Where does the name "Schwalbe" come from?

The tires Ralf Bohle first imported from Korea in 1973 were originally called "Swallow." Since Germany was the biggest market for the brand at the time, "Swallow" was translated into German — "Schwalbe" — and the name stuck.

There's a nice bit of symbolism in it, too: in Korea, the swallow is a traditional symbol of good luck. For Schwalbe, it's come to represent cycling itself — fast, light-hearted, confident, and free.
Through multiple logos and re-branding, the meaning of Schwalbe has been carried forward to the modern day:

Updated on: 08/13/2026