ningnangnong

Having just discovered that my Kenda tyre has an S-bend in it - not joking! - it's time to ditch them both and get something different. It's not my main set of wheels but something I use to ride to work/to the station in a suit/carry shopping etc.

The bike in question is a Dawes Discovery 201: https://www.evanscycles.com/products/...-bike-ec018590

So I'm not after the most expensive set as that'd be a waste, but I do want to get some fast, grippy in the wet, fast-rolling and durable replacements.

Thinking Schwalbe Marathons - any other recommendations?

Cheers

Wheelzy

I like the Conti Top Contact 32s. They're wide enough to absorb the road a bit, but narrow enough to roll well. They also have reflective sidewalls, which are a bit of a gimmick, but you might be into that. It's not the fastest rolling tread pattern but it's a good balance of grooved for slop and smooth for asphalt.

echotraveler

i vote for shwalbe Marathon plus....i feel very confident on the road, they are said to be the toughest protection against flats, and i think they run pretty fast...mine run at 95psi, ive had them for 2.5 months now...so i cant talk about durability....

Square & Compas

I could have told you Kenda's suck big time. At one time I got the bright idea of switching from Primo's to Kenda's on my recumbent. That was a bad idea. The Kenda's failed within 3 months.

BILLB58

+1 for Schwalbe Marathon Plus.....I run 700 x 28's

EKW in DC

I had good luck with the Kendas I have had on my bike. They were on a used wheelset I bought from a local bike co-op, and already quite well used. I got another couple thousand miles out of them before the rear started showing some threads in the sidewall (think it was from age and exposure more than anything). Just ordered some cheap Nashbar 35 mm city tires for my bike. Probably wouldn't have replaced the Kendas yet, but the Kendas are 40s and I wanted 35s or smaller for my new 45 mm fenders which I should have soon.

prxmid

I just got Schwalbe Marathon Plus for my commuter build. They are supposedly bombproof, and from what I read are the ultimate commuter tire.

Don't want to steal the thread but I'm planning a 5 day credit card tour with this bike and wondering anyones experience using these four touring, 60 miles per day. Some say they have high rolling resistance due to their weight.

sauerwald

+1 again for the SMP. I have a couple of bikes with them on them, one with 700x28s and one with 700x25s, both are excellent tires for commuting.

dbgray21

armadillos. i run 25's.

chipcom 

I love my Top Contacts...but for the OP's price criteria the plain old Contact would fit the bill.

wunderkind

What do you mean by S-bend?

jeffpoulin

Don't worry, they'll be fine on a tour. Jeff Kruys on crazyguyonabike.com uses Marathon Pluses on his tours. His current tour has been going for almost 4 years with about 45,000 miles. He gets anywhere from 5,000 to 15,000 miles his Pluses.

As for myself, I prefer the Marathon Supremes for commuting.

prxmid

Thanks much Jeff

For the OP, they seem to be the tire of choice for commuters, wuth the Supremes and XR's

TurbineBlade

This question comes up quite a bit, so you might try a search as well.

Kojak

Hi prxmid,

SMP tires actually have quite low rolling resistance. That said, they can feel slow because of their weight. A relatively heavy tire takes more effort to spin up, but once you get them going, they should roll fine.

Kojak

An "S Bend" occurs when a tire carcass is coming apart. The threads in the fabric begin to stretch and separate which gives the outward appearance of an S if you're looking directly at the center contact patch of the tire. If any of you ever have a tire that exhibits this, change out your tire immediately; they are not long for this world.

Abneycat

Out of the tires i've used, i'd probably say that the Marathon Supreme and Marathon Plus are my two favourites for commuter tires.

The supreme is a tire that both offers some of everything, and excels at it too. Decently light, especially for the level of protection they afford. Smooth and comfortable, but I personally think that they also roll quite fast. Reflective sidewalls and a decently light tread pattern. The only downside to this tire is the cost, but they are also likely to last considerably longer than a cheaper tire, and the only way I would think they could get any better is if the very light and largely inconsequential tread pattern was removed.

I also quite enjoy the plus. It's heavy for sure, but it rolls quite fine. I've had one on the rear wheel of my cargo bike for quite a long time now, and while other tires have been put in that same position and been shredded to uselessness in weeks or months, the plus has never suffered me a single flat or bit of trouble.

rumrunn6

Specialized Armadillo All Condition (the smooth ones) 700 x 28c have been very very good to me on 3 bikes! :-) here's a link but I don't have the "Elite". Maybe that's just their latest version of the same tire?

https://****************/2009/12/speci...lo-elite-tire/

https://www.buzzillions.com/reviews/s...e-tire-reviews

Brian T

Specialized armadillos are tough tires. I've used them for a long time, with liners and thorn resistant tubes.
Cant be late. Military.

Longissimus

I have just over 800 miles on Michelin Pilot Sports (700x35). Great handling and roll at 80 psi. They have a reflective side wall and a catchy moto GP tread so the tires have great aesthetics too (is that possible?). I love these tires.

tarwheel 

There is no "best" commuter tire. It depends on the bike your are riding, the condition of your roads, the hilliness of your route and other factors. What is best for me might be terrible for you. That said, I have had excellent performance and wear with 700 x 25 Conti GP 4000s and recently installed some Conti GP 4 Season 28s that seem equally nice so far. My route is very hilly, so I value light weight as much as durability.