Folding Bikes - 16" (349) Tire Options and Suggestions

I am looking for different tires than the stock Marathons on my Tikit. What tire options are there in 16" (349)? I believe 40-349 is the largest the hyperfold Tikit can support, well, the front tire anyway (due to the hyperfold cable, even if we removed the fender).

Here's all the tires I know of:

* Schwalbe Marathon 37-349. A highly durable tire, but not fast or comfortable. Really 37? I don't believe it. I think it's 35. With reflective sidewalls.

* Schwalbe Marathon Plus 35-349. Supposedly better puncture resistance without more rolling resistance. With reflective sidewalls.

* Primo 19-349. Slick, very narrow.

* Primo Comet 37-349. Slick.

* Primo Comet 37-349 Kevlar Belted. Slick.

* Schwalbe Kojak 32-349. Slick.

* Schwalbe Kojak Kevlar Bead 32-349. Slick.

* Schwalbe Stelvio 28-349. Folding, puncture resistant, slck.

* Greenspeed Scorcher 40-349. Slick, large tire.

* Greenspeed Scorcher TR 40-349. Slick, large tire. Kevlar belt for puncture resistance. With Reflective Sidewalls.

* Raleigh Record 37-349. Not available in US.

* Brompton Yellow 37-349.

* Brompton Green 37-349. With Kevlar Belt and Reflective Sidewalls.


Now to what I'm looking for. I'd like a comfier tire than the Marathon. I don't need a faster tire but that'd be nice. I do want a tire that's not going to slip in the rain any more than the Marathons do. And I'd like a tire which doesn't go flat all the time. It's not a big deal if the tire wears out faster than normal.

I was looking at the Greenspeed Scorcher TR after seeing Vik's review (http://viktikit.blogspot.com/2008/06/greenspeed-scorcher-tr-2-month-review.html) of it. It's the widest and can be run relatively soft (supposedly) and still is fairly efficient. But after reading the earlier reviews from pm124 and james_swift (here (http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-205873.html) and here (http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-322194.html)) I am wary of their puncture resistance and slipperiness in the rain. And will the Scorcher hold up on tight turns or slip out on you? It was designed for trikes after all. Does anyone have an opinion here?

I've been pleasantly surprised with the Comets after receiving some in 20" on one of my Dahons. And the Marathons are ... sturdy and that's about it. Can't say anything about the others.

Schwalbe Stelvio 28-349. Folding, puncture resistant, slck.
I have use these and found them very fast and reasonably pucture resistant ( about 2 puctures a year). I used them with slime. If you are willing to replace them yearly they are reasonable for road use,but I have found they get damaged easierly. One only lasted a month, another set =two years old and still OK.

For the moment I have given up on them and returned to mathanons, however I am considering them again on my fastest folder.

Fitting tip , they are very difficult to fit without nipping the inner tubes, even with plastic ones. I recomend that on the first fitting you fit them without inner tubes to allow them to stretch,then after a while take them off and refit fit them with the innertubes.

I want to try kojaks next on my fast folder.

I just started using the Scorchers. So far, the tires have been night and day compared to the Marathons that came with my Tikit. The ride is cushier... and I feel like I'm rolling a little bit easier.

Unfortunately, my pending move to Utah has made it difficult to spend the kind of time with my bike that I would like... so I haven't really given the tires the full on commuting test.

--sam

Schwalbe Kojak 32-349 = good grip wet or dry, lightweight, fast, comfortable, great puncture resistance...... and good looking :thumb:

Another decent choice might be the Panaracer Crosstown (http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-Panaracer-Panaracer-Crosstown-Rigid-Tyre-Reflex--16-x-1-3-8-(35--349)-17346.htm), looks quite similar to the Marathon.



* Primo 19-349. Slick, very narrow.


I believe that this tyre is called a Primo Champ (as fitted to LP's Mercaton).


While we're talking tyres, does anyone know if the Greenspeed Scorcher will fit a Brompton, with or without mudguards?

@Lewis Butler. You are correct! They are a pain to fit but I've not had any problems with them since fitted. Slick, grippy, uber light and small. Their intended use is for racing wheelchairs. You need the skinniest rims (I have Velocity Aeroheads) though or you will get pinch flats/tube busting out of the beading. I love them - not the most forgiving of tyres on sketchy paved roads though...

Pixel - I know people on this forum have suggested this to you before, you might try Veloplugs to replace your rim tape, that'll make fitting tight tyres easier, and save a little weight :)

...While we're talking tyres, does anyone know if the Greenspeed Scorcher will fit a Brompton, with or without mudguards?


Calhoun Cycle specifically warns against doing this: (http://www.calhouncycleshopcast.com/?s=kojak&submit=Go)


All our 349 tires will fit a Brompton except for the Greenspeed Scorchers (a little too chubby for the Brompton Frames).

ECB

Calhoun Cycle specifically warns against doing this: (http://www.calhouncycleshopcast.com/?s=kojak&submit=Go)



ECB

i think scorcher will fit fine in the front wheel, but probly a bit too chubby for the chainstay

I run the GS Scorcher TRs in the summer and the Marathons in the winter on my Tikit. The Scorchers are excellent. I ride them in the rain - through all sorts of road debris downtown with zero flats and nice speed/comfort.

I liked them so much I got a 406 set for my Bike Friday NWT with equally happy results.

I tried Schwalbe Kojaks on another bike and didn't really like them very much. The Scorchers perform like I expected the Kojaks to. I am generally a big Schwalbe fan so this was a surprise to me. I should point out that the Kojaks weren't bad - they just weren't particularly good in terms of speed/comfort. I also tried out the 406 Kojaks not the 349 size.

I just started using the Scorchers. So far, the tires have been night and day compared to the Marathons that came with my Tikit. The ride is cushier... and I feel like I'm rolling a little bit easier.

Unfortunately, my pending move to Utah has made it difficult to spend the kind of time with my bike that I would like... so I haven't really given the tires the full on commuting test.

--sam

Hey Sam,

Where in Utah are you moving? I'm playing a 4 month summer gig in St. George; maybe we can get together and ride our tikits sometime!

Terry :)

Hey Sam,

Where in Utah are you moving? I'm playing a 4 month summer gig in St. George; maybe we can get together and ride our tikits sometime!

Terry :)

Salt Lake City. :)

But who in the UK will sell me Veloplugs! :)

But who in the UK will sell me Veloplugs! :)

Very good point, Pixel. I do have the advantage of living in Oz, the home of Velocity.

I think veloplug.com send them out from Germany.

You need the red plugs, BTW, for your Aerohead rims.

I was looking at the Greenspeed Scorcher TR after seeing Vik's review (http://viktikit.blogspot.com/2008/06/greenspeed-scorcher-tr-2-month-review.html) of it. It's the widest and can be run relatively soft (supposedly) and still is fairly efficient. But after reading the earlier reviews from pm124 and james_swift (here (http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-205873.html) and here (http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-322194.html)) I am wary of their puncture resistance and slipperiness in the rain. And will the Scorcher hold up on tight turns or slip out on you? It was designed for trikes after all. Does anyone have an opinion here?

IIRC while it is manufactured for trikes, the Scorcher wasn't really designed for trikes. Greenspeed has mentioned that, one day, they'd like to design an actual trike tire with a square profile, but I believe the Scorcher was created just because they weren't happy with the quality of conventionally designed bicycle tires in the 349 size.