wroomwroomoops

I would like to know how these two tires compare... in any respect, because I'm so ignorant about them. I.E. if you can tell me anything (puncture protection, durability, grip on wet road, occasional gravel etc), anything at all, I'll be grateful and appreciative.

LeeG

Not familiar with the randonneur touring but it looks like one heavy tire, I wonder if the Schwalbe equivalent is the Marathon HS 420. I don't see the need for deep tread lugs on a road tire. The Marathon Supreme is a very nice touring tire, Vittoria equivalent would be the Randonneur Pro. I've ridden the Supremes a couple years and like them a lot. Very puncture resistant and secure on wet roads. What size are you looking at and what size of load? If your rear wheel is carrying a significantly heavier load than the front tire you might consider a more durable rear tire than what's on the front.

wroomwroomoops

I don't mind a heavy tire, to be honest, but ride quality is a point of interest. I'm going for 32-35C (ish). The total weight will be around 100 Kg. Yep, most of it on the back (I think in a 3:1 ratio).

The reason I'm considering the Vittoria Randonneur Touring is, I could buy two for the price of a Marathon Supreme. I'm thinking of supplying a second bike with new tires, so I would like to know more about them. If I go with the Schwalbe, I'm not sure I'll bother getting two tires, or just use one for the rear wheel. I don't remember the last time I had a flat front tire (not saying it never happened, but it must have been long ago, if ever).

positron

you get what you pay for.

Third year on a supreme (40mm) zero flats, commuting and touring. About to put the front tire on the rear and get a new front... Far better ride and spun weight than a big apple, which the supreme replaced when i bought it.

sticky in the wet and dry, very tough and fast (considering the toughness)

LeeG

Ride quality, as defined by soaking up bumps is usually achieved with a lighter more flexible casing. 100kg total weight isn't a lot. There are a lot of other tires worth considering for the front with a heavy tire on the rear to handle the greater load. Panaracer T-Serv would be a nice front tire with the vittoria on the rear. If money is an issue don't get the high end folding Schwalbes.

Barrettscv 

I'm using the 700x38 Vittoria Randonneur Hyper and a 700x40 Schwalbe Marathon Dureme.

Neither tire has had a flat, I ride over glass and sharp gravel several times a week.

The Vittoria Randonneur is supple with a great ride and plenty of speed. The Schwalbe Marathon Dureme feels slower and the ride is a little more firm. The Schwalbe Marathon Dureme might be tougher with better wet traction on gravel.

If you your on road or on very smooth gravel, the Vittoria Randonneur is better.

sonatageek

3600 plus miles on my Marathon Supremes (2.0 x 26 size) with no flats and what I think is going to be another couple of years of use. This on a commuting route with plenty of glass, crappy asphalt etc.

Burton

No hands on experience with the Vittoria Randonneur Touring simply because I eliminated it as an option. Its apparently only available in 35 and 38c sizes which are smaller than I'm looking for. Extra width also gives the optipn to run lower pressures for comfort and also gives better braking performance. Options not available with the Vittoria.

Have run Schwalbe Marathon Supremes in 32, 40 and 50c sizes for the last three years. No flats and at this point I think bigger is better. The technology in these tires result in a large volume tire thats light, durable, fast and has great ride characteristics. Yeah - they don't look like a really affordable tire, - but on a cost per year basis they actually are.