Electric Bikes - Tire Issues

I've got a bike with a Crystalyte hub on the rear wheel. I just replaced the wheel because I've cracked the rim. I expected that because it has almost 8,000 kilometres on it and it was the cheapy that came with the hub motor, but I've noticed my Specialized Armadillo is shot. The sidewalls won't even stay on the rim. I used the Armadillo because I didn't want a flat, and even though it is shot, it still holds 90 lbs. I really didn't like the hard ride though.

I use Schwalbe Marathon Plus on my touring bike and have been very happy. No flats, not too hard a ride. I uied to have lots of flats with my Conti's so don't even suggest....

Are there any other high mileage ebikers out there (5,000+ a year) and if so which tires do you use, have you had flats and most of all, how hard is the ride?

I use Schwalbe big apples. Never had a flat on them, and it is more like riding on a balloon. I find it much more comfortable than any other tire I have used

Schwalbe Big Apples here, also. Great ride, one flat but I still favor them over other tires I've used.

I've got a lot of love for Schwalbe's tires as well.

Own / have owned:
Marathon plus, marathon, marathon xr, marathon racer, ice spiker

Have experience with:
Big apple, snow stud, marathon supreme
(Experience being having used the tire more than once, not just a run around the block)

If you absolutely don't want flats, the Marathon Plus is tops. I use this tire on the back end of my cargo bike, where it is exposed to very high weight loads and very high mileage. No issues, although the marathon plus is not a very comfortable tire.

The Marathon Supreme may be a very good option to look into. It is quite puncture resistant as well, but considerably lighter than the marathon plus, and as it is both available in a higher volume design and built without the extreme thickness of the plus, it will be much more comfortable. This tire felt to me like a perfect blend at a high level, the downside is the also high price tag.

Still, the performance of the Marathon Supreme was enough to convince me that it will be the tire of choice for my new Bike Friday Pocket Llama, when it arrives.

The Big Apple is a modern marvel of comfort, and provides very good performance characteristics as well, for a tire of its stature. This tire has above average puncture protection, but you may still receive the occasional flat.

I would not recommend the marathon racer for you at all with your flat concerns, and the standard marathon is a nice tire, but is not top end on either comfort or flats, it is simply good on both.

The Marathon xr has extremely good puncture resistance and comfort, but is a tire made for moderate mixed terrain rather than city riding.

The Marathon xr has extremely good puncture resistance and comfort, but is a tire made for moderate mixed terrain rather than city riding.

My experience with the XR has been far better on roads than off. It is a very firm tire that prefers to ride over irregularities instead of conforming to them like an off road tire would. This isn't all bad on moderate off road terrain, but it makes it harder for me to handle the bike in ruts. On the other hand, I've run the XR very, very fast on the road, and it just ate it up. Finally, the XR is no match for puncture vine - I run mine with sealant in the tubes.

The marathon Plus that came with my eZee kit is awsome..

Hookworms are nice if you want a long lasting tire ( got a pile of miles on my chopper and it's as good as new, 20" however )

Got a " Holy Roller " on the front of my Norco, square knobs are ok off-road but not great, also long lasting.

Cheap tires ruin a good ride..

My experience with the XR has been far better on roads than off. It is a very firm tire that prefers to ride over irregularities instead of conforming to them like an off road tire would. This isn't all bad on moderate off road terrain, but it makes it harder for me to handle the bike in ruts. On the other hand, I've run the XR very, very fast on the road, and it just ate it up. Finally, the XR is no match for puncture vine - I run mine with sealant in the tubes.

Its a mixed terrain trekking tire, absolutely. More so designed to be a middle of the road tire.

Personally, I find that the Marathon Supreme is the XR's pure road equivalent, whereas the XR would be a better choice for poor roads, dirt roads and gravel. So far as puncture resistance, rolling and comfort, they're quite similar.