A good tyre can make a great ride. Check out this review of Schwalbe Hans Dampf EVO tubeless Tyres for MTB to find out why. As the point of contact between mountain biker and the surfaces of the trail, there is a lot riding on those tyres (pun intended) and the manufacturers who produce them.
Schwalbe’s Hans Dampf EVO tubeless is one of the few products on the market that gives total traction and increased transference from acceleration to braking in a moderately light tyre.
Review of Schwalbe Hans Dampf EVO Tubeless
It appears that Schwalbe’s research in block position and synthetic materials have come together in an excellently engineered product.
Out-of-the-box
Once out of the box, I was surprised how light the tyres were compared to their size. The lightness is due in part to the seemingly thin two-ply sidewalls. These sidewalls are coated by a nylon layer – a “snakeskin” that makes the sidewalls supple and light.
However the snakeskin itself is impenetrable and acts as a shield against obstacles, diminishing slashes and abrasions. But don’t be mistaken: underneath the tread is a stocky three-ply construction that is flexible yet rigid under the right air pressure.
First Look
The tyres are strangely non-directional but are loaded with tread blocks. I mounted them on basic mountain bike rims with the block sides facing the breaking direction. The blocks are randomly arrayed, spreading out acceleration and breaking capacity over a wider surface area.
It is this arrangement of the blocks that allows the Hans Dampf to perform excellently in any kind of condition. In addition, the shear numbers of blocks aid in water displacement and help the tyre find the trail surface. Whether gravel, sand, wet rocks, wet roots or mud, there was hardly any slipping. For an all-mountain tyre, Schwalbe has pretty much met the mark.
Riding and Performance
However, the tyre seems sloppy on hard surfaces. I’m willing to bet it stems from the three-ply polymer tread resting on the flexible sidewalls. Riding on asphalt at 35 psi, the rims seem to float around the tyre – get them any higher and you won’t have a lot of rubber touching the trail.
But once you get them into dirt, it’s one of the best tyres you’ve ever ridden. Even in cornering and severe tipping, the wheels don’t slip or lose their hold. The blocks on the outer edges keep you in place in gnarly turns as long as your have the proper air pressure.
Air pressure is key. Since a tubed system needs more air to maintain the shape of the tyre, the Hans Dampf can go tubeless and run at a lower air pressure. The lower air pressure allows better contact between tyre and trail. The blocks on side blocks have a better grip of the trail no matter what canter or lean you give the bike. As a tubeless system, the Hans Dampf is an even better performing product: simply infallible on the trail.
Schwalbe Hans Dampf EVO Tubeless Review: Conclusion
My only concern is the longevity of the product. I have had Schwalbe road and mountain bike tyres in the past and I was shocked at how quickly they had to be replaced. Hopefully Schwalbe has corrected this flaw, because with the Hans Dampf it’s got one of the best mountain bike tyres on the market.
Review of Schwalbe’s Hans Dampf EVO tubeless: Rating 4.5/5
We hope you found this Schwalbe Hans Dampf EVO tubeless Tyres for MTB useful. Check out these mountain biking holidays to test your tyres in the best destinations.
