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am just shy of 7000kms on my schwalbe marathon plus tyres. rear is square. a few blue spots starting to show, but still going strong (I weigh over 80kgs, so no feather weight)

jasonc wrote:am just shy of 7000kms on my schwalbe marathon plus tyres. rear is square. a few blue spots starting to show, but still going strong (I weigh over 80kgs, so no feather weight)

+1 for Schwalbe Marathon plus, I've done over 4000k and never had a puncture yet (touch wood). I'm over 100kgs so they earn their keep. Although I do switch them between front and rear about every 2K.

jasonc wrote:am just shy of 7000kms on my schwalbe marathon plus tyres. rear is square. a few blue spots starting to show, but still going strong (I weigh over 80kgs, so no feather weight)

Just replaced the rear 700x28c Marathon Plus on my commuter, just short of 12,500km. Squared off and the whole tyre was blue! I usually stop pushing my luck around then.

Front Tyre has done 14,700km and still going strong, just a few tiny flecks of blue where glass has sliced through.
Puncture history is 0 on the front (this is my 3rd front tyre, so zero in 35,000km!)
On the rear I have punctured 3 times over the same distance. Twice it was a large building tack, once it was a large shard of glass. Less than 1 puncture a year on average

My next set of tyres is the Marathon Supreme as I want to see how these compare. They weigh about 1/3 of the SMP and allegedly have similar puncture protection. If they fail, back to the SMPs!

queequeg wrote:My next set of tyres is the Marathon Supreme as I want to see how these compare. They weigh about 1/3 of the SMP and allegedly have similar puncture protection. If they fail, back to the SMPs!

I was going to go a combo next - front - supreme and rear MP

AndrewBurns wrote:How about the schwalbe marathon plus, people who like heavy durable tyres here seem to rave about them. My commuter is on the other end of the spectrum with Continental GP 4 seasons in 28c, some puncture protection but light, fast and excellent grip in wet and dry.

+1

I've also been running the GP4 season (28c) on the commuter. While there isn't much clearance to spare I much prefer the extra width compared to the 23c I was running previously.

heuston wrote:

AndrewBurns wrote:How about the schwalbe marathon plus, people who like heavy durable tyres here seem to rave about them. My commuter is on the other end of the spectrum with Continental GP 4 seasons in 28c, some puncture protection but light, fast and excellent grip in wet and dry.

+1

I've also been running the GP4 season (28c) on the commuter. While there isn't much clearance to spare I much prefer the extra width compared to the 23c I was running previously.

+1

love my gp4seasons in a 28mm as well, i can immediately tell the difference when i mount them on my disc equiped cx bike, very close to my road bike feel

Half way through fitting a new set of Schwalbe Marathon Supreme, 700c x 28. Thought hmm, this looks narrow. Indeed, the new tyre is 26mm on the rim, the old tyres (Schwalbe Marathon) are 30mm wide, though both are nominally 28s...

Going for durano plus on the rear in a 23 for my next tyre. Tried wider tyres, don't like em. I'll go for a regular durano on the front once the lithion 25's are finito.

After discovering how dangerous Kenda 700 x 23c slicks are in the wet, and countless punctures, I've switched to Vittoria Randonneurs, 700 x 25.

So far no punctures. Higher rolling resistance that is noticeable, but if I don't get punctures, I'll be happy with that.

Switched to Vittoria Zafiro 700 x 23c tyres due to the rolling resistance of the Randonneurs. At $10 per tyre, couldn't say no.

Rolling resistance is still higher than the Kenda's, but much much less than the Randonneurs. Has a wider patch that meets with the road than the Kenda's which I assume is the difference.

No punctures with either Vittoria tyre, 1000kms later. Happy with that.

Am I correct in assuming that narrower tyres generally provide less rolling resistance than a wider tyre, but not as much grip in wet / slippery conditions?

My understanding is:
At the same pressure the wider tyre has less rolling resistance
You shouldn't run a wider tyre at the same pressure
At the ideal pressure for that size the narrower tyre will have less rolling resistance
The narrower tyre will have less aero drag
Tread pattern and compound will also impact rolling and aero
Compound and to a small extent tread will provide grip on smooth roads
Tread pattern will provide grip on loose surfaces
Wider tyres are more forgiving/progressive as you reach the limit of grip
Lower pressure (as run on wider tyres) will roll and grip better on rough surfaces

I'm looking at the differences between the GP 4seasons and the Gatorskin.

My 25c Gatorskins are beginning to square off at the rear so I might need a new one towards the end of the year. So far as a commuting tire they've been great and I'm considering going to the 28c (now that I have another road bike for pleasant Sunday rides).

I'm also thinking about the Continental Contact, which my dad has on his flat-bar roadie. I like the reflective strip but I'm not sure if I need a tread pattern like that as I only commute on asphalt/concrete.

From the conti website : Gatorskin in 700 x 28c
3 plies / total 180 tpi / PolyX Breaker + DuraSkin
(size, color weight, min/max pressure)
28-622 700 x 28C black/black 360 95 116

Gatorskin Hardshell in 700 x 28c
3 plies / total 180 tpi / PolyX Breaker / Duraskin
(size, color weight, min/max pressure)
28-622 700 x 28C black/black 410 95 11

GP 4seasons in 700 x 28c
3 plies / 330 tpi + Double Vectran Breaker + DuraSkin
(size, color weight, min/max pressure)
28-622 700 x 28C black/black 260 95 116

Super Sport Plus in 700 x 28c
PlusBreaker belt
(size, color weight, min/max pressure)
28-622 700 x 28C black/black 550 80 116

+1 for Durano Plus. Roll relatively well, and seem to wear ok.

MattyK wrote:Half way through fitting a new set of Schwalbe Marathon Supreme, 700c x 28. Thought hmm, this looks narrow. Indeed, the new tyre is 26mm on the rim, the old tyres (Schwalbe Marathon) are 30mm wide, though both are nominally 28s...

Loving the first few weeks of the Marathon Supremes. Despite being notably narrower, my brain is telling me they roll faster (possibly placebo, I have no speedo. Really only apparent on the downhills) but more surprisingly, smoother over rough patches.

I still haven't got new tyres for the mighty Ribble yet. The durano I had on there is gone. It was puncture free but wore out after 3-4 k. Casing material showing in several parts of the tread
I'm currently using a lithion 2 in a 25c as that is what I had.
I'm after something that wears a bit better than the durano. I'm limited to a 25 as that is all that will fit on the Ribble and that is a squeeze. I can modify the chain stay bridge mount for the chromoplastic to get slightly more clearance but would prefer not to.
Has anyone used the marathon plus in a 25c?
Are they a large (tall) 25c?
Do they wear well?

warthog1 wrote:Has anyone used the marathon plus in a 25c?
Are they a large (tall) 25c?
Do they wear well?

My marathon plus tyres are 25c.
large - well I have them on a pro-lite como. and they are definitely bigger than a 23c but smaller than a 28c.
do they wear well? yes. I'm just over 80kgs. Add a backpack etc. Got 8200kms out of the rear tyre before changing it.

I've just ordered some 25mm veloflex masters from Ribble. Loving the 23mm masters on the bike at the moment. Very comfy and a 1000 puncture free km so far. I'm just interested to see how much more comfort and grip a token 2 extra mm will give me. Hopefully they will squeeze in between the chain stays of the Geoff Scott.

jasonc wrote:
My marathon plus tyres are 25c.
large - well I have them on a pro-lite como. and they are definitely bigger than a 23c but smaller than a 28c.
do they wear well? yes. I'm just over 80kgs. Add a backpack etc. Got 8200kms out of the rear tyre before changing it.

Great feedback thanks Jason.
You are a little heavier than me, so that sounds like good mileage. I'll give one a crack on the rear.
Front tyres last for ages anyway so I'll just go for a rear at the moment.

I must have upset the tyre gods.

My 38mm Marathon Plus got a puncture after 510kms

Mugglechops wrote:My 38mm Marathon Plus got a puncture after 510kms

On the other hand, my 2" Marathon Greenguard had a 5mm or so piece of a branch go past the thread on an angle and into the Greenguard stuff, but didn't puncture. I just stopped, pulled the bit of branch out and kept riding.

I think I was just unlucky.

I'm reluctantly writing that I'm on the second set of marathon plus tyres, yet to have a puncture. Knock on wood. I've put them on my partner's bike too. I've stopped carrying a spare.

Well I've changed to marathons after a succession of punctures on my commuter.

I think I've done about 500k with no drama. They roll better than the Vitoria randonneurs I was using. It's nice not getting flats on the commuter too.

So far I'm happy. I'm itching to try some supremes though as they look quite good.

25mm Marathon Pluses here. 0 flats in 9000km. Rear tyre is due for a change after that many km though. The tyre has been attacked - its got gouges and holes and cuts all over it but nothing got through the defence layer

That's a good result and good mileage Woods.
How much do you weigh?