Schwalbe Magic Mary Bikepark Dual - Review

Schwalbe's Magic Mary has been out for a couple years now, and despite the numerous choices out there for a solid pair of grippy tires, it has still remained one of the top choices for professional racers and also privateers in both enduro and downhill. I have put the more budget - minded Bikepark variant of this tire to the test to find out how it pairs up against the opposition and to form an opinion on it.

                                                                        

                                                                            Source
Technical Details

• Purpose: Enduro/ Downhill/BikeparkWheel
• Sizes: 26, 27.5 (2.35 Tire Width)
• Carcass: Bikepark Dual 
• Weight: 1400g
• Cost: 23.99 MSRP

Out on the trail use
                                                                      Source
Climbing: Even though this tire isn't meant for doing any sort of climbing, I still put it to the test, being curious to see how it would perform. Despite the tires actually being quite grippy which can often times help when climbing, any flat or uphill section felt like a real chore, but considering their weight and recommended use I don't think you would/should be looking to do any sort of climbing on them. 

Descending: Now, this is where the fun part actually begins. I tested these tires in both muddy and dry conditions when descending and I can safely say the performance has really impressed me. Considering the price tag these tires have a premium feel to them. Blasting down trails with these tires on really makes you feel in full control of your bike while the tread keeps it in a straight line while braking.



                                                                       Source
Cornering: Cornering was one part where the Bikepark version of the Magic Mary falls behind when compared to its more expensive competitors . Mainly due to the harder compound I found it quite difficult pushing my bike into corners whilst going decently fast. I frequently found myself slowing down quite a bit before a corner, especially on muddy trails. However, I have to mention that the grip while cornering on dusty trails was as much if not more than what someone can expect when looking at the price tag.

Durability: This is where the Bikepark version of the Magic Mary really shines. During the almost one month of using them, I didn’t get a single flat tire. They were able to chew through everything  that was thrown at them. Moreover, both the front and rear tire barely showed any signs of wear which I find to be one of the main selling points for a lot of people (myself included) . 


Conclusion
Despite it not being able to compete with the higher end options out there, the Magic Mary Bikepark Dual was not meant to fill that role. Its excellent durability, puncture resistance and surprisingly decent grip make it a great choice for anyone looking to smash down bikeparks or their local downhill trails without having to worry about not having grip without breaking the bank in the process.