Bicycle Mechanics - Anyone have fit problems with Schwalbe Marathon?

This weekend I put a pair of 700x32 Marathons on Velocity Synergy rims.

One tire went on just fine, but the other seemed mishapen and took 3 or 4 tries to get the bead to seat. Later, about 8 miles into a ride it blew out badly.

I may have just gotten a bad tire, but I am curious if anyone else has had a problem like this. I don't think it was badly installed.. I've changed my share of tires, and haven't ever had this problem before.

Thx
Steve

This weekend I put a pair of 700x32 Marathons on Velocity Synergy rims.

One tire went on just fine, but the other seemed mishapen and took 3 or 4 tries to get the bead to seat. Later, about 8 miles into a ride it blew out badly.

I may have just gotten a bad tire, but I am curious if anyone else has had a problem like this. I don't think it was badly installed.. I've changed my share of tires, and haven't ever had this problem before.

Thx
Steve

Just what I want to hear, one day after ordering the parts to build a new bike, including a pair of 700x32 Marathons, and a pair of Velocity Synergy rims.:(

On my european tour this past Spring I cut one of my tires badly and had to replace it. Got a Marathon. It was listed as a 700c but it fit so loosely that I could have stood back 10 feet and tossed it onto the rim like a carni game. I had to put the old tire back on complete with 10 pound note tire boot. With no way or desire to pack the Marathon it got left in the train station at Dundee Scotland. Hopefully it fit the next guy's rim better than mine.

Now I KNOW from all the enthusiastic owners that this can't be common but it would appear that they may have gotten a bad batch.

I've had them in 20" and 27" now. Both pairs have been stiff and difficult to mount but have worked fine once mounted. I dread the day I have to pull them off to fix a flat though...

I've had them in 20" and 27" now. Both pairs have been stiff and difficult to mount but have worked fine once mounted. I dread the day I have to pull them off to fix a flat though...
Yeah. I'm not exactly puny but some tyres seem destined for shop-mounting only, and then only after half an hour's effing and blinding. In wet black cold blasted-heath conditions you can forget it.

Funny, I have a set on my daily rider that has 26" wheels and I found them no harder to mount than any other tire.

It's probably the synergy rim/rim tape combo. We carry and install many schwalbe marathon tires for our customers. They aren't particularly difficult to mount. The marathon plus on the other hand is signficantly more challenging to put on than a run of the mill tire.

Thanks for the help folks,

To clarify the problem, this tire is too loose/big. Mounting it was easy.

Rim tape is standard Velox

Thanks for the help folks,

To clarify the problem, this tire is too loose/big. Mounting it was easy.

Rim tape is standard Velox

That was the same thing I had with mine. 700c if it matters.

Inflate slowly 10psi at a time. In between use your hands to work the bead all the way around. Keep going until the bead and tire looks good, then inflate all the way.

I have replaced/removed this particular tire quite a number of times while in outback australia. I just had 3 plastic tire levers and there were no problems changing tires or just fixing a flat. My wheels on my touring bike are 26" with 48 spokes.

Funny, I have a set on my daily rider that has 26" wheels and I found them no harder to mount than any other tire.

Same here. I do need tire levers with them, though. Some tires can be changed without them.

I have used three Schwalbe Marathons on my folding bike with 16" wheels. One was defective; wouldn't stay on the rim. The second one wore out surprisingly quickly -- I don't have records on this, but I think it lasted only 500 - 800 miles or so. The third one is holding up really well; I bought a replacement for it several months ago, thinking it was on its last legs, but it continues to hold up.

I should mention that 500-800 miles is a short life for a tire, but not outlandishly so; small wheels get a lot more abuse than big ones. Also, I should add, the tire didn't exactly wear out; it got a bad gash in it, and when booted it developed a bulge, so I tossed it.

I had a heck of a time getting the same sized marathons on my Velocity Deep Vs. Thankfully they've stayed on (no flats - knock on wood) in over 10 months. Best commuting/touring tire I've ever used.

I've had them in 20" and 27" now. Both pairs have been stiff and difficult to mount but have worked fine once mounted. I dread the day I have to pull them off to fix a flat though...

The 700x28 Marathon Plus tires were a little tough to mount the first time, but it's getting easier as I learn how to mount a tire with stiff sidewalls. I have regular Marathons on 26" wheels on my touring bike, and they were less trouble to mount.

But no problems with fit, after you wrestle them onto the rim.


I had a heck of a time getting the same sized marathons on my Velocity Deep Vs. Thankfully they've stayed on (no flats - knock on wood) in over 10 months. Best commuting/touring tire I've ever used.

+1. They are great for commuting and/or touring.

The 700x28 Marathon Plus tires were a little tough to mount the first time, but it's getting easier as I learn how to mount a tire with stiff sidewalls. I have regular Marathons on 26" wheels on my touring bike, and they were less trouble to mount.

But no problems with fit, after you wrestle them onto the rim.


+1. They are great for commuting and/or touring.

My Marathon Plus tires are easy to get on and off. No tools needed.

My rims are extra wide to handle the wide tires. I also noticed that they have an extra deep side. It is very easy to offset one side of the tire in the rim and the other side just slips on. You just have to double check that the tire is centered and the bead is seated.

I put Marathons (not Plus) on my recumbent. 26x1.5 and 20x1.5 It was a little more difficult to mount than the standard Kenda Kwest x1.25 tires that were on there before.


Inflate slowly 10psi at a time. In between use your hands to work the bead all the way around. Keep going until the bead and tire looks good, then inflate all the way.

Yeah, that. The tires did seem a bit "out of shape", but carefully checking everything along the way (and deflating and adjusting if necessary) seems to do the trick. I doubt they'll be that hard to re-mount on the side of the road. Being mounted to a rim should help them keep their shape.

My Marathon Plus 700x28 were really hard to install. They kept coming off the rim and I even blew out a tube because the tire was not properly seated. I have been riding them since (850 km) with no issues.