Touring - How much more puncture resistant are Schwalbes?

I am currently using Pasela Tourguards on my LHT, however after fixing 2 flats in the last 2 weeks I desire something a little more puncture resistant. Would it be worthwhile to invest in some Schwalbe Marathons? Any other tires anyone would recommend?

Mike

I've been using Schwalbe Marathons Plus tires for about 9 months w/o a flat. The only thing that concerns me is the difficulty I had mounting the tire. So when you do get a flat, be prepared to wrestle.

Also, they are somewhat heavy tires... my wife had a pair of Contis on her bike. Much lighter.

Flats are obviously partly about the tire, but also about the road. You can get unlucky also. I carry a Passela tour guard with kevlar bead for a spare tire, but I use Schwalbes for the tires on the bike. Schwalbe makes a range of puncture proof tires, but there is usually a trade off if you go all the way. As some point they just make the tires really thick. I had a Schwalbe tire rupture.

15000 (thousand) miles on gravel, off road, tarmac, in fact all types

Punctures= 0 ( zero)


but I did have a bead go on one tyre and I met a german guy who had the same problem.

I recommend the Schwalbe Marathon XR to everyone
george

There are different types of Schwalbe marathons but if you want to avoid punctures then I would say that the Marathon Plus tyre is the way to go. I have found all the Marathon type of tyre to be good and use them on my commuting bikes/wheels. (I have a bikes/wheels with Marathon XR, Marathon Racer and Marathon Plus). The plus has the extra protection of a thick sponge protective band which takes some puncturing.

As the previous poster notes, on some rims they can be difficult to mount (at least you don´t have to mount them as often as a more puncture prone tyre) and they are not the lightest tyre but you can´t have everything.

I am just about to retire the first set of Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires that I purchased. I have several other pairs on other bikes that are still going strong.

The pair I am retiring took me around Lakes Huron, Michigan and Ontario as well as 27 other smaller tours without any problems. No flats and no punctures for thousands of kilometers.

They work extremely well for me. I'll be putting a new set of their 26 inch version on my Surly LHT when it arrives.

~Jamie N

I replaced a pair of Panaracer T-Servs on my commuter last fall with Marathon Plusses because I was getting flats every 500 miles or so. No flats so far and I have some pretty bad areas to ride through.

I think some of the previous posters have nailed it. The flat protection is really good but they are heavy and somewhat harsh riding. Also, they can be difficult to take on and off of the rim. The Crank Brothers Speed Lever (http://www.lickbike.com/productpage.aspx?PART_NUM_SUB='1610-00') and soap water helps mitigate this some.

I amclose to the in the end of a Southern tour and have approx 2900 miles on my Marathon Pluses - 0 flatss but my buddies have 7 flats between them on new tires and ones purchsed on the tour.

We just replaced our Vredestein Spiders after 12,000km with not a single flat. If you can lay your hands on a pair I'd definitely recommend them. We couldn't find any so now we've just put on the Marathon XRs. It's our first try with them so I can't speak from personal experience, but the guy who made our bikes said he took the XRs to Ethiopia and even after 7 weeks of riding on dirt roads he "barely wore off the moulding line down the centre" and also didn't have any flats.

Hi,
weight and size = flat resistance

I really like the Pasela Tourguards. I put them on Sis' bike, she weighs about 160.
I can run the pressure low enough with her that she isn't likely to get a flat.
But if we lived in an area with a lot of crap on the road they wouldnt' cut the mustard.

Schwalbe makes Marathons from 350 grams to around 800 grams. My bike shop had a display that
showed the guts of all their tires, they were actualy 2 inch long sections of each tire. Very cool idea.

Pick your weight. That is where you start, IMHO. I am in the 300-400 gram category. I suggest you look at the 400-500 gram tires. Perhaps the best of that group is Schwable's newest and most expensive touring tire.
http://schwalbetires.com/node/1201/ok

I think that tire is just so cool. You get the flat protection of a tire weighing a couple hundred grams more.
Their actual size is 2-3mm smaller than the advertised size, My tire was listed at 30c but it says 28c on the side of the tire. So the 35c Supreme is prob 32c when you pull it out of the box.

You have tons of other choices, of course.

This is my tire
http://schwalbetires.com/node/154/ok
It weighs about 4 ounces more than the Tourguards, and should be a lot tougher.
So if you don't want massively heavier, that is an option.

I just finished riding the Southern Tier two weeks ago. I used Schwalbe Marathons and had four flat tires during the entire ride. Not too bad I don't think. My friend who went with me used Specialized Armadillo's and only had one flat tire on the entire trip. Another rider that we met on the ride used Marathon Plus tires and completed the ride without a single flat tire. Maybe luck and maybe not but I would not be afraid to use any of the three myself.

I just finished riding the Southern Tier two weeks ago. I used Schwalbe Marathons and had four flat tires during the entire ride. Not too bad I don't think. My friend who went with me used Specialized Armadillo's and only had one flat tire on the entire trip. Another rider that we met on the ride used Marathon Plus tires and completed the ride without a single flat tire. Maybe luck and maybe not but I would not be afraid to use any of the three myself.

Hi,
which marathons were you using? The Schwalbe website doesn't list a plain Marathon that I am aware of.

http://www.schwalbetires.com/bike_tires/road_tires

I've had reasonable success with Armadillos. 3-5000 miles before the rear tire wore down to the threads with no increase in flats. I replaced that tire.

My LBS is putting Marathon Supremes on my LHT this week.

Does anyone actually have Marathon Supremes installed? Any impressions?

My LBS is putting Marathon Supremes on my LHT this week.

Does anyone actually have Marathon Supremes installed? Any impressions?

That tire is new, you are prob the first BF guy to try it. I think I was the first to
try the Marathon Racers, no distributor had it at the time, so I ordered it straight from Schwalbe.

My LBS is putting Marathon Supremes on my LHT this week.

Does anyone actually have Marathon Supremes installed? Any impressions?
I just installed Marathon Supremes on my Atlantis this morning and went for a ride unloaded. I don't have a lot experience with larger touring tires, but I found these to be "lively" for a larger tire. I would describe them as plush, but not mushy or vague. The pressure rating is 50 - 85 psi and I inflated them to 60 psi, which seemed fine unloaded (I weigh 165.) They replaced some Ruffy Tuffys (which run about 27mm) and they were much more comfortable than those tires, while still feeling precise. I attest that more to the suppleness of the casing than simply the size of the tire too.

The Supreme is not a thick tire and relies on the Vectran weave for protection. The tire had a lot more flexiibility to it than the Ruffy Tuffy. I would suspect that if you were consistently riding on bad roads and you placed flat protection at the highest of your priorities, you may want one of the other Marathons. But if your roads were typically good and/or you wanted a real nice ride then the Supremes might be the choice for you (if you can live with the price).

I talked to Schwalbe North America last week and in the 700c rim size they only have 35c available now. The other larger sizes are supposed to be available soon (next month). BTW -- some have complained about how hard it can be to install Schwalbe tires. I used some Tioga "Bead Wax" for the first time on the tire bead and rim edge and it worked well; others have different solutions that work too.

I just installed Marathon Supremes on my Atlantis this morning and went for a ride unloaded. I don't have a lot experience with larger touring tires, but I found these to be "lively" for a larger tire. I would describe them as plush, but not mushy or vague. The pressure rating is 50 - 85 psi and I inflated them to 60 psi, which seemed fine unloaded (I weigh 165.) They replaced some Ruffy Tuffys (which run about 27mm) and they were much more comfortable than those tires, while still feeling precise. I attest that more to the suppleness of the casing than simply the size of the tire too.

The Supreme is not a thick tire and relies on the Vectran weave for protection. The tire had a lot more flexiibility to it than the Ruffy Tuffy. I would suspect that if you were consistently riding on bad roads and you placed flat protection at the highest of your priorities, you may want one of the other Marathons. But if your roads were typically good and/or you wanted a real nice ride then the Supremes might be the choice for you (if you can live with the price).

I talked to Schwalbe North America last week and in the 700c rim size they only have 35c available now. The other larger sizes are supposed to be available soon (next month). BTW -- some have complained about how hard it can be to install Schwalbe tires. I used some Tioga "Bead Wax" for the first time on the tire bead and rim edge and it worked well; others have different solutions that work too.

Hi,
what size does it say on the sidewall? Biggest tire my bike will take is 32 and I was wondering if they'd fit.

After switching to Schwalbe Marathon XR 700x47 I have only had one flat in 10k miles. The flat came from a thick sharp piece of metal embedded upright in hardened mud on the Divide Ride. Other than that I have forgotten about getting flats since the switch. Durability and flat minimization are benefits hard to beat.

Has anyone tried Continental City Contact tires?

Mike

Hi,
what size does it say on the sidewall? Biggest tire my bike will take is 32 and I was wondering if they'd fit.
It says 700 x 35c, but the ETRTO is 37-622. I think the ETRTO width (37mm) represents the maximum width on a relatively wide rim after the tire has been ridden for awhile. I don't have a caliper so I can't accurately measure it on my rim. Looks like it may be too wide for your bike.

I was using the Schwalbe HS368 Marathons on my trip...

I just finished riding the Southern Tier two weeks ago. I used Schwalbe Marathons and had four flat tires during the entire ride.

The original Schwalbe Marathon is an good tire buy not a great one. I had them on my folder for years and I did get flats once the tire became used. I had to buy Tuffy tire liners to get more years out of them. I'm using the "Slick" Schwalbe and it's said not to have the same protection but it's a great tire. I use it with a Tuffy tire liner and they only gave me one flat in over 2 years of use! An industrial staple broke through the tire and liner!

I wish my Schwalbe slick would wear out so I can buy new ones but these tires look like they'll last another 3 years! I feel so confident with them that I laugh at broken glass on the street! HA HA HAAAAA! (nah I actually avoid glass but if I have to run over it, I'm secure the tires will hold up fine)

I very rarely carry a bicycle airpump and extra inner tube. I know I'm playing with fire but these tires are so tough, I'm confident to the point of being careless. I can't speak highly enough of these tires.

A lot. Get them. Unless you like flats.

I have used Schwalbe Marathons and Marathon XRs and not had a flat yet. YMMV.