Magic Mary

mtb– EUR

Origin

Part of Super Gravity lineup — along with Rock Razor, Hans Dampf, Dirty Dan Schwalbe R&D, Reichshof, Germany Stevie Smith — 2013 DH World Cup overall winner on Magic Mary Maxxis Minion DHF, Kenda Nevegal, Continental Der Baron Maxxis Minion DHF/DHR II, Maxxis Assegai, Michelin Wild Enduro Front, Continental Argotal

The verdict

+Strengths

Exceptional cornering grip in loose, muddy, rocky terrain — widely considered best-in-class for variable wet conditions
Outstanding mud shedding — tall open knobs clear fast, no clogging
Predictable — rounded profile gives progressive lean feel vs squarer profiles
V-Grooves: each knob bites individually — more grip than flat-based knobs
Versatile across seasons — wet winter, dusty summer, rocky singletrack all manageable
Super Gravity casing: excellent puncture and cut resistance, stiff sidewalls without excess weight
Quick and easy tubeless setup — pops on rim without effort (multiple reviewers note this)
Radial version: unprecedented wet grip, near-radial carcass deformation gives motocross-like compliance
Good wear life for a soft compound — multiple reviewers note Addix Soft outlasting Maxxis equivalents

−Weaknesses

Higher rolling resistance on smooth/hardpack — not ideal for bike park berms or XC
Runs narrower than stated size (especially 2.35" and older 2.6" versions)
Not ideal as a rear tyre — lacks straight-line braking traction for rear use
Radial version: more susceptible to rim strikes and impacts; requires higher pressures
No hardpack or intermediate compound option — only Soft and Ultra Soft available
Bead fitment can be very tight — may require CO2 or Airshot for first tubeless seating
Weight: Super Gravity 29x2.35 ~1,150g — heavy by modern enduro standards
Addix Soft compared to Maxxis MaxxTerra — not the stickiest option at maximum grip level

Did you know

01Magic Mary is described as 'the tyre that finally turned the tide away from Maxxis' by Singletrack World — its tread pattern has no Maxxis equivalent, making it genuinely unique in the market
02The tread pattern has remained virtually unchanged since 2013 — testament to its design quality. As BikeRadar noted: 'if it isn't broke, why fix it?'
03Stevie Smith won the 2013 DH World Cup overall on Magic Mary at the very launch race — arguably the most successful tyre launch in MTB history
04Magic Mary Radial (2024) is the first mainstream MTB radial tyre — automotive radial technology applied to mountain biking. Pinkbike confirmed Schwalbe is still the only company offering this construction.
05The 'Mary up front, DHR II out back' combination is a widely-used enduro setup among riders who don't mind mixing brands — praised in Singletrack World as '365 days of the British year' setup
06Magic Mary was originally called 'Muddy Mary' per community sources — renamed to reposition as all-round tyre, not just wet-condition specialist
07On width: the printed 2.35" measures ~2.27" actual, and the 2.6" measures ~2.35" actual — Magic Mary consistently runs narrower than stated size (BikeRadar)
08Magic Mary is widely seen as Schwalbe's equivalent to the Maxxis Minion DHF in terms of market position — but with a genuinely distinct tread pattern that excels where DHF doesn't (loose/muddy terrain)