Magic Mary

mtb– EUR

Origin

Developed by Schwalbe's R&D in Reichshof, Germany (community sources suggest it began as 'Muddy Mary' before being repositioned as an all-rounder) and launched in 2013 as part of the Super Gravity gravity lineup alongside Rock Razor, Hans Dampf and Dirty Dan. It debuted at the Fort William DH World Cup, where Stevie Smith went on to win the 2013 overall on it — making it one of the most successful tyre launches in MTB history. From the outset it competed with the Maxxis Minion DHF, and today rivals the Minion DHF/DHR II, Maxxis Assegai, Michelin Wild Enduro Front and Continental Argotal.

Specifications

Weight: kg

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)