the short answer is YES. we have been doing tubeless conversions for over 4 years with all the Schwalbe tyres. 1) have used Stans, latex and Schwalbe Doc Blue *
2) the side walls are NOT weak. they are 127EPI, much more than most other tyres.
In our experience, the problem is with the tackiness of the sidewall rubber. While the tyre is still new (first few rides), the sidewall are very grippy and tend to hold onto objects rather than knock them out of the way. Once the tackiness is gone, this issue is solved. We suggest before the first ride that you rub sand or baby powder on the sidewalls to eliminate the tackiness. Alternatively, the Racing Ralph is availble with Snakeskin side wall protection.
3) Handing is very good esp the 26x2.25. Because it is a race tyre, weight reduction is a priority. therfore there is not as much rubber on these tyres. However it is a triple compound tyre with the centre blocks being made of the hardest of the compounds, so they do last quite well.? I see from the latest releases of other tyres in the range that training versions are avaialble (heavier versions with less technical compounds) I am sure there will be a Racing Ralph in this soon too.? *Schwalbe recommends the use of Doc Blue only
