Buying guide: Who supplies radial tyres for mountain bikes?

Will Radial become the new standard? Here’s how we see it

The growing range of radial tyres shows that many developers recognise the advantages of this technology on mountain bikes. For us, radial construction is another building block in tyre development. Just like a soft rubber compound or a puncture-resistant carcass, radial construction won’t be for everyone. Used correctly, however, it is a real asset, particularly when the drawbacks in terms of rolling resistance are not such a major factor. - Adrian Kaether, Editor

At a glance: How Radial works

Instead of being at a 90-degree angle to one another, the carcass plies in a radial tyre are arranged almost parallel to one another. This gives the tyre a more flexible structure, allowing it to adapt better to the road surface whilst maintaining the same air pressure, rubber compound and tread pattern. The downside is that the increased contact patch also leads to higher rolling resistance. Furthermore, the tyre’s more flexible construction can result in spongy handling or poorer puncture resistance. But there is also untapped potential: rather than achieving the extra grip with a soft rubber compound – which hardens in the cold and wears out quickly – radial tyres can elegantly circumvent both these problems.

Schwalbe: From SUV bikes to enduro bikes

In 2024, Schwalbe unveiled the Albert, the very first radial MTB tyre, thereby kicking off the race for the latest cutting-edge technology. From the outset, the tyre specialists offered the Albert in a lighter ‘Trail’ version and a heavier ‘Gravity’ version.

In spring 2026, Schwalbe significantly revamped its MTB range and expanded its selection of radial tyres. In addition to the original Schwalbe Albert, there are now tyres ranging from trail to enduro available in a radial version. Schwalbe has even recently converted its Johnny Watts SUV tyre entirely to a radial design. Here is an overview of all Schwalbe radial tyres:

• Romy - Trail
• Albert - Trail/Enduro
• Magic Mary - Trail/Enduro/DH
• Tacky Chan - Enduro/DH
• Shredda - E-MTB, for soft ground
• Eddy Current Rear - E-MTB rear tyre
• Johnny Watts – SUV e-bike

Specialized: Competition for the Radial classic?

Specialized doesn’t just make bikes – it makes the tyres for them as well. The Butcher is still our Price tip for an affordable and functional enduro tyre. With a new tyre factory in Lage, near Bielefeld, the Americans are further expanding their expertise in the tyre sector. The first result of this investment is Specialized’s first range of radial tyres. Unlike Schwalbe, Specialized has even revealed the new angle at which the threads run across the carcass: 70 degrees instead of 45, but this is said to deliver the same benefits of improved grip, comfort and safety.

Exciting: According to the manufacturer’s measurements, Specialized tyres are said to offer significantly greater steering precision whilst providing almost the same level of grip as the competition. For bike parks and fast trails, however, Specialized still recommends bias-ply tyres. On soft, natural trails, however, the radial combination of the Butcher and Eliminator is set to show its strengths. It’s quite conceivable that further tyres and casings will follow. For now, though, the selection remains fairly limited:

• Butcher Grid Gravity Radial T9 – Enduro/DH
• Eliminator Grid Gravity Radial T7/T9 – Enduro

Zleen, E-Thirteen, Veetire: The newcomers

Alongside the big two, there are of course many other developers working to make radial mountain bike tyres a reality. A particularly interesting new product was unveiled at Eurobike 2025: the Racerunner Radical from the small Czech brand Zleen is aimed at cross-country riders and, in cross-section, looks more like a Lego brick. The particularly flat and angular design is said to grip the terrain exceptionally well and provide a particularly large contact patch on the tread, thanks in part to its radial construction.

E-Thirteen and Veetire are taking a more traditional approach, targeting enduro riders. For E-Thirteen, the Grappler Radial is the first tyre to feature the new tyre carcass. Two rubber compounds – Mopo and Momentum – suggest a broader range of applications, from touring to downhill. Veetire is launching the Attack HPL and FSX, as well as the all-round gravity tyre, the Snap WCE, all on a radial carcass. All three tyres are aimed at the enduro segment.