I have seen some chatter that the schwalbe marathon plus is difficult to install? Can anyone share any experinences.

My concern is that even though these seem to be the most bomproof tire out there...if you do get flat, if the tire is hard to install field repairs are a real pain......I have that problem with forte (performance) gtk on sun cr18 rims. I have to use 3 or 4 levers and at least a couple of steel ones.

At this point I am trying to decide between marathon plus (mail order) and Pasela t-serv (favorite LBS) and this is another information point

thanks

The Marathon Plus's are tight to install. I got mine on by a combination of lots of force with my thumbs, and a bit of lubricant on the rim (I think that I used water). OTOH, I commute over some pretty crappy roads: glass, construction debris, potholes, rocks and dead animals are some of the highlights, I have over 4000 miles on my SMPs, and nary a flat.

If you worry about field repairs, use a Mr. Tuffy inside your Marathon Plus. 13,000 flat free miles until I decided to get new tires because of wear.

Paul

I used vasaline on the rim when I put mine on. Even so, it was a tight fit and a bit of a struggle. They're tight, but I expect them to last a very long time without issues. That being said, I still carry a spare tube and a, now, a small container of vasaline in my kit.

I had the 26 x 1.75 Marathon+ on my old commuter and they weren't bad to install. I've heard that the 700c sizes are much more difficult.

I'll guess they're the same as my Ultra Gatorskins, meaning get a couple of steel core levers and you should be fine. I did break some plastic levers before getting the metal ones.

I have the 700x28 on my Mavic CXP-22 rims and they are tough to get on. I can do it with a little spit and a single metal-cored lever, but they are still the hardest tires I've ever had to mount. You shouldn't get any flats though.

I feel silly, but I have the LBS install these on my 700x35's. I broke a bunch of plastic tire irons, and gave up. I now commute without a spare tire, if in the unlikely event that I get a flat (knock wood), I'll call my wife. These are a ***** to mount!

FYI,my 2" Marathon Supremes went on with no drama. Didn't even play 'chase the bead' like I did the last time I mounted folding tires.

I have these tyres in 42-622, 47-622 and 37-622. They are hard to install, but you can manage that without lubrication, too, try to stay patient. Point is: You won't take them off for a couple of years!

Regards
UD2007

They took a bit of muscle. This is my 1st pair I have about 500 miles w/o a flat.

I must have gotten a freak pair. I just put 700x35c Marathon Plus on my wife's bike. The whole change process for both tires took me about 10 minutes. I didn't have any trouble getting them on at all. I slid a plastic tire lever around the edge and it popped right on.

I mounted a 700 x 28 on my rim (twice because I had the inner tube valve-stem all slanted to the side the first time), I discovered that the (700 x 28) tire rubbed on my frame (not the sides of the tire but the "top"/"down-the-middle" part of the tire..........I exchanged the 700 x 28 for a 700 x 25 and it is now on the rear wheel my flatbar roadbike..................

the first time I tried to mount this tire (the 700 X 28) on the rim I got very frustrated and gave up after about 10 minutes. I was expecting it to go on like every other bike tire I had encountered, but when I thought I was making progress (working my way from an initial starting point, and moving away from that point, to the left and to the right) the tire would become unseated in areas that I had already "established" as seated. It seemed that it was going to be impossible to mount that tire on the rim. After a few hours break I made a fresh start at it, I got my reluctant wife to help me, we double-teamed it and finally got it on. When I saw that the valve-stem was slanted to the side I bit the the bullet, unmounted the tire, straitened the valve-stem, and this time was able to put the tire on by myself in half the time....when the time came to mount the (correct fit for my frame) 700 x 25 tire it went relatively smooth.

I think the key is taking great care to get the beads set into the rim (at your initial starting point) and working your hands out (left and right) and around the rim intently keeping all the "slack" out of the area you have already seated and then you are set up (when your right and left hand start to meet) to make the final seat and complete the mount. I think what is needed most is patience.

I bought my Marathon Plus from biketiresdirect.com, and their information stated that after a couple of week on the rim that the tire is much easier to mount/dismount (compared to the initial install)...I haven't had a flat since I put it on so I haven't had a reason to find out.

Carry good tire irons. Fact is I carry a multitude of them. I've got something called a Qwik Stick

https://www.rei.com/product/546083

They make installation of the tires much easier.

Yeah, they are extremely tough to put on. Took an hr to put on my front Schwalbes only to find that my inner tube was busted in the process. @#$%!

Had to re-do it the next day because I couldn't face it again.

Attachment speaks for itself. Still going strong with 5.5 bar, went home after pulling the nail out.

Best regards
UD2007

Bought them at an LBS, which installed them. Didn't see whether it was any tougher than usual for the person installing, but the good news has been that I haven't had to take them off myself, even after riding quite a few miles through some rough roads.

The first time I installed mine, I was having the same problems with the bead popping off at places I though were already set. My method to get them to stay was the wrap a zip-tie around the rim and tire once that section was mounted. Make them nice and tight and put one every 8 inches or so, and that tire won't be going anywhere.

Once those marathon plus tires go on, they don't come off. I've only had this much trouble getting a tire off and that was an old Vittoria. Oh man, I'm almost embarrassed to admit it. I can't get these tires off. It was hell putting them on and getting them off is worse. I actually busted a wimpy tire lever trying to pry these suckers off my rims.