Q: Concerning tire size
 

My bike has Kenda Kourier tires size 700 x 40c

I've been having a lot of blow outs, particularly when running at/just under max air pressure. A trip to the bike mechanic revealed a small section of wire bead that has frayed away (OR was missing as a manf. defect) on the troublesome tire. That is likely the root cause of the repeated blowouts.
SO, my obvious next step is to replace the tire, maybe even both tires.

I've been looking at and considering several types/brands but most of the one's I'm considering are slightly different in the size. Example Schwalbe Marathon Plus is either 700 x 38c or 700 x 42c.

So the question: given the option of going slightly wider (42c) or narrow (38c) from the existing 40, which would you choose and why? Will the difference even be noticeable?

I doubt you'd notice a difference, unless the tire construction itself is different (thicker/thinner sidewalls, more/less tread). You're only talking about 5% difference in diameter either way.

I would certainly notice the difference, although there would not be a huge difference. If it were me, I'd go narrower on good surfaces/lower weight load and wider on bad surfaces/higher weight load. You should also look at the Marathon Supreme, which is a really nice tire for commuting and touring.

much more than going down to a 38 or up to a 42 from a 40, switching to a marathon plus is something that i would definitely notice. they're bomb-proof, but they're also heavy and slow.

i currently have marathon pluses on my folding bike. i will not be re-buying marathon pluses when they eventually wear out. i'd rather deal with the occasional flat on a tire that is a joy to ride on than never having a flat on a tire that is an absolute pig. just my two cents.

My Specialized Crosstrail came stock with 45s. I happened on good deals on a Schwalbe Marathon Supreme in the 40, and bought 3. I then ran across a really good deal on a set of the same tire in 35, so bought 2.

Since I had all these tires, I started mixing and matching.

I can't tell the difference in ride or handling between the 40s and the 45s. A 35 0n the rear is noticeably more harsh.

The 40 on the rear doesn't have any effect on handling, meaning it's as good as the 35.

The 45s, are cushy, (same as 40) but handling suffers.

However, the 35 on the front rides the same as the 40 or 45, but appreciably improves steering. Quicker and more precise.

What I ended up with, are 35 on the front, and 40 on the rear, and absolutely love this mix,

Don't be afraid to mix and match sizes.

I used to get a flat every 100 miles with the old Specialized Burroughs, and haven't gotten a flat in almost 4 years with the Supremes, and they are nowhere near as heavy as the Marathons you are looking at.

How much room do you have? Are you running fenders? From experience I can tell you 38mm tires will just fit under Planet Bike 'hybrid' size fenders,42's won't. SKS and Civia have fenders that will fit them,but not too many bikes have clearance for those fenders.

Also,JMHO,but with tires that wide,I'd opt for folding bead if available. Never hurts to shave a little rotational weight.

It depends on your riding style. Do you like to sprint or cruise?

Personally, I'd go with the 700x38 (or even smaller). Unless you have really rough pavement anything wider than 32 is going to provide plenty of cushion. A wider tire also gives you better puncture protection, but again I think 32+ is plenty good and additional width doesn't provide proportionally more protection. For these reasons, I'd go with the weight savings of a lighter tire. I know weight isn't supposed to matter for a commuter, but to me heavy tires just feel sluggish.

On the other hand, a tire like the Marathon Plus is not going to feel either quick or plush in any size. They're a great tire for puncture protection, but I can't imagine loving the feel of them in any size. As such, my argument for the narrower size isn't really applicable. I'd probably still go with the smaller ones.

I'm running Planet Bike "Freddy Fenders", so that has to be a consideration.

I cruise more than I sprint but I don't want to add too much extra labor.

I have had so many flats that I'm looking for something bullet proof. It's true that the majority can be attributed to the missing bead but I've changed 10-12 flats since May 2012 - all on the rear tire. If my memory serves, two flats were from rolling through broken glass in the bike lane. The rest were all blow outs, only one of those was when I was moving. The first one was the day after I went max pressure the very first time - so I'm thinking that the bead was a defect all along.

That said, I'm commuting to/from work; dependability is by far my top concern.

I've heard good things about the Vittoria Randonneur Hypers. No personal experience though.

http://www.vittoria.com/product/touring/

32mm, 37mm, and 40mm options

The Vittoria Journalier and Journaliel Tech are on my list to consider. http://www.vittoria.com/product/city/

My LBS carries Vittoria, Michelin, Continental, and Bontrager. They can order other brands.
I was hoping to stay within their product line but I don't have to. The Scwalbe Marathon plus made the list because I've seen/heard SO many positive reviews about their reliability.

Vittoria Randonneur Hypers (which I believe have been renamed) are fantastic tires. They are much lighter than the others tires mentioned, with low rolling resistance. Try a lighter, faster rolling tire for a change. My prediction is that you won't go back. Flat protection isn't everything, unless you ride on crappy roads with lots of glass and other debris. Don't get me wrong, the Vittorias are flat resistant and long lasting, just not bombproof. They are very nice riding tires, and have reflective sidewalls -- a real plus for commuting. I've got 32 mm Hypers on my touring bike and it rides like a dream.

I got the same dilemma as you just last week. Got a flat with my kenda klondike. Got a flat due to the studs of the tire. The hole was just where my mr tuffy liner wasn't. So i've decided to go for the marathon plus, should arrive next week.

The marathon plus seems more puncture resistant than the supreme


Personally, i don't mind the extra weight nor the extra rolling resistance which shouldn't be so noticeable compared to the rolling resistance of the kenda klondike which have studs and the puncture resistance help to save some weight by not carrying a repair kit constantly.
It tooks hours for my kenda klondike tires to be completely flat so i had enough time to ride home the few times i got a flat.
Happened to me once with my kenda klondike tires that i didn't have time to ride home, i found out that i was able to ride a few miles with a flat tire without too much trouble nor damage probably because the tire is thick and wide. With a puncture proof liner it should be even easier. (My last flat and only flat with the Mr tuffy liner, i noticed it at home). I bet it will be the same with the marathon plus with even less chances to get a flat.

I agree w/ SteelyDan for in town use. Marathon Plus tires are too heavy and stiff for my tastes for commuting. I like them on a pedicab running through the downtown streets and alleys though.

In a 700, my fav is the Continental Travel Contacts, 37mm, for all conditions use. No flats in 2000 miles, fast, smooth, little bit of knob on the sides of the tires for gravel and off pavement work...

or for a faster feeling tire yet, the Panaracer T-Servs, UrbanMax, Pasela, RibMo, etc.....

Also could consider some of the other Schwalbes, the big apples in 2.0, supremes, silentos, or delta cruisers.......all are a little lighter, more supple tires than the marathon plus.

Maxxis Overdrive is a nice riding puncture resistant tire as well. Have had good luck w/ these. Lighter duty sidewalls, more similar ride to the panaracers.

Marathon Plus is a heavyweight but good for riders who really don't want to deal with any punctures.
If you don't mind the occasional flat, then a lighter tyre will ride better and faster.
My Mean Time Between Failures with the plain marathon was about 2 years.
40mm is quite wide for an everyday bike. 32-38 is a good range to use. If your bike has suspension, you don't need the cushioning effect of ballon tyres. Having said that, on my MTB-wheeled urban utility bike, I still run the 1.9" Schwalbe Big Apples on my rigid Al bike.

I've got nothing but good things to say about the SMP's. I've not gotten a single flat on mine, and they've crunched right through broken glass, metal shards, all sorts of nonsense and foolishness.

Look at the regular Schwalbe Marathon (NOT Plus). I've been using them for over 15 years in size 47-622mm. Never a blowout, seldom a flat, ride great, last a long time. The extra cost and weight of the "Marathon Plus" model won't add much, if any value to your riding experience over the regular Marathon.

If they're hybrid width,then 38mm is about max. If you had those Kendas under them,then they weren't really 40mm(which isn't unheard of).

I want to thank everyone who participated in the thread.
After yet another blow-out (same tire) on the ride home last evening, I'm forced to make a move a couple days earlier than intended. I'll be stopping by the LBS tonight to discuss this further with them. I'm now much more informed than prior to starting this thread. Your comments have been enlightening and a catalyst for my own research. Thanks again.

I'll follow-up after the new tires are on the bike.