Meet Hans, Schwalbe’s new look all-rounder tire
Hans Dampf updates make tire tougher, more aggressive
Hans Dampf isn’t a completely new tire, but Schwalbe have made enough significant changes to its venerable all-rounder tire, that the new-look should give the tire a tougher, more capable personality. As trail bikes become more capable, and riders are pushing the type of terrain they will ride on all-mountain and enduro bikes, and Schwalbe has updated its design to match the demands of the most aggressive trail riders.
The Hans Dampf still sits between Schwalbe’s Magic Mary, and all-out downhill and enduro race tire, and the less aggressive trail-oriented Nobby Nic. The new tread design has slightly taller and wider centre blocks, for more purchase when you’re hunting for traction, while a row of transition blocks has been beefed up substantially to provide a smoother, more predictable transition from centre to side knobs.
2018 Schwalbe Hans Dampf, with substantially bolstered side lugs
Old look Hans Dampf, with visbly smaller side lugs
A direct view of the elliptically arrainged transition blocks on the 2018 Hans Dampf in 29 x 2.35
2019 Hans Dampf 27.5 x 2.35
Schwalbe’s biggest change to the new Hans Dampf tread design is the substantially bolstered side blocks. Two different sized blocks, both larger than on the old-look Hans Dampf, aim to provide traction while corning on varied terrain, while the wider supports at base of the blocks provides support and predictability during hard cornering, and should also increase the side blocks longevity. Schwalbe claims the new, deeper lugs will give the Hans Dampf a more predictable break-away feeling and make it easier to bring back into line when it does start to drift.
Schwalbe is offering the Hans Dampf in a range of different casing options and the recently added range of Addix rubber compounds. The Super Gravity casing comes with the Addix Soft rubber, while Apex versions will both be available in the Addix Soft and Addix Speedgrip. The lower price point Performance Line gets standard Addix rubber.
Schwalbe will have the 2018 Hans Dampf available a wide range of sizes including 29 x 2.35, 29 x 2.6, 27.5 x 2.35, 27.5 x 2.6, 27.5 x 28, 26 x 2.35 as well as a 24 x 2.35 option for the growing high performance kids bikes lines.
