I would have recommended a wider tire like a 35 or 37mm Continental Contacts but after my recent episode with blowouts while on tour and previous episodes with blowouts on tour, I'm starting to rethink my ideas. I couldn't run the Continental Contacts at even the recommended maximum pressure without blowing the tires off both rims. Nothing like having to bum a ride on the morning of the second day to go get tubes after ruining 1 more tube than you had tires:notamused:*

I'm thinking of going to a 32mm tire which is about the same width as 1 1/4" tires that I used for ages on my other touring bike. The ride on a 37 is very nice but if you have to run them at 70 psi to keep them from blowing off the rim, the ride just isn't worth the drop in efficiency.

*No, it was not the rim. It was the pressure in the tire that caused 6 separate blowouts or flats. Both front and rear tires blew out and I run different brand rims on the front and rear. And I've had blow out problems with two different models of Continentals...Top Touring and Contacts.

Vittoria Randonneur Hyper in 32mm folding. Light and great feel with exceptional flat protection in my experience. Not familiar with those TX thorns though. So can't comment on them.

320 Grams doesn't hurt either.

tacos!

26 x 1.5 Panaracer Pasela ,T-serv, or Continental Sport Contact for the front and a 1.6 Marathon Supreme on the rear. You'll probably have to replace them before 6000 miles but it would be a nice beginning. There are heavier and thicker tread tires, choices, choices , choices.

If you're riding with lighter less hp riders I'd suggest putting one of the Sport Contacts on the rear and the Pasela on the front of their bike. If one of the riders is a heavy person put this on the front and some thick tire on the rear like the Continental Travel Contact. A heavy long lasting tire like the regular Schwalbe Marathon is fine for a heavy person but if you're riding with light people there's no reason to put a heavy 700gram tire on their bike.

http://www.rei.com/product/711641

Tires
 

I use Vittoria Randonneurs because they're the most durable 26" folder I could find. In a ziplock bag I carry my spare tire, a spare tube, tire irons and surgical gloves. I can do an easy, clean tire change at the side of the road. Later in a more comfortable spot, I can patch the tube and pull sharp nasties out of my spare tire.