palu

I'm looking to pick up a pair of 26x2.0 rugged tires for both on and off-pavement rides. I came across these two Schwalbe tires, but I've no personal experience with either tire. I have had the regular Marathon Plus before, which while very heavy, performed extremely well and experienced no flats.

So anyone know how these compare? Will the MPT be more flat resistent than the Mondial? I would say priorities are:

1- Flat protection
2- Dirt/gravel performance
3- Wear

By the way, this is going on my Big Dummy. I would assume both of these tires are well-suited to carrying a (what I consider) big load. Probably 50-100 lbs. Thanks for any input.

LeeG

According to Schwalbes site you get a lighter, better rolling and better off-road tire with the Mondiale with the same puncture resistance as the MPT, which is hard to believe.

City / Touring | Schwalbe North America

I would consider different tires front and rear.

Sharpshin

I like the 70psi 26x2.0 Plus Tours on my commuting mountain bike so much I plan to put a 85psi 700x35 set on my touring bike.

They are the most bullet proof tires I have found on my debris-strewn urban commute (75-100 miles/week).

Off the pavement in roadside dirt, grass and gravel I have found them to grip well, even in the mud.

However Bill St Onge, who does loaded tours up north to places so remote he has to leave food caches to have enough to get back, runs Schwalbe Marathon Duremes on gravel and Mondials on pavement.


Kawawachikamach: Riding The Northern Edge of Quebec and Labrador: The Bike...and a Departure Date Update:

I'm not sure you could really go wrong with any of these.

Mike

psy

I love my Mondials. over 5000 miles and going strong.. and just 1 flat due to a 2 inch screw a few weeks ago in moab. I Laugh at goatheads. Rolls fairly smooth on concrete and transitions nicely to dirt and gravel. Best tires ever.

palu

Thanks much for the responses.


psy - do you have the folding or wire bead model?

psy

Folding. Duremes would be my second choice. Get them. They aren't cheap but they are a great value.

palu

Do you think there is much difference between the wire/TravelStar compound and the Endurance on the folding beads? I can't seem to find the folding beads, except for international sites (I'm in the US).

LlamaBikes

Interesting idea. I'm in a similar boat to OP and was thinking of going for the 50-559 Marathon Mondials, front and rear. What would be your suggestion for running two different tires? I'm looking for tough ~2" (Max 2.1") touring tires. Maybe run the Marathon Plus Tour on the rear and Mondial on the front? Or maybe something like the Mondial on the front and the Deluxe on the rear?

fietsbob

Door Number 3.. 1.75 " https://www.conti-online.com/www/bicy...ontact_en.html
Continental Travel Contact 26 x 1.75" Black

psy

There's a huge difference. I order mine straight from the distributer. Get the good ones, you won't be disappointed. They are out of stock right now it seems, but keep checking.

And I like and run continentals (grand prix) on my road bike..but you can't beat the Mondial as an all around touring tire imo.