bullwinkle

I'm a newbie to touring, and this has prolly been asked before, so please bear with me.

I'm building a new (my first) touring rig and I'm planning to run 700 x 32C tyres on Mavic A719 rims with 36h, 3x lacing to Centaur hubs. I'm looking specifically for recommendations regarding tyres. I'd like to get folding tyres so I can carry a spare in my panniers, and I'd also like to have beige-colored sidewalls on them (being the retro-grouch that I am). The new top-o-the-line Schwalbe's don't come in my size (but maybe they will soon?), but otherwise would seem to work fine. The next model down, in the Schwalbe line, doesn't have the colored sidewalls (whcih I could live with), but has a wire bead and thus shouldn't be folded.

Is a folding tyre necessary? Being a roadie primarily, I like to have a spare handy in case of a possible tyre sidewall blowout, or similar. Maybe that's not as much of a problem with touring tyres, though, since they seem to be much sturdier.

What say you?

robow

My primary tires are also wire bead but depending on where I'm heading, I always like to carry a spare foldable tire just in case. Even if it doesn't match the others exactly, at least it can get me where I need to go without having to rely on a dollar bill or duct tape to patch a sizable tear in the sidewall.

mycoatl

Best 700x32 foldable tire I've found is the Vittoria Randonneur Pro.

staehpj1

No but they do pack smaller. Maybe just buy a spare foldable and use wire bead for the ones you are running. Wire bead tires can be folded in a fashion too, though not as small. See the following link for pictures of how to do it:
https://www.rideyourbike.com/tirefold.html

MichaelW

The Schwalbe Marathon Plus are really heavy duty and good if thorns are a problem but I find that the std Marathons work fine, they also mount and remove much more easily and are lighter.
Continental Top Touring used to be std issue for tourists and they are still OK but have been superceeded by Conti Top Contact, their new all singing and dancing foldups.

mr bill

i took schwalbe marathon XRs with me and they were brilliant. Treated me real well on my 6 month tour.

FidelCastrovich

Has anyone noticed any difference in ride quality and shock absorption between folding and wire tires?
I replaced my rear today(blew up on me, on the way to work!) to a folding Panaracer Pasela TG, and immediately noticed that the ride was alot more smooth. I remember something similar from when i got my first folders on the road bike - same feeling, very vague and understated, of being more comfortable.

Sub-question :is wire bead supposed to be more durable and puncture resistant?

By the way, thread opener : the Panaracer Paselas have tan sidewalls, and are 700X32(actual size. even though on the side it says 700X35). I think Wallbike carry them.

sisddwg

[QUOTE=FidelCastrovich]Has anyone noticed any difference in ride quality and shock absorption between folding and wire tires?
I replaced my rear today(blew up on me, on the way to work!) to a folding Panaracer Pasela TG, and immediately noticed that the ride was alot more smooth....



For years I've felt there was a difference in ride quality. In my opinion, the Panaracer Pasela TG cannot be beat for quality of ride and value. I have a pair of Marathon XR and find them extremely heavy and slow. They dampen some of the joy of riding a nice bike. I my opnion they are overkill for 99% of North American road riding. They're about half the price of the XR's.

chipcom 

Continental Top Touring has always been my favorite and a proven performer for touring, but they are not made anymore, though you can still find them for sale here and there. Their replacement, the Top Contact isn't available yet, at least in the US that I know of. Schwalbe Marathons also have a stellar reputation and their latest, the Supreme is supposed to be their best yet.

martianone

Schwalbe Marathons have always provided good service;
they are not folding, probably not the lightest or fastest
tire out there- they just work well and are reliable (good attributes on tour)
Schwalbe has recently released a touring tire they call Supreme;
they are folding, lighter and supposedly faster. Next time
i replace my tires; going to give them a try.

Bekologist

if you want tan sidewalls, panaracer pasela TG.