Good tire for gritty, wet urban commuting
#1
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 5
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From: Seattle
Bikes: 2009 Giant Seek 1
Good tire for gritty, wet urban commuting
Commuting in Seattle means riding over sharp metal debris and broken glass, and also wet slippery roads, slick metal grates, etc. So I'm always trying to find the magical unicorn that is highly puncture resistant but also soft and sticky on wet roads.
The last decade or so I've found Schwalbe Marathon Supremes good (wonderfully compromise wet grip and puncture resistance) but now I need to replace my tires and... the Supremes are discontinued
Considering alternatives including Marathon GT 365, Green Marathon, and Continental Urban Contact (in 700x35/37/40c).
Any thoughts, experiences, or suggestions?
The last decade or so I've found Schwalbe Marathon Supremes good (wonderfully compromise wet grip and puncture resistance) but now I need to replace my tires and... the Supremes are discontinued

Considering alternatives including Marathon GT 365, Green Marathon, and Continental Urban Contact (in 700x35/37/40c).
Any thoughts, experiences, or suggestions?
#2
I feel your pain,loved those tires. Still got one last set.
Panaracer T-Servs are very grippy with good puncture protection. I like the Contacts on my Brompton,but it doesn't go out in the rain,so I can't speak to wet grip.
Panaracer T-Servs are very grippy with good puncture protection. I like the Contacts on my Brompton,but it doesn't go out in the rain,so I can't speak to wet grip.
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C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Brompton S6L/S2E-X/M6L-X/S12 T Line


C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Brompton S6L/S2E-X/M6L-X/S12 T Line

#3
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 103
Likes: 53
I have a fixie wire 23-622 Schwalbe Marathon with Green guard tyres.
this where I usually commute but not my video ...
I have since switched back to a MTB as I have a child and bags on the back (30-35kg or so) with a standard 57-559 tyre.
I'm still running the Schwalbe Smart Sams from when I bought the bike in 2010, with only somewhere around 5000 miles on them.
Lots of debris was picked up on the fixie and the green is showing in several area (lots of glass and debris on the streets ... also lots of changing paving types with rough edges).
this where I usually commute but not my video ...
I have since switched back to a MTB as I have a child and bags on the back (30-35kg or so) with a standard 57-559 tyre.
I'm still running the Schwalbe Smart Sams from when I bought the bike in 2010, with only somewhere around 5000 miles on them.
Lots of debris was picked up on the fixie and the green is showing in several area (lots of glass and debris on the streets ... also lots of changing paving types with rough edges).
#5
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,338
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From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Schwalbe and Continental are two top brands. I'm extremely picky about tires, and I prefer top brands. There are others. My own preference is for Continental and Panaracer over Schwalbe, but that's meaningless, and it's mostly because I have more experience with Panaracer and Continental, not that I've had bad luck with Schwalbe. The trick is to choose the best model for you, not the brand.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#6
Disco Infiltrator




Joined: May 2013
Posts: 15,350
Likes: 3,550
From: Folsom CA
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
Good for you, wearing out a Marathon tire is no mean feat!
I thought the Supreme was superseded by the Marathon Almotion or the Marathon Efficiency. According to BRR they are very, very similar with the Efficiency having a slightly thinner tread cast in race-compound rubber
Schwalbe Marathon Almotion Addix vs Schwalbe Marathon Efficiency
I thought the Supreme was superseded by the Marathon Almotion or the Marathon Efficiency. According to BRR they are very, very similar with the Efficiency having a slightly thinner tread cast in race-compound rubber
Schwalbe Marathon Almotion Addix vs Schwalbe Marathon Efficiency
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Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
#7
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C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Brompton S6L/S2E-X/M6L-X/S12 T Line


C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Brompton S6L/S2E-X/M6L-X/S12 T Line

#8
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C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Brompton S6L/S2E-X/M6L-X/S12 T Line


C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Brompton S6L/S2E-X/M6L-X/S12 T Line

#9
Disco Infiltrator




Joined: May 2013
Posts: 15,350
Likes: 3,550
From: Folsom CA
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
I looked again... The Supreme tested by BRR was a smaller size than the Almotion or Eff. 37mm vs forties. At similar size the difference is peanuts. Especially compared to the distance from here to a regular thick Marathon
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Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
#10
No,when they got rid of the Supremes,I checked my size and the Almotions were about 100gr heavier.
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C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Brompton S6L/S2E-X/M6L-X/S12 T Line


C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Brompton S6L/S2E-X/M6L-X/S12 T Line

#11
Disco Infiltrator




Joined: May 2013
Posts: 15,350
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From: Folsom CA
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
The tubeless ones are about 100 gr heavier but not the regular clinchers
__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
#12
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 34
Likes: 14
Well they're not lightweight but good old Marathon Plus work well for me in similar conditions (and some gravelly country lanes) - I laugh at broken glass at the kerbside and shrug off old nails and pieces of wire in the lanes 
Despite their weight they actually roll a lot better than you'd think too... so long as I remember to put some air in them from time to time

Despite their weight they actually roll a lot better than you'd think too... so long as I remember to put some air in them from time to time
#13
Senior Member

Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 780
From: Shanghai, China
Bikes: Waltly Custom Ti // Seaboard CX01 // Dahon Boardwalk
Continental Urban Contact, no question. Have them on both of my commuters, including the one that I ride in all weather. Reasonably light, reasonably quick rolling (I average 27-28km/h on my commutes), incredibly durable (over 7500km on my current set and still good as new), puncture resistant (not a single puncture in all that time) and decently grippy in the wet. Not only that, but decently priced as well. I personally wouldn't choose anything else for commuting.
#14
GATC

Joined: Jul 2006
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From: south Puget Sound
#15
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Joined: Jul 2005
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Well they're not lightweight but good old Marathon Plus work well for me in similar conditions (and some gravelly country lanes) - I laugh at broken glass at the kerbside and shrug off old nails and pieces of wire in the lanes 
Despite their weight they actually roll a lot better than you'd think too... so long as I remember to put some air in them from time to time

Despite their weight they actually roll a lot better than you'd think too... so long as I remember to put some air in them from time to time






