Tyres are the wear part par excellence - and therefore a significant cost factor when cycling. The most expensive model with a soft rubber compound and strong carcass can cost as much as 60 euros. That's 120 euros per set. Versions with favourable rubber compounds, which almost every manufacturer offers for their successful models, offer potential savings.
We have chosen the Schwalbe Hans Dampf as an example for our duel. Range of use: a little all-mountain, a lot enduro. Once in the Performance version for 32.90 euros per tyre and once in the Trailstar version for 57.90 euros. For our blind test, we made the tyre models unrecognisable with paint. The scenario: two riders, two identical bikes (Giant Reign), same pressure, same trails. As only the expensive Trailstar compound can be ridden tubeless, we fitted inner tubes to both tyres and inflated them to 1.7 bar at the front and 1.8 bar at the rear in dry conditions and 1.55 bar at the front and 1.65 bar at the rear in wet terrain. Would we be able to tell which was the more expensive tyre despite the masking?
The Schwalbe tyres in the practical test
We chose the Tschilli trail in Latsch for the descent. It offers everything you need for a tyre test: angry stone fields, roots and lots of bend combinations. After the first section (rocky, rough), we stop and swap bikes. We testers still only have an idea of which tyres we are riding. Then comes the second passage (technical, winding, dusty). Then we swap tyres again. At the next stop, each tester has to come clean: How did the tyres perform in the different driving situations, and which model are they? After we scrape the spray paint off the tyre labels, it turns out that we were both right. The more expensive Trailstar delivers more grip in bends and on rock gardens, while the cheaper Performance compound does not grip the ground as well, especially on hard surfaces - although the difference is not huge. More noticeable is the noticeably poorer damping of the performance tyre. Nevertheless, the cheaper model also made a good impression on us.
For the test on damp ground, we rode on the Isar trails (mostly forest soil) near Munich. Once again, our mechanic covered up the tyre label with spray paint. On the slippery but rather tame trail, the verdict was very clear: When it comes to cornering grip on damp ground, the two models differ quite considerably. Revealing the label brings certainty: the favourable Performance delivers noticeably less grip and slips away even in low cornering positions on the damp forest floor.
LABORATORY TEST: EVOLUTION TRAILSTAR AGAINST PERFORMANCE
The laboratory also shows the differences. The harder Performance model rolls significantly better (27.2 watts at 1.8 bar) than the sticky Trailstar compound. If we had tested race tyres, this fact would have been given a higher weighting in the overall assessment. In terms of puncture resistance, on the other hand, the expensive Trailstar compound is more convincing. Despite an identical EPI value (fabric threads per inch), it wins in puncture resistance and puncture resistance. Our test winner is therefore: Hans Dampf Evo Trailstar.
Evo Trailstar (below) vs. Performance-Line: In the more expensive Trailstar compound, the folding core is more stable to make the tyre leak-proof in tubeless use. The carcass is also of a higher quality and the tyre has better sidewall protection. However, the cheaper tyre rolls better due to the harder rubber compound. What's more, our practical experience shows that softer rubber compounds wear out more quickly.
WHAT THE BIKE TESTERS SAY
SCHWALBE HANS DAMPF PERFORMANCE
Price / weight 32,90 Euro / 754 gram
Rolling resistance 27.2 watts
Carbon copy 51 cm (height)
Puncture 121.1 N (F-max)
details EPI: 67, Dual Compound, 27.5 x 2.35 inch
SCHWALBE HANS DAMPF EVO TRAILSTAR
Price / weight 57,90 Euro / 818 gram
Rolling resistance 39.9 watts
Carbon copy 61 cm (height)
Puncture 140.8 N (F-max)
details EPI: 67, Trailstar Compound, 27.5 x 2.35 inch
