The company of brothers Eugen and Willy Bohle, founded in 1922, initially focused on the production of spare parts for bicycles, mainly targeting the Asian market. The Schwalbe brand appeared later, in 1973, when Ralf Bohle decided that the company should specialize in manufacturing bicycle tires. The company’s name comes from the German word for swallow and symbolizes fast and graceful movement, evoking a sense of freedom and ease of motion. This is exactly the feeling you get from Schwalbe tires when you get on and ride your bicycle.
When is a tire the best in its class and what should it provide you during riding – these are questions that Schwalbe says should be answered not by them, but by the users. That is why the company carefully listens to and discusses the qualities of tires with the most passionate cyclists, aiming to create the best possible tire for every type of cycling. However, the main goal, as idealistic as it may be, is to create the perfect bicycle tire that needs no improvement. By perfect, Schwalbe means a tire that combines the following qualities: the highest level of puncture protection, the longest possible mileage, maximum grip on any terrain, the best possible road behavior, and minimal weight. The ideal tire, of course, is still an illusion, but that does not mean Schwalbe does not strive to create it.
Despite everything, Schwalbe has managed to come close to the perfect bicycle tire; its name is Marathon, and this tire is currently recognized as the best tire not only from Schwalbe but also among other competing brands on the market. Evidence of this is the production of the series since 1986, during which the German cycling adventurer Wolfgang Reiche undertook a round-the-world journey and tested the engineering achievements of the Marathon tire series. At each of his rest stops, a new pair of improved Marathon tires awaited him, and in turn, he sent his impressions of the tires used under all kinds of conditions. That is why we can confidently say that by purchasing Schwalbe tires, you are not just buying tires but touching the entire engineering innovation, a touch of genius, and the long-standing history of a constantly evolving company.
