Dream Tire
 

I'm looking for my ideal tire, and would appreciate any input you guys have. My set of Continental Contacts that came with my Surly LHT are starting to crack around the rim, and I think it's time for something new. I've liked the Conti's, but want something a little more versatile.

I am looking for the following:

- Fat. I would like the new set of tires to be at least 700x37c. I think my bike can handle up to a 42 or 45 with my fenders. I want something that is going to be cushy but quick.
-Tough. I want to be able to take these tires on some gravel roads and even some mild single track. I'm going to want to take this bike on an adventure in the woods, but be able to handle the roads just as easily.
- Quick. I am interested in having one set of tires, where I can comfortably ride a century. I am going to keep the Conti's because they're not so far gone, but would like to use this new set as my primary tires.

Ideally, I would not like to spend 50-60 dollars a tire, and am thinking more around 25-40 per.

Is there anything like this? I've seen the Schwalbe Marathon Cross for a reasonable price, but do you think those tires would really wear and slow me down on the road?
I appreciate any input.

Charlie

My dream tire would be a hand made Silk casing tubular
with a 32mm width,
but then I have to wake up and see the broken bottles, and let it go.

I like Schwalbe's Marathon Plus for it's puncture resistance,
albeit a heavy tread as a result.

Continental Travel Contact is their adventure touring tire, broad and slick center
with a row of knobs for unpaved paths on the edges, only in 622-37. or 559-47.
feature their gator-skin mesh sidewall reinforcement.

My 26" wheel trekking bike came with them on it , still lots of 'tread' left
when I swapped them out..

If you're looking to be sticky on rocks, don't go for the Marathon Supreme. It doesn't stick well even if it's 2 inch wide. It's definitely good for the road though and definitely nice for rain.

I think your Dream Tire is only available in Dream Land. If your tire existed, everyone (on this site at least) would be using them.

All tires have their tradeoffs. I like Schwalbe: Extreme for off and/or on road, plus durability, and Supreme for more speed and on road.

Panaracer T-Serv

The sidewalls aren't as tough as the Schwalbes or Continentals but the are light,fast, good puncture resistance and very nice ride. Unfortunately the biggest is 35 mm. The Pasela TG comes in 37mm. These tires are in the price range but the won't last long heavily loaded on rough surfaces.

You're not going to get "quick"(light)/durable/low cost/fat tire. You can get fast rolling/durable.

Marathon Cross sounds like the tire with psi covering conditions.

You might consider two different tires from front/rear.

Fat tires are not fast tires.

Tough tires are not fast tires.

In the "fast" department, the best you're likely to do is something like a Continental Grand Prix 4-Season 28c. It's not as fast as a GP4000S, not as tough as Gatorskins, but in between and tough enough for gravel roads. Your rims might not even work properly with a 23 or 25, I'd check with the manufacturer first.

Specialized Borough CX pro in 700 x 42, it's discontinued but you might find it somewhere. Not cheap but I've ridden the 32mm version and it works. The problem is you're looking for too many conflicting attributes.

You might try the Marathon Racer? I haven't, yet, but schwalbe claim it is the lightest and fastest tyre in the marathon range. And generally speaking, I have found that schwalbe's stuff does what it says on the tin...

if you want the ultimate tire well here it is .
http://www.compasscycle.com/tires_comp_26_175.html
bit more expensive than you hoped for but these are the best you can get.
have fun.

I've read mixed reviews of these, including comments that they are very vulnerable to punctures compared with the Marathons, for example.

Do you remember where you saw those reviews? I can't find reviews of the 26" compass tires, in part because search for "compass" and "tires" is hopeless. Lots if discussion about the skinnier grand bois options since that is easier to search for. Not much info about actually touring on any of those tires either. The OP is looking for 700 tires, so those are the various grand bois versions at compass which are not as fat as the 26".

I would like to go and feel faster. I ride on country roads, and essentially never get flats (in 24 years on my current mountain bike, never a flat on the road, running avocet cross checks that are ready to fall apart) so I wouldn't mind pushing that envelope a bit more. To the extend I get out touring, it has been in Quebec on paved roads or very nice rail to trails. Soft and fast sounds particularly nice, since on long rides it is my wrists that really get tired after hours on the bike.

The pasala's without tourguard are around $20; with tourguard they run closer to $40; the schwalbes are all $40-80, so paying $60 for the compass tires is maybe within that range.

I see a few mentions of tyres with a smooth centre and some bumps along each side. I had some Schwalbe Marathon ATBs like that, thought I'd share my experience. While the puncture resistance was great, they felt decidedly dicey on sharp bends on asphalt when I was commuting. The knobs just didn't grip and I went down sideways a few times.
They worked great on very rough tracks where I let the pressure down. I don't really think I'd have gone appreciably faster with a "faster" tyre, while on tour. Commuting, maybe...

If the Compass 26" 1.75"s came in the same colourways as the Grand Bois Hetres (that they also sell) I would buy a set instantly.

those look a lot like Pasela TG/T-Serv tread pattern. With a supple casing it would be nice on rough roads, but between the light casing and I assume a lack of puncture strip I bet it's not very tough.

I rode on 26x1.5 Marathon racers for a couple years, very nice ride, fast and tougher sidewall than Pasela but not at all puncture resistant.

I own these and what's been said seems to be true. I still need to put more mileage on them to find its weaknesses. I have the 26 x 1.75" and are light and supple. These also come in 700 x 38c which meet the OP's requrements. Given its width, these tires do feel and grippy even on dirt/gravel. I also like the reflective strip on the side for safety at night. I paired them with Schwalbe tubes which also come highly recommended.

Wow what a response! I've come to the realization that I would like fat and tough the primary function of the tires, with quickness as a side benefit. I think that there are too many exclusive criteria that can't equally be met.

I think that if I was to do a dedicated Century or a spirited group ride, I would just swap out and do it on my Contacts.

Has anyone had experience with touring on the Marathon Cross?

You're right, I think I'm talking about the 700 Grand Bois. There was a recent discussion about tyres in the Randonneurs forum, and I recall a debate about these. One BF member referred to repeated flatting.

I had a cotton and a silk Clement Campionato del Mundo a long time ago. It was amazing,and never replaced.

I think Asana did a tour and Mtb race with them. Schwalbe's website shows it only in 26" but his wheels are 700c. The Specialized Borough pro would be a bit lighter, I'm guessing the ride would be softer.
Quickness/acceleration is still a function of power to weight starting with an unloaded bike.

yes look a lot like pasela T?G but much better material used to make them;)
and what tire isn't open to getting punctures .
i have te marathon plus great i suppose for puncture protection but to heavy for my liking
also ride supreams much better tire all round:rolleyes: but the side walls are a wee bit suspect.
conti contacts are good so to are panaracer ribmo tires.
yes i've gone through the lot good points and bad with them all.
but the next few bob i have i will be buying those bois tires quality ooozes out of them.:thumb: