Schwalbe Thunder Burt Super Ground TLE

For riders focused on outright speed, the Schwalbe Thunder Burt Super Ground TLE is exceptional. Fast, smooth and remarkably efficient, it challenges the long-held assumption that wider tyres must be slower. If your frame has the clearance, it deserves serious consideration as one of the quickest gravel race tyres available – so long as it’s dry, anyway.

The Thunder Burt has long been a favourite among cross-country racers thanks to its impressively low weight and rapid rolling, but with Schwalbe now offering a comprehensive gravel range (including large-volume G-Ones designed specifically for drop-bar bikes), does this repurposed mountain bike tyre really have a place? Spoilers: yes.

Schwalbe Thunder Burt Super Ground TLE – Technical Details

All the 2.1in Thunder Burts use the Addix Speed compound, which is the fastest off-road compound Schwalbe does.

We tested the all-black Super Ground carcass with its modest layer of sidewall protection, but there’s a Super Race carcass with transparent tan walls if you prefer – that lacks the bead-to-bead protection found here, though the focus is on ultimate suppleness rather than lower weight – it’s actually only 5g lighter.

Schwalbe claims 550g for the Super Ground, but our pair weighed 590g and 585g. That’s noticeably heavier than claimed, although it’s still low for a tyre of this width.

Under the tread lies a 67 TPI (threads per inch) casing, which is standard construction across Schwalbe’s performance-oriented XC tyres, and much of its G-One Pro gravel range too.

Schwalbe Thunder Burt Super Ground TLE – Performance

Fitting and inflation were straightforward. Without an insert, I was able to mount the tyres onto a set of Specialized Roval wheels entirely by hand. Just to be clear, it was the tyres without the insert, and not me, and I probably could have phrased that better, because to further clarify I didn’t have an insert either.

Even when using an insert (in the tyre… look, just leave it) such as a Vittoria Air-Liner Light or a Tubolight, a single tyre lever was enough to get the beads on.

Seating and inflating the tyres was also simple, as it only needed a standard track pump. On some Roval Terra CLX III rims (27mm internal rim width), the Thunder Burt measured 55mm, or 2.16in.

Finding the ideal tyre pressure proved difficult, though that’s not the tyre so much as the application – I had the same issue with the Continental Dubnital 2.0. The higher proportion of road typically involved in gravel rides when compared to mountain bike rides seems to narrow the sweet spot. At mountain bike-ish pressures the Thunder Burt felt overly soft and vague on firm surfaces, but towards 30psi it starts to feel harsh and ping off rocks when you’re off-road.

Given the low-profile tread, it comes as no surprise that the Thunder Burt is best in dry conditions. In mud, climbing traction is limited, and braking quickly turns to a skid. Cornering grip is similarly modest, particularly as a front tyre, and regaining control can be difficult once it slides as there’s no real shoulder to dig in. While it can actually get your though the odd slippery section better than you might reasonably hope, this is very much a tyre for speed in dry conditions, and don’t go thinking you can seriously push beyond that.

The Thunder Burt truly excels on dry tracks and fast gravel. The extra air volume over a typical gravel tyre gives the bike a noticeably more composed, floating feel, smoothing rough surfaces without compromising speed. Rolling resistance feels exceptionally low, while road and trail noise are almost non-existent. The benefits are noticeable, and it’s really impressive how quickly it covers the ground.

I never suffered a puncture during testing, even though the sidewalls feel relatively thin, and the bead-to-bead layer of SnakeSkin protection surely had something to do with that. Even so, at under 600g, this remains a tyre I’d primarily reserve for racing rather than everyday riding.

Durability was better than expected. The tread depth is very shallow, almost slick, but wear rates proved impressively low. After almost 1,000km across a mix of surfaces and conditions, the rear tyre showed only modest signs of wear, while the front remained in excellent condition.

Schwalbe Thunder Burt Super Ground TLE – Verdict

It’s no surprise the Thunder Burt has become so popular as a gravel race tyre, as it’s so smooth and fast.

The closest rivals arguably come from Schwalbe’s own range – particularly with the G-One RS, plus the R and RX. All are now available in 50mm, 55mm and 60mm widths as well as the more typical narrower gravel options.

The Schwalbe G-One RS was my benchmark fast gravel tyre when the widest option was 45mm, but as tyre clearance grew beyond ‘traditional’ gravel widths, the decision became far less straightforward. The G-Ones have greater puncture protection but also weigh more, which could be an important consideration depending on the terrain and event.

Continental’s Dubnital is another obvious alternative, with a 2.0in (50mm) version now available. In terms of outright speed, the Dubnital and Thunder Burt feel remarkably similar, despite approaching performance from different directions; the Dubnital features a much more aggressive tread pattern (yet somehow performs below expectations in wet and muddy conditions). The Thunder Burt, meanwhile, has little tread but can at least handle the occasional slippery track. In real-world conditions, the gap between the two is surprisingly small.

At £69 the Thunder Burt undercuts Schwalbe’s G-One range by a small margin, and gets very close to the Continental Dubnital 50mm, which goes for £66.99. However, the Thunder Burt’s superior durability helps offset that £2.01 difference (every little helps), as the Dubnital showed noticeably faster wear during testing.

Gravel racing has given the Thunder Burt a deserved second life. Once considered a specialist XC race tyre for bone-dry courses, it feels perfectly at home on modern gravel bikes. It remains a tyre best suited to the dry, and the lightweight casing means I’d still think twice before using it for regular riding or particularly rough terrain, but overall it’s just that little bit more versatile and still really, pleasingly fast.