outdoordrea

I have a '06 Novara Randonee with Mavic 319 rims and Vittoria Randonneur 700x32 tires. These rims will accept up to 47mm tires (per https://www.speedgoat.com/product.asp...260&brand=155), but my Planet Bike fenders will only hold up to a 35mm.

My touring partner (BF) is riding a mtn bike with knobbies. I want to be able to keep up on the roads that he may be able to travel (within reason) and need advice on tires. I want tires that will handle fire roads and pavement. Is there such a beast? https://www.bicycletouring101.com recommends the Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires. Would these work for me? What width do you recommend?

TIA,
Drea

MichaelW

Schwalbe Marathon are good tyres, I use them on my general purpose commuter bike on rough roads. The plus version are much tougher, heavier, a bit slower and much harder to get on and off a rim. I failed to get them onto my rim. I currently run the std Marathon in 28mm which is about the same size as your Vittoria 32mm.
I have ridden fire roads with a hostelling loads using a 32mm tyre and think it is the best compromise for mixed riding, mainly on roads.

supcom

You might look at cyclocross tires.

jnoble123

Schwalbe make two additional accessories that make putting tires on a lot easier. They have wider plastic tire levers that work well plus they also offer a spray the basically lubricates the tire.

When I discussed this with Schwalbe they mentioned that some rims are harder then others to work with because the tires are based on one rim. Overtime the tires will become easier and easier to put on an remove since the tires stretch.

I have found this to be the case myself although I've never really experienced the level of difficulty you mentioned in your post.

~Jamie N

outdoordrea

What width would you suggest for my setup?