar compound yet rolling resistance of the Thunder Burt is 22.3 watts @ 25 psi / 1.7 bars Vs the 27.1 watts of the Hans Dampf at the same air pressure.

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	7 Points
Tread Puncture Force Blunt Needle	No Data
Tread Total Tire Thickness	1.85 mm
Sidewall Puncture Force Sharp Needle	Members Only
Sidewall Puncture Force Blunt Needle	No Data
Sidewall Total Tire Thickness	Members Only

In the puncture tests, the Hans Dampf with SnakeSkin sidewalls performs as expected and is pretty much spot on to the other tires with reinforced sidewalls.

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	3.8 mm
Measured Knob Height Edge	5.8 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

In a way, this was quite a boring test as the Hans Dampf performed exactly as I expected from a Schwalbe tire with PaceStar compound. If you're looking for a fast tire with large knobs, look no further and grab the Hans Dampf PaceStar. If you're interested in a comparison between the PaceStar and TrailStar compounds, definitely read the review of the Hans Dampf TrailStar here: Hans Dampf TrailStar or look at the comparison page here: PaceStar Vs TrailStar. Be aware that the difference between these compounds is HUGE.

On a steel drum which simulates a hard road surface, the differences between small and large knobs are much smaller than I would have thought before I started doing these tests. In real-life, when running on less perfect and softer surfaces, the differences between bigger and smaller knobs will probably be much more noticeable. Choosing the right tire for the right surface is still critical.

RATING: 5.0 / 5
TEST VERDICT: Recommended

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