MTB Tire Test: Schwalbe Racing Ray Super Ground Addix SpeedGrip
Contents and Test Summary
- Introduction
- Manufacturer Specifications
- Size, Weight, Thickness
- Rolling Resistance: 20.4 Watts
- Puncture Resistance: 27 Points
- Static Wet Grip: 68 Points
- Conclusion: 4.8 / 5 Highly Recommended
- Comments
- Schwalbe Racing Ray Super Ground Addix SpeedGrip
The Schwalbe Racing Ray is optimized for front tire use and is a bit less aggressive than the Schwalbe Rocket Ron, which has been around longer than the Racing Ray. Schwalbe suggests pairing the Racing Ray with the Racing Ralph (read review), which is optimized for use on the rear wheel. Using front/rear optimized tires seems to make sense for off-road riding, as the loads applied to the front and rear tires differ greatly in most off-road use cases.
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The Racing Ray used to be only available with the Addix SpeedGrip compound, which makes sense for front tire use as it's grippier than their Addix Speed compound. We just noticed Schwalbe also released a Super Race version with the Addix Speed compound somewhere in the last few years, and we're not sure about the front wheel claims for that version.
The Racing Ray with Schwalbe's Addix SpeedGrip compound is the first time we've tested one of their mountain bike tires with the grippier SpeedGrip compound. We already have a lot of data on the Addix Speed compound (MTB Overview), which could be more grippy in wet conditions. We've tested several of Schwalbe's gravel bike tires (CX-Gravel Overview) with the Addix SpeedGrip compound, and from those tests, we know that compound should be much more suitable for front-wheel usage.
The Racing Ray is available in many different versions, so be extra careful to check if you've selected the right one. This is a test of the Schwalbe Racing Ray SuperGround with Addix SpeedGrip compound rated for E-25 use (E-Bike Ready up to 25 km/h)
Manufacturer Specifications
| Manufacturer Specs | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Schwalbe |
| Model | Racing Ray Super Ground Addix SpeedGrip |
| Year | 2024 |
| Supplied By | Bought in store |
| New or Used | New |
| Mileage | 0 km |
| Price Range | High |
| Buy At | Ad Amazon.com |
| Manufacturer part number | 11601100.01 |
| EAN | 4026495879590 |
| TPI | 67 |
| Compound | Addix SpeedGrip |
| Bead | Folding |
| ETRTO | 57-622 |
| Size Inch | 29" |
| Width Inch | 2.25 |
| Specified Weight | 655 grams |
| Max Air Pressure (psi) | 54 |
| Made In | Members Only |
| Available Sizes |
29x2.10 29x2.25 29x.2.35 27.5x2.25 26x2.25 |
Schwalbe Racing Ray Super Ground Addix SpeedGrip Test Results
Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements
| Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements | |
|---|---|
| Specified Weight | 655 grams |
| Measured Weight | 685 grams |
| Measured Width Carcass | 55 mm (un-round) |
| Measured Width Tread | 56 mm |
| Measured Height | 52 mm (un-round) |
| Measured Knob Height Center | 2.5 mm |
| Measured Knob Height Edge | 4.4 mm |
| Measured Total Thickness Center (excluding knobs) | 1.7 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. | |
Rolling Resistance Test Results
| Rolling Resistance Test Results | |
|---|---|
| Inner Tube | None (40 ml sealant) |
| Rolling Resistance 55 PSI / 3.8 Bar |
Members Only |
| Rolling Resistance 45 PSI / 3.1 Bar |
Members Only |
| Rolling Resistance 35 PSI / 2.4 Bar |
18.2 Watts CRR: 0.00546 |
| Rolling Resistance 25 PSI / 1.7 Bar |
20.4 Watts CRR: 0.00612 |
| 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. |
|
Puncture Resistance Test Results
| Puncture Resistance Test Results (higher is better) | |
|---|---|
| Total Puncture Score Tread | 27 Points |
| Total Puncture Score Sidewall | Members Only |
| Tread Puncture Force Sharp Needle | Members Only |
| Tread Puncture Force Blunt Needle | Members Only |
| Tread Total Tire Thickness | 1.7 mm |
| Sidewall Puncture Force Sharp Needle | Members Only |
| Sidewall Puncture Force Blunt Needle | Members Only |
| Sidewall Total Tire Thickness | Members Only |
Hard Surface Static Grip Test Results
| Static Grip Test Results | |
|---|---|
| Wet Grip Average | 68 Points |
| Wet Grip Center | Members Only |
| Wet Grip Edge | Members Only |
| Measured Knob Height Center | 2.5 mm |
| Measured Knob Height Edge | 4.4 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
- Schwalbe Racing Ray Super Ground Addix SpeedGrip
(100% is fastest - lightest - highest - strongest)
We're impressed by the Schwalbe Racing Ray as it rolls only slightly slower than the Racing Ralph with the same casing (read review) but the faster Addix Speed compound. For this slight increase in rolling resistance, you get a lot back in the form of increased wet grip, making it much more suitable for use on the front wheel.
The Racing Ralph with Addix Speed compound on the rear sounds like an exceptional combination if you want additional speed. When going for a mixed front/rear wheel, remember that most of the load is on the rear wheel, making rolling resistance more critical for that tire. The Racing Ray with Addix SpeedGrip compound on the front will be marginally slower in a straight line under real-life conditions.
We see good results from Schwalbe's most recent tires, although the weight is again much higher than specified. Finding a sample closer to the specified weight can be challenging if you're a weight weenie.
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RATING:
4.8
/ 5
TEST VERDICT:
Highly Recommended