Schwalbe2011 Fat Albert Front
Schwalbe2011 Fat Albert Front
(MSRP $100.85)
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It is almost ten years ago that Fat Albert took mountain biking into a new era. It was the first
tire that provided both lightnessand large volume. Now there is a completely new Fat Albert.
Its core competences remain though: Large volume. Low weight. Strong SnakeSkin side wall.
FAT ALBERT FRONT. A new, special front only version is designed for safe handling and braking
grip. And with U-Blocks on the shoulders the Fat Albert Front tackles curves precisely.
The Tubeless version is particularly strong. A butyl layer covers the inside of the tire,
while on the outside SnakeSkin fabric covers the side walls.
Specifications Compare to other Tires
| Price | $101 | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 995g | |
| Tire Width | 2.4 | |
| Diameter | 26" | |
| Riding Genre | FR/DH | |
| Bead Type | Foldable |
Bead Type - there are two main types. Kevlar/Folding Bead (lighter and ca be folded so riders can put them in their jersey pocket or hydration pack incase they rip their sidewall) and Wire/Steel Bead (heavier, cheaper, not as strong or portable, and more difficult to mount on a rim).
|
Schwalbe’s race-developed Evolution carcass and compound technology keep it relatively light for its size. It features a dual compound tread rubber mix over a harder base compound, and the crosshatched ‘snakeskin’ sidewalls make it a lot less vulnerable to cuts and splits too.
The mix of split bar and angled centre lugs are spaced wide for clearing but are low enough not to cripple speed. Twin sipe-topped angled side knobs handle lean grip.
Despite all this technology and a long time persevering with it, the Fat Albert never proved particularly confident or impressive on the trail.
It tends to skate and slip over rocks and roots rather than moulding to them, and the side knobs squirm and distort when cornering. The outer knob surfaces tear up fast too, making the £50 pricetag seem pretty outrageous.