MTB Tire Test: Schwalbe Thunder Burt Super Ground Addix Speed
Contents and Test Summary
- Introduction
- Manufacturer Specifications
- Size, Weight, Thickness
- Rolling Resistance: 15.7 Watts
- Puncture Resistance: 26 Points
- Static Wet Grip: 56 Points
- Conclusion: 4.5 / 5 Highly Recommended
- Comments
- Schwalbe Thunder Burt Super Ground Addix Speed
The Thunder Burt is now Schwalbe's fastest mountain bike tire as they discontinued the ultra-light Furious Fred a while back. Over the past few years, there have been various versions of the Thunder Burt. The current generation has moved to Schwalbe's Super casings with a Super Ground and Super Race version available in several sizes. As the name suggests, the Super Race should be a bit faster than the Super Ground, while the Super Ground offers a bit more protection.
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It's been a while since we've tested an MTB tire, and we get quite a lot of questions asking us why there aren't more MTB tests. The answer is quite simple: Our Pro Members decide which tires get tested, and more votes for MTB tires means there will be more MTB tests. It looks like the Super Race version of the Thunder Burt is racking up quite a few votes and has a good chance of being tested in the near future as well.
The Schwalbe Thunder Burt Super Ground looks promising as it uses Schwalbe's fastest version of their Addix compound: Addix Speed. Although not all tires with the Addix Speed compound are fast, and we've been critical of the consistency of Schwalbe's Addix compounds. It looks like our sample of the Thunder Burt Super Ground came out of the factory with the Addix Speed compound as it should be. This Thunder Burt is very fast, even though it's much heavier than the specified weight.
Manufacturer Specifications
| Manufacturer Specs | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Schwalbe |
| Model | Thunder Burt Super Ground Addix Speed |
| Year | 2021 |
| Supplied By | Bought in store |
| New or Used | New |
| Mileage | 0 km |
| Price Range | High |
| Buy At | Ad Amazon.com |
| Manufacturer part number | 11600657.02 |
| EAN | 4026495879750 |
| TPI | 67 |
| Compound | Addix Speed |
| Bead | Folding |
| ETRTO | 57-622 |
| Size Inch | 29" |
| Width Inch | 2.25 |
| Specified Weight | 615 grams |
| Max Air Pressure (psi) | 54 |
| Made In | Members Only |
| Available Sizes |
29x2.10 29x2.25 29x2.35 27.5x2.10 |
Schwalbe Thunder Burt Super Ground Addix Speed Test Results
Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements
| Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements | |
|---|---|
| Specified Weight | 615 grams |
| Measured Weight | 680 grams |
| Measured Width Carcass | 53 mm (un-round) |
| Measured Width Tread | 54 mm |
| Measured Height | 51 mm (un-round) |
| Measured Knob Height Center | 1.5 mm |
| Measured Knob Height Edge | 3.9 mm |
| Measured Total Thickness Center (excluding knobs) | 1.6 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) (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 |
13.9 Watts CRR: 0.00417 | 17.4 Watts CRR: 0.00522 |
| Rolling Resistance 25 PSI / 1.7 Bar |
15.7 Watts CRR: 0.00471 | 20.2 Watts CRR: 0.00606 |
| 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 | 26 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 | 1.6 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 | 56 Points |
| Wet Grip Center | Members Only |
| Wet Grip Edge | Members Only |
| Measured Knob Height Center | 1.5 mm |
| Measured Knob Height Edge | 3.9 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 Thunder Burt Super Ground Addix Speed
(100% is fastest - lightest - highest - strongest)
The Schwalbe Thunder Burt Super Ground with Addix Speed compound is an extremely fast tire even though our sample is quite heavy. We're happy to see an Addix Speed tire that rolls faster than the old PaceStar compound versions that made Schwalbe famous back in the early part of this century. We're hoping Schwalbe fixed the consistency of the Addix Speed compound, and we're going to see consistently good results from tires with the Addix Speed compound now.
We're still not sure why the weight of Schwalbe's tires keeps on increasing every generation. We wouldn't have been happy as an end consumer when the promised weight is 615 grams, and you end up with a 680 grams tire. We're looking forward to testing the Super Race version of the Thunder Burt, but we're a bit puzzled the specified weight of the Super Race is 645 grams while the Super Ground is 615 grams. Maybe there is an error in the specified weight of the 29x2.25 Super Ground.
Very fast tire if you don't mind the weight.
Ad Buy Schwalbe Thunder Burt Super Ground Addix Speed at Amazon.com
RATING:
4.5
/ 5
TEST VERDICT:
Highly Recommended