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Schwalbe Pace Star Rocket Ron Evolution tyre review

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$62.38

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Schwalbe Pace Star Rocket Ron Evolution tyre

BikeRadar verdict

4 out of 5 stars

"Lighter, faster, more predictable and tubeless – need we say more?"

1 comment
Fri 24 Dec 2010, 2:00 pm GMTBy

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Schwalbe have developed a new compound for some of our favourite fast cross-country tyres. The great news is that the new 127tpi (threads per inch) Evo Pace Star rubber has made their high performance, fast cleaning 465g (down from 510g) Rocket Ron tyre even better.

The compound mixes what Schwalbe call an easy rolling base under a fast centre compound with a grippier shoulder compound. The new triple compound allows fast straight-line running with more predictable cornering grip.

We’ve felt a bit short-changed by other brands’ attempts at compound tuning, but not this time. In a side by side test with older Rocket Ron Evolutions (in the same width and pressure) the Pace Stars felt livelier, responsive and faster. We felt as though each twist and deflection of the individual tread blocks was acting to drive the bike forward.

The casing/bead design makes them tubeless ready too. Ours went tubeless with a dash of Stan’s and a track pump. Available in 1.85in, 2.1in, 2.25in and 2.4in versions. Still not cheap, but worth the spend.

What's the score with BikeRadar reviews? You can find a full explanation of our ratings here.

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User Reviews

There is 1 review on this post

Showing 1 - 1 of 1 comment

  • I have the 29er 2.25 version of these tyres and have done about 120km (3 rides) off road in spring Surrey trail conditions.

    Real world weight wise they came in at 535g and 550g. I am relatively happy with the weight but they are quite a large volume tyre which makes for a tight fit on 29er frames but compared to my winter Bontrager Jones Mud tyres you can feel some extra suspension from the volume on hard tails. I think they are great all round tyres and should be good for spring, summer and autumn which is just as well as they cost a fortune at £45 each. If you are after tyres for smashing rock gardens then look somewhere else. The weight has been saved in the tyre walls so they are thin. They are tubeless ready which means the bead is designed to seal but as explained the side walls are thin so you need a lot of sealant to seal them up. Schwalbe will void warranties unless you use there sealant. They are VERY tight on Stans Crests and you need to use a lot of dish washing liquid on the bead as lubricant to get them on and to seal but they will go up with a track pump on the first go. The bead locks the tightest I have ever seen a tyre lock and you actually need a tyre lever to break the seal once it has locked. Do not be fooled by them going up easily - they will still need a lot of latex to seal all the pin holes in the side walls.

    On the trail they feel good. Being light they allow you to accelerate quickly which is good for a 29er. They are not the fastest tyres you will ever ride on hardpack or tar sections- they are not Racing Ralph's or Maxxis Aspens. Cornering feels good with the sharp side blocks digging in hard. The tyres have a very round profile and they do seem to float around a little on the trails.

    If you fancy your bike handling skills I think a Racing Ralph on the back and one of these on the front will be a very fast but grippy combo.

    Overall good tyres with all the latest technology in them which bike geeks will appreciate but difficult to set up and at £45 a lot of money for bicycle tyres.

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Specification

Name:
Pace Star Rocket Ron Evolution Tyre
Built by:
Schwalbe
Price:
$62.38

Weight (g):
465 g
Threads Per Inch:
127 TPI
Tyre Width Sizes Available:
1.85, 2.1 In, 2.25, 2.4

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