I've been using Schwalbe Marathon (Greenguard most recently) for the last four years on summer tours averaging 1000 miles per summer. Before that I had Ritchey Inverts, both similar in size at 26 x 1.5. I liked the Ritcheys best for their tread pattern and long life but those are not made anymore. The Marathons seem to have a softer rubber so they didn't last as long. I like the Marathons' range of acceptable pressures (100 psi max). You can play with the pressure depending upon the surfaces you are riding on. On any given tour I'm on a wide range of surfaces so that is important to me. Puncture resistance seemed equal between the two but I'm comparing the lower shelf Marathons with the Ritcheys. I have Greenguards now and expect they will outperform both of those in the long run. Can't speak to the wear characteristics of the top shelf Marathons. I got both pairs of the Ms through Tree Fort Bikes.