Schwalbe Hans Dampf Snakeskin TL Ready – 26in Review

The fast-rolling Rocket Ron and tenacious Knobby Nic established Schwalbe’s reputation for producing lightweight, high-volume tires. While these tires bridged cross country speed with all-mountain reliability, they suffered when the terrain got seriously aggressive. Hearing the cries, Schwalbe responded with the more durable Hans Dampf Snakeskin TL Ready 26in Tire. With large tread blocks, a 2.35 inch width, and Snakeskin sidewall reinforcement the Hans Dampf 29er is placed squarely in the aggressive all mountain/enduro racing market. Featuring Schwalbe’s tubeless-ready TL technology, meaning that it will require sealant in order to complete the tubeless picture. In our eyes, this is no big deal, as sealant has proven to not only provide an air tight seal, but it also helps prevent flats down the road. Adding another color to that flat-resistant picture is the aforementioned Snakeskin sidewall. Snakeskin is a nylon-fabric protection layer that’s laminated to the sidewall in order to prevent cuts and abrasion from rocks. And while the added material does add a touch of heft to the Hans’ waistline, it’s only marginal when considering the added piece of mind. The tire also uses Schwalbe’s 67 TPI casing with a three-ply layer under the tread. That aggressive tread pattern is composed of Schwalbe’s TrailStar compound — a rubber mixture that contains carbon filler. This gives the Dampf toughness without hindering any pliability. The result is a fast rolling, aggressive tire. For added cornering traction, Schwalbe also used a grippier, softer rubber for the side knobs. The Schwalbe Hans Dampf Snakeskin TL Ready 26in Tire is available in a 26 x 2.35in width.