Commuting - Scwalbe Marathon Plus

Has anyone any experience of the Marathon Plus.?

I'm dropping my bike into the LBS to have new shifters,cassette and chain fitted on Friday (call me lazy, but I'd rather have them do it and spend my free time pedaling) and whilst I've got a few more miles left in my current tires the tread has quite a number of glass cuts on it which are starting to trap grit.

My requirements are - near enough puncture proof, fast rolling on road but capable of dry off-roading on gravel, hardpack, baked mud but nothing technical.

I've been impressed with my Vredestein Spiders but the LBS doesn't currently carry them, and I'm of the view that just because I like what I currently use I might be even more impressed with something else.

I looked at the Specialised Nimbus and liked the feel of the plain tyre but the Armadillo coated version lacks suppleness and wasn't impressive.

The Marathon Plus seems to have a nice profile and looks like it's going to be pretty fast rolling (resistance wise). I'm convinced by the puncture layer and hope that the weight doesn't make them too slow.

Any experience, or views?

Richard

I currently have a Schwalbe Marathon as my rear tyre. If I have understood correctly, this is the "lighter", easier rolling version of Marathon Plus. I was impressed by its silent running when I first tried it out. I have had no problems so far (2000+ kms) and it seems to hold well against wear.

--J

I have the Marathon and consider it one of the best tires for commuters on the market. Tuffy tire liners along with the Marathon make it an indestructable to glass.

Thanks for your replies - I'll give them a go. I certainly won't need liners with the Marathon Plus. If they're too heavy I could try the ordinary marathon on the front...

Richard, I L-O-V-E my Marathons. Last summer I biked 2700 km (1680 miles) through eastern Germany, Czech republic etc with them...

NOT A SINGLE FLAT!!!

And then I hit - by mistake but I couldn't turn around - some of the worst "roads" I've biked on in my whole life. My bike was literally thrown between the stones, and it was constantly packed with four panniers.

You won't find a better tire! I am VERY heavy and my tires take quite a beating even on streets. The Marathons are the only tires I've found that take it all it without any problems.