Hybrid and trekking riders whose rides mix bitumen, bike paths, gravel and dirt tracks.
Schwalbe sums up the Smart Sam as one for all, a long-time favourite with excellent all-round manners. It is made for riders who switch between road and off-road all the time.
The tread uses dense centre lugs that roll comfortably with low vibration and last a long time on hard surfaces, while edged outer blocks give safe grip in corners on dirt and gravel.
This is the 700 x 35c (37-622) size from the Performance line, with a wire bead and all-black sidewalls. It runs at 50 to 85 PSI and carries up to 100 kg, a good match for hybrids, trekking bikes and entry gravel bikes.
All-rounder tread
Rolls on the road, grips on dirt.
Low vibration
Dense centre lugs keep the ride smooth on hard surfaces.
Cornering grip
Edged shoulder blocks hold on loose ground.
Hard wearing
Performance line casing built for everyday use.
Size
Construction
Use
Dense centre lugs
Closely spaced centre knobs roll smoothly with low vibration on hard surfaces and wear slowly.
Edged shoulder blocks
Square-edged outer knobs bite when you lean the bike on dirt and gravel.
Great for
Maybe not for
Fits 700c (622 mm) rims. Needs frame, fork and brake clearance for a 35 to 37 mm tyre. Use a 700c tube sized to suit a 35 to 37 mm tyre.
Tune the pressure to the surface
Run towards 50 PSI on gravel and dirt for grip and comfort, and nearer 85 PSI for mostly sealed roads. Stay within the range printed on the sidewall.
Seat the bead evenly
After fitting, pump to about 30 PSI and check the moulded line just above the rim sits evenly all the way round on both sides before going up to full pressure.
Tyres and tubes from the German specialist.
Schwalbe is the tyre brand of Ralf Bohle GmbH, a family business from Germany that has worked in bicycle tyres for a century.
The Marathon family is its best-known range, and the brand is known for its puncture protection belts, SmartGuard in particular, and for running its own tyre recycling system.
