Tyre recomendations 20"
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
Tyre recomendations 20"
Looking for some tyre's for my Twenty in 20" (ISO 406 I think)
I used to run schwable city jet's on my commuter and have been very very happy with them but they don't come in the right size so I'm forced to change to something else , but that's the sort of thing I'm after.
After extensive research I've come up with
schwalbe citizen
schwalbe marathon plus
Kenda kwest
Can anyone add any to that list or if you have tried them any comment's on those listed.
Im after a reasonably slick tyre which will cope with short excursions away from paved roads , Reasonable puncture resistance (I don't mind fixing the occasional flat) and good price vs longevity (I don't mind a expensive tyre as long as it last's).
Thanks in advance.
I used to run schwable city jet's on my commuter and have been very very happy with them but they don't come in the right size so I'm forced to change to something else , but that's the sort of thing I'm after.
After extensive research I've come up with
schwalbe citizen
schwalbe marathon plus
Kenda kwest
Can anyone add any to that list or if you have tried them any comment's on those listed.
Im after a reasonably slick tyre which will cope with short excursions away from paved roads , Reasonable puncture resistance (I don't mind fixing the occasional flat) and good price vs longevity (I don't mind a expensive tyre as long as it last's).
Thanks in advance.
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,215
Likes: 0
From: Westwood MA (just south of Boston)
Bikes: 2009 Trek Soho
avoid Kenda Kwest if you can afford to. next to no puncture resistance. I've had 3-4 flats in as many weeks on my rear tire. just picked up a pair of Schwalbe Marathons today,we'll see how they do
Looking for some tyre's for my Twenty in 20" (ISO 406 I think)
I used to run schwable city jet's on my commuter and have been very very happy with them but they don't come in the right size so I'm forced to change to something else , but that's the sort of thing I'm after.
After extensive research I've come up with
schwalbe citizen
schwalbe marathon plus
Kenda kwest
Can anyone add any to that list or if you have tried them any comment's on those listed.
Im after a reasonably slick tyre which will cope with short excursions away from paved roads , Reasonable puncture resistance (I don't mind fixing the occasional flat) and good price vs longevity (I don't mind a expensive tyre as long as it last's).
Thanks in advance.
I used to run schwable city jet's on my commuter and have been very very happy with them but they don't come in the right size so I'm forced to change to something else , but that's the sort of thing I'm after.
After extensive research I've come up with
schwalbe citizen
schwalbe marathon plus
Kenda kwest
Can anyone add any to that list or if you have tried them any comment's on those listed.
Im after a reasonably slick tyre which will cope with short excursions away from paved roads , Reasonable puncture resistance (I don't mind fixing the occasional flat) and good price vs longevity (I don't mind a expensive tyre as long as it last's).
Thanks in advance.
#3
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,257
Likes: 5
From: A Coffin Called Earth. or Toronto, ON
Bikes: Bianchi, Miyata, Dahon, Rossin
Continental Contact
Panaracer Crosstown
Schwalabe Marathon (plain)
Schwalabe silento
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/C...ategoryID=1149
I've ordered the conti contacts, but from the reviews, it should be a fairly good match against the marathon plain.
IMO, marathon plus level of protection is unnecessary unless you're riding through thorns and nails.
Panaracer Crosstown
Schwalabe Marathon (plain)
Schwalabe silento
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/C...ategoryID=1149
I've ordered the conti contacts, but from the reviews, it should be a fairly good match against the marathon plain.
IMO, marathon plus level of protection is unnecessary unless you're riding through thorns and nails.
__________________
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,215
Likes: 0
From: Westwood MA (just south of Boston)
Bikes: 2009 Trek Soho
just put a pair of marathon (plains) on. will try the full commute tmw (25m rt) and let you know how they go. quick test ride was quite an upgrade form the Kendas.
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,737
Likes: 10
I recommend Greenspeed Scorcher tires - they're in a size that is both comfortable and fast.
For big slicks, Schwalbe Big Apple will do - I have them on my Raleigh Twenty. They just soak up the road bumps and roll well.
For big slicks, Schwalbe Big Apple will do - I have them on my Raleigh Twenty. They just soak up the road bumps and roll well.
#8
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
What's the longevity like on those? ... I did look at them but thought that they looked like they wouldn't last very long.
#10
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,393
Likes: 10
From: Albany, WA
Interesting... Ithought Kendas were a bit of an unsung hero... I got good mileage, few punctures and I formed the impression they had good adhesion. Admittedly, one of mine did fail in its casing but all of my tyres that I replaced so far failed in their casing.
So what do you find different?
So what do you find different?
#12
Senior Member


Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,838
Likes: 398
From: Michigan
Bikes: Trek 730 (quad), 720 & 830, Bike Friday NWT, Brompton M36R & M6R, Dahon HAT060 & HT060, ...
Kenda Kontact - came w/bike, a flat every second day
Marathon Plus - excellent puncture resistance
Continental Contact - as good puncture resistance as Marathon Plus, BUT virtually no dynamo track if you ever want to ride with a bottle dynamo (this presumably concerns all recent Contis)
Marathon Plus - excellent puncture resistance
Continental Contact - as good puncture resistance as Marathon Plus, BUT virtually no dynamo track if you ever want to ride with a bottle dynamo (this presumably concerns all recent Contis)
#13
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,393
Likes: 10
From: Albany, WA
My experience with the Kendas were assenntially identical to just about every other tyre I have used - puncture resistance built-in has never worked very well for me. Mostly it is little shards of glass; these have found their way through Kevlar belts (Primo Comet Kevlar), Big Apples (Kevlar again), Marathon Plus (more than once) as well as all other tyres I have used. So these days I no longer consider puncture resistance in my buying decisions - I simply install Slime Liners, well sanded down at the ends.
Also, the Marathon Plus were like concrete donuts when pumped sufficiently hard, and wallowed unacceptably bad when just a little soft. So these will not end up on any bike of mine again - not worth the extra money and performance is crap. I can buy a Kojak for far less and get my puncture resistance with no perceptible performance penalty.
To see the sort of results I once got from a Big Apple, take a look:


I retired it then. The green Slime Liner was visible. But I never had a puncture from any of these crazy cuts.
I am currently using a Marathon Racer on my Birdy on the back, with Slime Liner of course.
Also, the Marathon Plus were like concrete donuts when pumped sufficiently hard, and wallowed unacceptably bad when just a little soft. So these will not end up on any bike of mine again - not worth the extra money and performance is crap. I can buy a Kojak for far less and get my puncture resistance with no perceptible performance penalty.
To see the sort of results I once got from a Big Apple, take a look:


I retired it then. The green Slime Liner was visible. But I never had a puncture from any of these crazy cuts.
I am currently using a Marathon Racer on my Birdy on the back, with Slime Liner of course.
#14
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
Sorry i havn't replied .. the thread slipped past me.
Dyno track isn't a concern , I have a dynohub and no need for lights ATM.
Some good points put forward .. and as I should have expected I'm even more confused then when I set out.
Thanks everyone.
Dyno track isn't a concern , I have a dynohub and no need for lights ATM.
Some good points put forward .. and as I should have expected I'm even more confused then when I set out.
Thanks everyone.
#15
Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: SF Bay Area
Bikes: Vintage Fuji Del Rey, Torelli Countach, Mondonico Diamond, All-City Mr. Pink, Mikkelsen Custom Road Bike, Surly Ogre, Dahon Helios, Marin Muirwoods
+1 for Primo Comet 1.5 Kevlar... durable and fast
Marathon Slick's 20 x 1.35 are good too, but not as reliable as the Comet's.
Marathon Slick's 20 x 1.35 are good too, but not as reliable as the Comet's.
#16
I'm quite unhappy with Big Apples. Even with a tire liner I got this nasty flat tire. It started as a protuberance, but I was just 1.5 km away from home so I decided to roll easy (I was going downhill) until... BAMMM!!! 
DSC00198..jpg
Now I've installed plain Marathons and I'm quite happy with them, let's see how they work over time.

DSC00198..jpg
Now I've installed plain Marathons and I'm quite happy with them, let's see how they work over time.
#17
Membership Not Required
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 16,853
Likes: 18
From: On the road-USA
Bikes: Giant Excursion, Raleigh Sports, Raleigh R.S.W. Compact, Motobecane? and about 20 more! OMG
Marathon Plus....I am currently running Marthon's one one Tweny and Marthon Plus on the other. I like the Pluses better.
Aaron
Aaron
__________________
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
#18
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,393
Likes: 10
From: Albany, WA
I'm quite unhappy with Big Apples. Even with a tire liner I got this nasty flat tire. It started as a protuberance, but I was just 1.5 km away from home so I decided to roll easy (I was going downhill) until... BAMMM!!! 
Attachment 176149
Now I've installed plain Marathons and I'm quite happy with them, let's see how they work over time.

Attachment 176149
Now I've installed plain Marathons and I'm quite happy with them, let's see how they work over time.
#19
It's got electrolytes!
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,388
Likes: 0
Bikes: Self-designed carbon fiber highracer, BikesDirect Kilo WT5, Pacific Cycles Carryme, Dahon Boardwalk with custom Sturmey Archer wheelset
Yeah that's defective. Big apples are my favorite tires for 20" wheels because they're the best "balloon tires" and there's hardly any weight penalty for using "balloon tires" in this size.
#20
Unfortunately it's too late for that as I threw it away. It was a 3 year old tire anyway.
On the other hand, I was getting too many flat tires until I installed the tire liner in the back tire (most of them caused by small pieces of glass).
On the other hand, I was getting too many flat tires until I installed the tire liner in the back tire (most of them caused by small pieces of glass).
#21
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,257
Likes: 5
From: A Coffin Called Earth. or Toronto, ON
Bikes: Bianchi, Miyata, Dahon, Rossin
just a follow up, the continental contact tires in 20x1.75in are excellent.
They feel just as good as my pasela in 700x35mm.
They feel just as good as my pasela in 700x35mm.
__________________
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ColonelSanders
Hybrid Bicycles
57
09-04-15 08:33 AM
ColonelSanders
Commuting
0
07-19-15 09:44 PM






