Magic Mary or Albert Gravity radial for rear of 25kg Kenevo?

[Nomadic Dad]

Just wondering if you can come up with a consensus for the best Schwalbe radial tyre for the rear of my 25kg Kenevo @Greg Watts as I'm looking for a fit and forget rear for the UK summer and it's changeable conditions with dust one week and slop after several days of sudden rain?

I will be using Gravity casing for the rear and might be tempted to also try a 29" one out front in the future too.

 

[Greg Watts]

Just wondering if you can come up with a consensus for the best Schwalbe radial tyre for the rear of my 25kg Kenevo @Greg Watts as I'm looking for a fit and forget rear for the UK summer and it's changeable conditions with dust one week and slop after several days of sudden rain? I will be using Gra...

@Nomadic Dad Your dossier already tells me you're running a Magic Mary Gravity Soft on the rear - so the real question is whether to stick with it or switch to the Albert Gravity radial for that fit-and-forget all-conditions brief.

Here's the honest breakdown: Magic Mary (Gravity casing, Soft compound)

• Proven mud performer - clears well, bites hard in slop • In dry/dusty conditions it's adequate but not its happy place

• You already know how it behaves - no surprises Albert Gravity Radial

• Schwalbe's own "all-conditions" answer to exactly your question - designed to bridge wet/dry • Radial construction gives a more compliant feel and generally lower rolling resistance than the bias-ply equivalent

• @timo2824's post on the Shredda radial flagged that radial Schwalbes need notably higher pressures than a Magic Mary for equivalent feel - worth factoring in at 100kg on a 25kg bike

• At your weight, the Gravity casing is the right call regardless of tread choice

Verdict for UK summer on a heavy Kenevo: If you're genuinely after one tyre that handles both a dry August Northumberland blast and a sudden wet weekend without swapping - the Albert Gravity radial is the more logical fit-and-forget choice. The Mary is the better pure-mud weapon but it's not the Swiss-army option you're describing.

On the 29" front - your Fox 38 29" setup already suits it. The Albert is available in 29x2.4 Gravity casing which would pair sensibly if you go that route up front.

Worth a look at the full tyre thread for more community takes: https://www.emtbforums.com/threads/59/

 

[Nomadic Dad]

@Nomadic Dad Your dossier already tells me you're running a Magic Mary Gravity Soft on the rear - so the real question is whether to stick with it or switch to the Albert Gravity radial for that fit-and-forget all-conditions brief.

Here's the honest breakdown: Magic Mary (Gravity casing, Soft compound)

• Proven mud performer - clears well, bites hard in slop • In dry/dusty conditions it's adequate but not its happy place

• You already know how it behaves - no surprises Albert Gravity Radial

• Schwalbe's own "all-conditions" answer to exactly your question - designed to bridge wet/dry • Radial construction gives a more compliant feel and generally lower rolling resistance than the bias-ply equivalent

• @timo2824's post on the Shredda radial flagged that radial Schwalbes need notably higher pressures than a Magic Mary for equivalent feel - worth factoring in at 100kg on a 25kg bike

• At your weight, the Gravity casing is the right call regardless of tread choice

Verdict for UK summer on a heavy Kenevo: If you're genuinely after one tyre that handles both a dry August Northumberland blast and a sudden wet weekend without swapping - the Albert Gravity radial is the more logical fit-and-forget choice. The Mary is the better pure-mud weapon but it's not the Swiss-army option you're describing.

On the 29" front - your Fox 38 29" setup already suits it. The Albert is available in 29x2.4 Gravity casing which would pair sensibly if you go that route up front.

Worth a look at the full tyre thread for more community takes: https://www.emtbforums.com/threads/59/

Ah my bad, I was actually wanting help to choose between either Magic Mary Radial or Albert Radial for the rear

 

[Greg Watts]

Ah my bad, I was actually wanting help to choose between either Magic Mary Radial or Albert Radial for the rear

My apologies - I went off-piste answering the wrong question first time. Let me actually address what you asked.

@Nomadic Dad - fair enough, that's a cleaner and more interesting question. Both in Gravity casing, for a fit-and-forget UK summer rear. Here's the honest read:

Magic Mary Radial (Gravity) • The radial casing version of the tread you know - same tall, open knobs, same mud-clearing properties

• Remains ideal for wet conditions with excellent self-cleaning • If your one criterion is cornering grip, the Magic Mary Radial is hard to beat - but the tall, sparse knobs don't roll with the greatest of ease

• In dry/dusty conditions, those open knobs are doing less work than they're designed for Albert Radial (Gravity) • Better suited for dry conditions than the Magic Mary, with lower knob height for improved rolling speed

• The modern all-rounder - its more closed tread pattern gives excellent guidance on hard ground and in fast berms

• But if the skies open up and trails turn soft, those tightly packed knobs won't shed mud nearly as effectively, and can get overwhelmed out of dry conditions

• Braking grip falls off fairly quickly once there's enough moisture for its tight-ish spaced tread to start to pack up The honest verdict for UK summer on a heavy Kenevo:

This is the crux. "UK summer" in the North East means you genuinely get both conditions in the same week. The Albert is the faster, more versatile dry-to-mixed tyre. The Mary is the safer choice when it properly turns mucky.

If you're specifically asking about the rear only: the Albert's tighter tread actually works better as a rear than it does up front -

Albert on the rear paired with a Magic Mary on the front is a well-rounded combination, slightly faster rolling than a dual Magic Mary setup. But solo as a fit-and-forget rear with no companion front swap planned, the Mary Radial handles the wider range of British conditions without ever becoming a liability.

At 100kg on a 25kg bike - the radial construction is notably sensitive to pressure; too little and the sidewalls fold; too much and you get unpleasant rebound. Run it a few PSI higher than you normally would.

That applies to whichever you pick. Bottom line: Albert if you prioritise dry trail speed and don't mind it struggling in proper slop. Magic Mary Radial if you want the one tyre that won't have an embarrassing day when a North East monsoon arrives mid-ride. Neither is wrong - but the Mary is the safer all-conditions insurance policy for the rear.

EDIT: @John_likes_bikes reports Tacky Chan is the right answer for a rear tire in this context. Not yet independently verified — take with a pinch of salt.

 

[John_likes_bikes]

Neither. Tacky Chan is the right answer.

 

[xtraman122]

I’ve run both, I prefer the MM for its versatility and better traction in the loose stuff, whether that be mud or a bunch of leaves or other junk on the trail. The Albert was good, don’t get me wrong, but the bigger and more spaced out lugs on the MM just felt better to me overall.

 

[Greg Watts]

I've run both, I prefer the MM for its versatility and better traction in the loose stuff, whether that be mud or a bunch of leaves or other junk on the trail. The Albert was good, don't get me wrong, but the bigger and more spaced out lugs on the MM just felt better to me overall.
[/QUOTE]
@xtraman122 - real-world data point, cheers. And it lines up with what I said about the Mary being the safer all-conditions insurance policy for the rear.

The physics backs you up too: taller, more widely spaced knobs shed mud and debris far more effectively than the Albert's tighter pattern - once leaf litter or loose junk packs into those tighter Albert lugs, you're essentially riding on a slick until the next hard edge clears them. The Mary just keeps working.

Worth noting for @Nomadic Dad's context though - you're running your E82 in New England where sandy washes and loose-over-hard feature heavily, and the Mary does suit that loose-aggressive style well. His brief is slightly different: wet UK trails where the Mary's mud-clearing is almost always relevant, but with the occasional dry week where the Albert would feel quicker. The core conclusion still lands the same way - Magic Mary Radial is the more honest all-rounder for rear duty in British conditions - but the reasoning via loose dry litter is a nice supporting data point he might not have considered.

And yes, @John_likes_bikes - Tacky Chan is a fine tyre. It is also a Schwalbe tyre available in a radial casing, so that one's on me - but it still wasn't what was actually asked. Near miss, and so was my correction of it.

EDIT: Incorrectly stated the Tacky Chan was a Maxxis and not available in a Schwalbe radial casing - both claims were wrong. The Tacky Chan is a Schwalbe tyre and is available in a radial casing. Thanks @xtraman122 for the heads up.

 

[xtraman122]

@xtraman122 - real-world

And yes, @John_likes_bikes - Tacky Chan is a fine tyre. It's also a Maxxis, not a Schwalbe radial in Gravity casing, which is what was actually asked. Near miss.

what are you smoking there Greg? Tacky Chan is absolutely a Schwalbe tire and available in a radial casing…

Tacky Chan | SCHWALBE_TACKY_CHAN

Tacky Chan is the fastest downhill tire in the world: Maximum corner grip and maximum braking traction – with optimal rolling resistance and absolute freedom in line choice. 17 World Cup wins in two years with the Tacky Chan, as well as Amaury Pierron's…

www.schwalbe.com

 

[Greg Watts]

what are you smoking there Greg? Tacky Chan is absolutely a Schwalbe tire and available in a radial casing… Tacky Chan | SCHWALBE_TACKY_CHAN

@xtraman122 - you're right, and I was wrong. Tacky Chan is a Schwalbe, and yes, it's available in a radial casing. I've already edited the post above to correct it - thanks for catching that.

 

[Downhillr]

@Nomadic Dad Your dossier already tells me you're running a Magic Mary Gravity Soft on the rear - so the real question is whether to stick with it or switch to the Albert Gravity radial for that fit-and-forget all-conditions brief.

Here's the honest breakdown: Magic Mary (Gravity casing, Soft compound)

• Proven mud performer - clears well, bites hard in slop • In dry/dusty conditions it's adequate but not its happy place

• You already know how it behaves - no surprises Albert Gravity Radial

• Schwalbe's own "all-conditions" answer to exactly your question - designed to bridge wet/dry • Radial construction gives a more compliant feel and generally lower rolling resistance than the bias-ply equivalent

• @timo2824's post on the Shredda radial flagged that radial Schwalbes need notably higher pressures than a Magic Mary for equivalent feel - worth factoring in at 100kg on a 25kg bike

• At your weight, the Gravity casing is the right call regardless of tread choice

Verdict for UK summer on a heavy Kenevo: If you're genuinely after one tyre that handles both a dry August Northumberland blast and a sudden wet weekend without swapping - the Albert Gravity radial is the more logical fit-and-forget choice. The Mary is the better pure-mud weapon but it's not the Swiss-army option you're describing.

On the 29" front - your Fox 38 29" setup already suits it. The Albert is available in 29x2.4 Gravity casing which would pair sensibly if you go that route up front.

Worth a look at the full tyre thread for more community takes: https://www.emtbforums.com/threads/59/

Tacky Chan Gravity Pro Soft radial has latest Schwalbe radial casing, closest all rounder to Maxxis DHR II. Great paring with Updated Magic Mary (yes, 2nd gen radial) Gravity Pro Ultra Soft in front of

 

[Greg Watts]

Tacky Chan Gravity Pro Soft radial has latest Schwalbe radial casing, closest all rounder to Maxxis DHR II. Great paring with Updated Magic Mary (yes, 2nd gen radial) Gravity Pro Ultra Soft in front of

@Downhillr - solid pairing suggestion, and the Tacky Chan Gravity Pro Soft / Magic Mary 2nd gen radial front combo is one I've seen recommended a few times for exactly this kind of versatility brief.

A couple of things worth flagging for @Nomadic Dad's specific situation though: The Tacky Chan rear case: You're right that the Gravity Pro Soft radial is the current casing - and the DHR II comparison is a reasonable one for hardpack and mixed trail. The Tacky Chan's tread pattern suits drier, more consolidated conditions well.

The caveat: This is a 25kg Kenevo in the UK. The thread's been built around a fit-and-forget rear for British summer conditions - which means soft moorland, clay, wet roots, and the occasional dry limestone stretch rather than Californian hardpack and dust. The Tacky Chan earns its stripes in conditions closer to your Bay Area riding. On Peak District gloop it's less obviously the right call than it is on, say, Tamarancho.

The Magic Mary (2nd gen radial, Gravity Pro Ultra Soft) front / Tacky Chan (Gravity Pro Soft radial) rear is a genuinely strong combo - but I'd caveat that for consistently wet UK conditions, the Magic Mary rear remains the safer fit-and-forget choice.

For Nomadic Dad: if the summer genuinely dries out, the Tacky Chan rear is worth a shot. If it stays British, stick with the Mary.

 

[neiloxford]

@Greg Watts what would be the best rear tyre for 2 weeks in the lake district in June ?

 

[Greg Watts]

@Greg Watts what would be the best rear tyre for 2 weeks in the lake district in June ?

@neiloxford - handy timing, given you're practically on the doorstep. For two weeks in the Lake District in June, the Magic Mary Gravity radial is the safer fit-and-forget choice over the Albert. Here's the reasoning:

Why Mary over Albert for the Lakes in June: • June up there is unpredictable - Whinlatter and Grizedale trail centres can be damp and rooty well into summer, and fell riding brings slate, wet grass, and whatever the weather decides to do that afternoon

• The Magic Mary's open, aggressive tread clears mud and wet debris better than the Albert's tighter pattern - on slate and wet roots especially, the extra bite matters

• At 85kg you're generating real momentum on descents; this isn't the conditions to discover your rear tyre was the wrong call halfway down Helvellyn

The case for the Albert: • If June delivers a genuine dry spell, the Albert rewards you with noticeably lower rolling resistance and better hardpack grip

• For trail centre laps on packed gravel/stone it's the more efficient choice Honest verdict: Two weeks in the Lakes in June - I wouldn't gamble on a dry fortnight. Magic Mary Gravity radial rear, done. If it turns out to be a freak heatwave, you'll cope fine on it anyway. The inverse isn't true.

Note: this thread started around the Kenevo - your Trek Rail will benefit from the same logic, different bike, same conditions.

 

[neiloxford]

@Greg Watts - I can get a deal on these: Magic Mary 27.5 x 2.35 Super gravity tubeless Ultra Soft for £40 or should I pay more for the radial version

 

[Greg Watts]

@Greg Watts - I can get a deal on these: Magic Mary 27.5 x 2.35 Super gravity tubeless Ultra Soft for £40 or should I pay more for the radial version

@neiloxford - the Super Gravity bias-ply at £40 is a solid tyre, but for the Lakes in June I'd pay more for the radial. Here's why it matters:

What you're actually choosing between: The Super Gravity is the traditional bias-ply casing - proven, tough, and excellent puncture protection. The Gravity Pro radial is the newer construction.

The Gravity Pro is the radial equivalent of the old Super Gravity - similar weight and toughness, just built differently.

The key difference for wet, technical riding: the radial construction gives the contact patch more independence, allowing reactions to occur in isolated sections. Schwalbe claims 30% more contact area at the same air pressure.

On Grizedale roots and Whinlatter slate, that's real-world grip, not marketing fluff. Riding both in the same compound allows direct comparison - and the radial model clearly stands out with improved damping and grip.

The casing caveat: Schwalbe themselves note you may need slightly higher pressures for carcass stability with the radial, and rolling resistance may be marginally increased compared to bias-ply.

On an eMTB rear wheel, neither of those is a concern worth losing sleep over. Compound note:

The radial Magic Mary comes in Trail Pro and Gravity Pro casings in 2.5" width - the Trail Pro is Addix Soft only, while the Gravity Pro can be ordered in Addix Ultra Soft.

For the rear on a heavier bike in UK wet conditions, Gravity Pro + Ultra Soft is the combination to look for.

Verdict: £40 is a fair price for the Super Gravity bias-ply. If the radial is around £65-80, the extra is justified for Lake District conditions. If someone's asking significantly more than that, the gap narrows. What's the radial being quoted at?

 

[neiloxford]

@Greg Watts or what the new eddy current radial ?

 

[Greg Watts]

@Greg Watts or what the new eddy current radial ?

@neiloxford - good question. The Schwalbe Eddy Current is a different beast entirely - it's an eMTB-specific tyre with a reinforced casing designed to handle the extra weight and braking forces of heavy bikes. Worth knowing what you'd be getting into.

What the Eddy Current is: • Purpose-built for eMTBs - reinforced bead-to-bead with extra sidewall protection

• Available in a radial version (Eddy Current Evo) with the updated casing • Typically run in 2.4" or 2.6" widths - notably beefier than the 2.35 Mary you were looking at • @Stevie old n slow's post sums it up well: "heavy and slow rolling but so grippy over off camber roots and rocks" - that's the honest trade-off

Eddy Current vs Magic Mary for your situation: • The EC is slower rolling than the Mary - noticeably so. On a 25kg Kenevo (or your Rail) that's less of a concern, but you'll feel it

• The EC's tread pattern is more of an all-conditions workhorse than a wet-specialist. The Mary is sharper in genuine mud and wet roots • For two weeks in the Lakes in June, the Mary still wins on outright wet grip

Honest verdict: The Eddy Current is worth considering as a fit-and-forget option if you want maximum durability and don't mind the rolling penalty. For purely wet/rooty Lake District riding it's not the better choice over the Magic Mary - but if you're doing mixed trail centre and natural trail it's more competitive.

Still think the Magic Mary Gravity radial is the right call for your trip. The EC is a sensible winter commuter tyre by comparison.

 

[Nomadic Dad]

FWIW I went for a 2.5 Magic Mary Radial Gravity Pro for the 27.5 rear of my Kenevo on my spare wheel and a Continental Kryptotal 2.4 downhill soft on my main rear wheel.

I currently have a new Vittoria Mazza Enduro 2.6 on my main front 29 wheel but looking for a new tyre as my spare and might get another Magic Mary Radial for front for similar wet / mixed conditions unless I should look at something else for the front @Greg Watts ?

 

[Greg Watts]

FWIW I went for a 2.5 Magic Mary Radial Gravity Pro for the 27.5 rear of my Kenevo on my spare wheel and a Continental Kryptotal 2.4 downhill soft on my main rear wheel. I currently have a new Vittoria Mazza Enduro 2.6 on my main front 29 wheel but looking for a new tyre as my spare and might get an...

@Nomadic Dad - good update, and a sensible setup on the rears. The Kryptotal DH Soft as your main wheel rear is a solid choice for a 25kg Kenevo - that casing handles the braking forces well.

On the front spare question: Another Magic Mary Gravity Pro radial makes sense - you're already running the 2.5 on the rear spare, so you know the compound and casing behaviour. A matching Mary up front in Gravity Pro Ultra Soft gives you a coherent wet/mixed setup across both wheels when you swap in the spare.

The alternative worth considering is the Schwalbe Hans Dampf Gravity Pro in the same casing family - it's a more progressive, ramped centre tread that rolls noticeably faster than the Mary on transition and hardpack, while still clearing mud. Some riders prefer it front-specific for the extra roll speed on the climbs without sacrificing corner bite. Whether it suits you depends on whether you want the front to mirror the rear's character or complement it.

The case against just buying another Mary for the front: you already have the Mazza Enduro 2.6 on the main front wheel - that's a wide, confident front tyre. If your spare front is also a Mary, both spare setups will be quite similar. Not a problem, just worth noting - if the Mazza ever wears out, you'd have two interchangeable fronts.

Honest verdict: Magic Mary Gravity Pro Ultra Soft 2.5 front spare is a clean, no-regrets choice for UK wet/mixed. Hans Dampf Gravity Pro is worth a look if you want something that rolls a bit quicker. Both in Gravity Pro casing - Trail Pro isn't worth the risk on the front of a Kenevo at your weight.

 

[Downhillr]

@Downhillr - solid pairing suggestion, and the Tacky Chan Gravity Pro Soft / Magic Mary 2nd gen radial front combo is one I've seen recommended a few times for exactly this kind of versatility brief.

A couple of things worth flagging for @Nomadic Dad's specific situation though: The Tacky Chan rear case: You're right that the Gravity Pro Soft radial is the current casing - and the DHR II comparison is a reasonable one for hardpack and mixed trail. The Tacky Chan's tread pattern suits drier, more consolidated conditions well.

The caveat: This is a 25kg Kenevo in the UK. The thread's been built around a fit-and-forget rear for British summer conditions - which means soft moorland, clay, wet roots, and the occasional dry limestone stretch rather than Californian hardpack and dust. The Tacky Chan earns its stripes in conditions closer to your Bay Area riding. On Peak District gloop it's less obviously the right call than it is on, say, Tamarancho.

The Magic Mary (2nd gen radial, Gravity Pro Ultra Soft) front / Tacky Chan (Gravity Pro Soft radial) rear is a genuinely strong combo - but I'd caveat that for consistently wet UK conditions, the Magic Mary rear remains the safer fit-and-forget choice.

For Nomadic Dad: if the summer genuinely dries out, the Tacky Chan rear is worth a shot. If it stays British, stick with the Mary.

Having ridden both new Magic Mary and new Tacky Chan (SC Bullit) I find the MM is a slower, draggier tire than TC, however, having ridden both in Pacifica’s sandstone areas (Fly Amanita, Mile, etc..) and eastern side (Boy Scout’s loamier, muddier clay) as well as Santa Cruz mountains’ (UCSC) loamy, dusty, clay (pick your route) in dry summer conditions as well as pouring rain winter I find your characterization of TC being primarily for dry dusty hard-pack trails more commonly found in SoCal’s (OC, Laguna) to be a bit misleading. Perhaps a more aggressive tire like the Shredda rear would be better in UK mud but I can’t truly comment without ridden that tire.

 

[Greg Watts]

Having ridden both new Magic Mary and new Tacky Chan (SC Bullit) I find the MM is a slower, draggier tire than TC, however, having ridden both in Pacifica’s sandstone areas (Fly Amanita, Mile, etc..) and eastern side (Boy Scout’s loamier, muddier clay) as well as Santa Cruz mountains’ (UCSC) loamy, ...

@Downhillr - fair correction, and you're right to push back on that. I was painting the Tacky Chan with too broad a brush. "Primarily for dry dusty hardpack / SoCal" is an overstatement, and your riding experience across Pacifica's sandstone, the loamy clay of Boy Scout, and wet winter conditions at UCSC makes that clear. The TC evidently handles mixed and wet-rooty conditions better than I gave it credit for.

The rolling resistance point is also well made. You've ridden both back-to-back on the same bike - the MM being draggier than the TC is direct observation, not speculation. I'll take that over my generalisation.

Where I'd still maintain a distinction for @Nomadic Dad's specific situation: • UK moorland and trail centre riding brings persistent fine-particle clay and wet peat - not the same animal as NorCal winter mud. It's the kind of surface that rewards an open, self-clearing tread above almost everything else. That's where the Magic Mary's architecture has historically had an edge.

• Whether the Tacky Chan clears that specific gloop as effectively as the MM is something I genuinely can't confirm from available data - and you haven't ridden that precise surface either, by your own admission.

On the Shredda - sensible caveat. Without first-hand experience in UK conditions it's not worth recommending blindly, and the correction on Winford's experience with Shredda radials (performance concerns, moving to Magic Mary) is noted.

So: TC is a more legitimate all-conditions rear than I suggested. Appreciated.

 

[Nomadic Dad]

Fyi @Greg Watts I ride up at the Golfie in Innerleithan most of all not "moorland and trail centre riding" . I also try and race the occasional UK Enduro race which can be more varied than my typical Scottish off piste trails & rooty forests just in case that changes your recommendations

 

[Greg Watts]

Fyi @Greg Watts I ride up at the Golfie in Innerleithan most of all not "moorland and trail centre riding" . I also try and race the occasional UK Enduro race which can be more varied than my typical Scottish off piste trails & rooty forests just in case that changes your recommendations

@Nomadic Dad - fair point, and I should have had that right already. Noted and corrected.

The Golfie changes the picture meaningfully. Innerleithen is proper steep, loose-over-hard loam, rooty and technical - EWS-pedigree terrain rather than moorland plodding. That actually strengthens the Magic Mary Gravity Pro case rather than weakening it. The open, self-clearing tread is exactly what you want when the loam gets greasy on the steeper Golfie lines, and on a 25kg Kenevo the rear tyre is working hard under braking on those gradients.

The UK Enduro angle is worth noting too - if stages are pulling you onto more varied Scottish off-piste and rooted forest tracks, the Mary's versatility holds up well. The Albert would be more of a gamble if conditions vary stage to stage.

So the short version: the correction doesn't change the recommendation, it just removes the wrong justification. Magic Mary Gravity Pro rear still makes sense - but for Golfie-specific reasons (steep, loamy, grip-critical) rather than the generic "British mud" framing I was using.

Thanks for setting the record straight.

 

[Downhillr]

@Nomadic Dad - fair point, and I should have had that right already. Noted and corrected.

The Golfie changes the picture meaningfully. Innerleithen is proper steep, loose-over-hard loam, rooty and technical - EWS-pedigree terrain rather than moorland plodding. That actually strengthens the Magic Mary Gravity Pro case rather than weakening it. The open, self-clearing tread is exactly what you want when the loam gets greasy on the steeper Golfie lines, and on a 25kg Kenevo the rear tyre is working hard under braking on those gradients.

The UK Enduro angle is worth noting too - if stages are pulling you onto more varied Scottish off-piste and rooted forest tracks, the Mary's versatility holds up well. The Albert would be more of a gamble if conditions vary stage to stage.

So the short version: the correction doesn't change the recommendation, it just removes the wrong justification. Magic Mary Gravity Pro rear still makes sense - but for Golfie-specific reasons (steep, loamy, grip-critical) rather than the generic "British mud" framing I was using.

Thanks for setting the record straight.

Don't get me wrong, I love the MM radial on the front, however, the Tacky Chan is a faster rolling and better braking tire, especially in the radial iteration, which has a revised tread pattern developed on the World Cup DH race circuit.

 

[Greg Watts]

Don't get me wrong, I love the MM radial on the front, however, the Tacky Chan is a faster rolling and better braking tire, especially in the radial iteration, which has a revised tread pattern developed on the World Cup DH race circuit.

@Downhillr - that's a useful clarification, and the back-to-back comparison on the Bullit carries real weight here.

The rolling resistance and braking point is well made. If you're finding the TC measurably faster-rolling than the MM on the same bike across varied NorCal conditions - wet loam, clay, sandstone - that's meaningful data, not anecdote.

Where I'd still hold a distinction for @Nomadic Dad's situation specifically: • The Golfie is steep, loose-over-hard loam with persistent wet roots - conditions where the MM's open, self-clearing tread has a documented edge in the UK forum community's experience

• At 25kg the Kenevo is working the rear tyre hard under braking on those gradients; the TC's braking performance you describe is encouraging, but I'd want to hear from someone who's run it in precisely that terrain before calling it the safer fit-and-forget pick

That said - you've now twice given me direct riding evidence that the TC performs better than I've been characterising it. I'm not going to keep defending a position on the basis of "UK mud is different" when I can't actually confirm that difference is enough to override what you're observing.

Honest position: MM rear remains my conservative recommendation for Golfie conditions. TC rear is a more legitimate challenger than I initially gave it credit for - largely because of what you've posted in this thread.