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Tires with reflective sidewalls

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Old 12-18-08 | 01:11 AM
  #26  
nashcommguy
 
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Bikes: Commuters: Fuji Delray road, Fuji Discovery mtb...Touring: Softride Traveler...Road: C-dale SR300

Originally Posted by kshapero
Getting a pair of Shwalbe Marathon plus 700 x 25c. Anybody have experience with this model and size?
Yes, I've got one set on my 1x8 (48x28-12)roadie/commuter combo(53cm 85 C-Dale SR 300 w/bar-end shifting) and a set on my single speed(78 Fuji Del-Rey w/a 103 Sugino track bb, 46t RR, 16t Acera w/Schwinn FW rebuilt hub, Sun CR-18 rims). Don't have any trouble in group rides and the ss is silky smooth. My regular commuter is a 2008 Motobecane Fantom CX I retrofitted w/SMP 28mm. 'Cushey', but fast @ 110 PSI. I run the 25s @ 125...a little over, but they can take it. In rain they all are 'glued' to the pavement...I have a couple of 35+ decends w/tight curves and I lean the crap out of them. They're GREAT tires...can't say enough. Close your eyes, pull the trigger, you wont regret it.

PS: you may want to get the Kool-Stop tire lever(11.00 @ bikeisland w/no shipping) as it makes the job WAY easier and you'll avoid pinch flats. Get 18-23mm tubes and use liquid soap(not too much) on the beads as that will help, too. You may cuss a time or 2 getting them on the 1st time(I know I did...:-)), but it's a small price, they're amazing tires.

Last edited by nashcommguy; 12-18-08 at 01:18 AM.
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Old 12-18-08 | 03:03 AM
  #27  
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Old 12-18-08 | 06:03 AM
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Originally Posted by nashcommguy
PS: you may want to get the Kool-Stop tire lever(11.00 @ bikeisland w/no shipping) as it makes the job WAY easier and you'll avoid pinch flats. Get 18-23mm tubes and use liquid soap(not too much) on the beads as that will help, too. You may cuss a time or 2 getting them on the 1st time(I know I did...:-)), but it's a small price, they're amazing tires.
I have a bike on order from Bicycle Bananas. I emailed them yesterday and asked if I could upgrade to the Marathon Plus. They said yes...and with a $10 credit for the Kendas (Jamis Commuter 3.0), the price is lower than what I could have gotten them for online. And that's INSTALLED!
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Old 12-18-08 | 06:55 AM
  #29  
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I bought some Continental GP 4000s 700 x 25 tires with reflective sidewalls for $28 each from probikekit.com a few months ago, and they have been great. They reflect light great, ride nice and seem to be wearing well. I commute on a road bike over good roads, so these tires might not be the best choice if you need something heavy duty. But they are great if you ride a road bike and like to go fast or have a lot of hills (they're also light weight).
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Old 12-18-08 | 07:41 AM
  #30  
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biketiresdirect.com is a good place to get started. they have many of the models previously recommended.
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Old 12-18-08 | 07:48 AM
  #31  
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beware--once the tires are dirty, the reflective strip isn't easy to clean and isn't as useful.
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Old 12-18-08 | 07:58 AM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by thdave
beware--once the tires are dirty, the reflective strip isn't easy to clean and isn't as useful.
I have reflective sidewalls that are getting a little dirty but the reflection is still fairly good. I've thought about trying some white wall cleaner and see if that helps. I'll report my findings later, unless someone else here has tried it.
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Old 12-18-08 | 08:21 AM
  #33  
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Fun Alternatives

Some fun alternatives are:

https://www.funreflector.com/
and
https://www.sweetskinztires.com/sweetskinztires/
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Old 12-18-08 | 09:05 AM
  #34  
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Another vote for the Marathons.
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Old 12-18-08 | 10:02 AM
  #35  
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Originally Posted by SlimAgainSoon
FAIRMONT's picture gives you an idea of why I want reflective sidewalls. I have lights fore and aft, but I feel like I'm not so visible from the side.

This picture, and every other picture I've seen, shows that the reflective tires shout out "bicycle" to anything with a headlight coming from the side.
That's why I'm a fan of reflective tape. For about $7-8 you can do up a whole bike.



I now have even more on my bike.
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Old 12-18-08 | 10:17 AM
  #36  
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+whatever on Schwalbe Marathons.

Got a set for my commuter bike (700 x 28). Liked them so much that when our commuter tandem started getting too many flats along our usual route, I got Marathons for it (27 x 1-1/4).
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Old 12-18-08 | 11:35 AM
  #37  
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Originally Posted by paulh
schwalbe marathon plus has them. I put over 12,500 flat free miles on one set before i decided that they were getting thin enough to replace.

Paul
+1
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Old 12-18-08 | 02:43 PM
  #38  
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I don't know about the marathon plus, but the marathon racers at 700x30 are a nice tire, much better than normal marathon.
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Old 12-18-08 | 02:49 PM
  #39  
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Originally Posted by SlimAgainSoon
I'm looking for some 700c tires with reflective sidewalls, to use while commuting this fall and winter.

Know they exist -- can't find them.

Any recommendations?

And are these tires good as tires go -- that is, decent ride, etc. -- or should they be avoided?
Panaracer Crosstown.

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Old 12-18-08 | 06:57 PM
  #40  
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I just stick lots of short pieces of reflective tape on the rims (away from braking surface of course) and on my chain stays and down tubes
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Old 12-18-08 | 06:58 PM
  #41  
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The lovely Continental TopContact hand made tires.

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Old 12-19-08 | 12:30 PM
  #42  
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Vittoria Randonneur Pros, here. Great tires. The reflective sidewalls are a bonus that doesn't seem to affect performance at all.
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Old 12-19-08 | 07:32 PM
  #43  
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Originally Posted by PaulH
Schwalbe Marathon Plus has them. I put over 12,500 flat free miles on one set before I decided that they were getting thin enough to replace.

Paul
+1 to the Marathon Supreme. I heart reflective strip tires.
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Old 12-20-08 | 01:25 AM
  #44  
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Originally Posted by chipcom
Continental Contacts
Just went out to the garage with my flashlight. My (standard) Marathons have them, my (standard) Contacts don't. I really like both sets of tires however.

Last edited by sunburst; 12-20-08 at 01:29 AM.
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Old 12-20-08 | 07:45 AM
  #45  
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From: Milwaukee

Bikes: Fred cycles

Kenda Kwick Trax. Have 26x~2 but also available in 700c (see link). They have a fine block tread. Tread 'sings' on dry pavement; it must be slowing me down some. Tread might help in some circumstances; say, cornering on a sand coating over a hard surface.

https://www.bikeworldusa.us/ACTION-TI...source=froogle
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