Schwalbe

Schwalbe is a renowned German brand specialized exclusively in high-quality tires and tubes for bicycles and wheelchairs. Owned by the family-run company Ralf Bohle GmbH, it is the market leader in Europe and maintains a global presence in over 70 countries.

The family business dates back to 1922 in Bergneustadt, Germany. “Schwalbe” means “swallow” in German. Founder Ralf Bohle began importing Korean “Swallow” brand tires in 1973 and translated the name for the German market, where the bird is a symbol of good luck and light-hearted movement. In 1973, Schwalbe partnered with the Korean company Hung-A in a joint venture. All tires are produced in their own state-of-the-art facilities in Indonesia and Vietnam.

Schwalbe is widely known for its technical leadership in puncture protection and sustainability. Their most famous line includes the Marathon Plus, which the company calls the only “flat-less” tire due to its patented 5mm-thick SmartGuard protection belt. The Green Marathon is a circular-economy pioneer, made from 70% recycled and 80% renewable materials, including fairly sourced rubber. Their Addix rubber compounds are used across mountain bike (MTB) and road ranges to optimize grip, speed, and durability. In 2024, they introduced radial carcass tires (e.g., Magic Mary Radial), claiming better damping and ground adherence compared to traditional diagonal designs. The company also offers specialized products like Aerothan (thermoplastic polyurethane tubes) and the Clik Valve system for easier one-handed pumping.

49 Bespoke is proud to distribute their wheelchair products to the dealer network in Canada and note the leading of the Marathon Plus line along with their Right Run products, and now Dunk Kings.