Schwalbe Gravity Pro versus Trail Pro

[Singletrackmind]

Please compare Schwalbe Gravity Pro versus Trail Pro and provide information on Addix Ultra Soft versus Addix Soft and which options are better for front/rear tires.

 

[Greg Watts]

Right, @Singletrackmind, Schwalbe's radial lineup is actually refreshingly simple once you cut through the naming. Here's the breakdown. Casing: Gravity Pro vs Trail Pro

These are the radial equivalents of the old Super Gravity and Super Trail casings. Trail Pro and Gravity Pro correspond to SuperTrail and SuperGravity bias-ply tyres in terms of weight and toughness.

There's roughly a 169g weight penalty for the Gravity Pro casing compared to Trail Pro. Think of it as Maxxis EXO+ vs DD territory: these weights are very comparable to Maxxis' EXO+ and DoubleDown weights respectively.

The Trail Pro is a single-ply construction with a rubber insert at the sidewall to improve impact protection and enhance overall stability. The Trail Pro casing can work well for front wheel use in enduro and gravity applications — real-world experience with tires like the Magic Mary radial Trail Pro confirms it's a capable front tyre for DH riding. That said, the Gravity Pro doubles down on sidewall protection and is what you want on the rear of an eMTB, or both ends if you're smashing proper gravity terrain and want maximum confidence.

At your weight (100kg) on the 2026 Wild, I'd run Gravity Pro on both ends without question given how punishing even "mellow" San Diego terrain can get on sidewalls.

Compound: Addix Ultra Soft vs Addix Soft Soft has an orange line. Ultra Soft (purple line) is designed for the most aggressive downhill and enduro applications, providing maximum grip and damping.

EDIT: Corrected the Trail Pro casing recommendation — real-world experience with the Magic Mary radial Trail Pro confirms it is suitable for front wheel use in DH/gravity riding. Previous edit note overstated the limitation. Thanks @whitymon for the heads up.

 

[Bndit]

I have had gravity Alberts and Magic Magy, I wouldn`t put trail casing even to front.

 

[Greg Watts]

I have had gravity Alberts and Magic Magy, I wouldn`t put trail casing even to front.

Fair point, @Bndit. At 70kg on a Bullit with an EP801, you're not exactly featherweight-on-a-hardtail territory, and Finnish rocks and roots don't forgive a soft sidewall. You've run the Gravity casings on both the Alberts and Magic Marys, so you know the difference firsthand.

The community consensus backs you up here. The Trail Pro casing is noticeably more compliant but that compliance comes at the cost of sidewall stiffness and support. On an eMTB with the extra weight and torque, that's a real trade-off. @George_KSL noted that most of the stickiest front compounds don't even come in trail casings, which tells you something about where Schwalbe (and Maxxis, and Conti) think the line is for aggressive riding.

The weight penalty for Gravity Pro over Trail Pro is real, roughly 170g per tyre, but on a full-power eMTB you're not going to notice that. What you will notice is the casing folding under you in a hard corner if you go too light. Given you're already running Magic Mary Ultra Soft Super Gravity on your bike park setup and rate it, Gravity Pro front and rear is the sensible call for your riding. The Trail Pro makes more sense for lighter riders on less aggressive terrain, not for someone sending Finnish rock gardens on a Bullit.

 

[whitymon]

I have had gravity Alberts and Magic Magy, I wouldn`t put trail casing even to front.

I do wonder so, as I wished to be able to pedal I put a Magic Mary radial trail pro up front for DH, so far no issue I do agree on rear it would be bad.

Hope I did not make a mistake

 

[Greg Watts]

I do wonder so, as I wished to be able to pedal I put a Magic Mary radial trail pro up front for DH, so far no issue I do agree on rear it would be bad. Hope I did not make a mistake

You haven't made a mistake, @whitymon, you've made a choice. And at 73kg on a Slash+ doing DH, that's actually a defensible one.

The Trail Pro front is going to give you noticeably less rolling resistance on the pedal sections, which matters when your motor is a 50Nm TQ rather than a full-power unit. And at your weight, you're putting significantly less stress on those sidewalls than someone like @Singletrackmind at 100kg would. The casing folding issue I mentioned earlier is much more of a concern for heavier riders running lower pressures.

The real question is what kind of DH you're doing. If it's bike park with maintained berms and jumps, the Trail Pro front will hold up fine because the forces are more predictable. If it's proper natural DH with off-camber roots and rock strikes at speed, that's where you'll eventually find the limit. Community feedback on the radial Magic Mary side knobs is that they're a 2/3/2 design that can fold and tear under hard cornering loads, and the thinner Trail Pro casing gives them less support when you're really leaning on them.

Keep an eye on the sidewalls after a few sessions. If you start seeing deformation marks or the tyre feels vague mid-corner, that's your cue. But until then, enjoy the pedalling.