Commuting - Marathon Supreme users: real-world sizing?

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.



PDA
SuperDave
07-03-12, 11:39 AM
I tried the Search for this without result; forgive me if my skills were insufficient.

Research elsewhere indicated from a couple sources that MS's run a tad small, and I'd like to know if anyone here can confirm that. It would make the difference between me purchasing 32's instead of 28's, because 28 (or close to it) is my desired final size.

alan s
07-03-12, 11:48 AM
I tried the Search for this without result; forgive me if my skills were insufficient.

Research elsewhere indicated from a couple sources that MS's run a tad small, and I'd like to know if anyone here can confirm that. It would make the difference between me purchasing 32's instead of 28's, because 28 (or close to it) is my desired final size.

Depends to some extent on the width of your rims. However, are a couple mms really that big a deal in the real world? Is it a frame clearance issue?
jeffpoulin
07-03-12, 12:03 PM
I have Supremes in 700x32 on Mavic A319 rims. The width, as measured with a caliper when the tires are inflated to 5.0 bar (72 psi) is 32.1mm. However, they're a couple years old and the tires stretch a little over time. When they were new, they were closer to 30mm.

Shimagnolo
07-03-12, 12:06 PM
On a Velocity Synergy rim, (23mm outside dimension), a 32mm MS measures 30mm wide.
SuperDave
07-03-12, 12:18 PM
Depends to some extent on the width of your rims. However, are a couple mms really that big a deal in the real world? Is it a frame clearance issue?

19.4mm, according to DT Swiss.

It's a comfort issue rather than a clearance one. I tried a pair of Panaracer T-Serv's a few years ago which sized small. They forced me to run higher pressures than I'm happy with, more like 90-95 than the 65-70 which gives me the ride quality I like. Turned my steel hybrid into the stereotype of a "stiff aluminum" bike. So, if the Supremes run even a *little* small, I'm going to 32's.
jeffpoulin
07-03-12, 12:25 PM
I can attest that the Supremes in 700x32 at 70psi are very comfortable. They're rated for 95psi max, but above 85, they're very hard. OTOH, I weigh 130lbs and my bike is about 30lbs fully loaded, so I don't need a lot of pressure in the tires.