700c tyres

Julesh said:

Mrs Julesh's bike (an Orbit road bike of circa 1992) needs a new set of
tyres. The present ones are "700c/32" and I'd like any
recommendations(preferably from what Wiggle stocks) on what I should
buy to replace them.

Her main is use is commuting, about 10 miles a day, sometimes with a 2
year old in a baby seat behind her, so I am looking for puncture
resistance and general resilience rather than performance.

When this was discussed here in 1991 the Continental Top Touring seemed
to get a lot of support. I can't see these on Wiggle, have they been
replaced with something else?

Thanks

Julesh

The two bikes I run Schwalbe Marathon Plus 700x28's on have never had
punctures.

My audax bike is an Orbit, and has done 6000km over the summer on
Schwalbe Stelvio 700x28's with no punctures.

Before I replaced them with Marathon Plus, my utility bike (a fixie) had
cheapie Michelin tyres and had four punctures in a week.

Therefore, IME you can't go far wrong with Schwalbe.

Cheers
Chris

Chris Smith said:

Schwalbe Marathon Plus

I'll second that recommendation. They may be a bit heavier than others
but they are seriously tough. Although I have had 1 puncture in about
3000 miles they've withstood some huge cuts and embedded chunks of
glass and show little signs of wearing out. I think they may outlast
my rims.

Chris Smith said:

Julesh said:

Mrs Julesh's bike (an Orbit road bike of circa 1992) needs a new set
of tyres. The present ones are "700c/32" and I'd like any
recommendations(preferably from what Wiggle stocks) on what I should
buy to replace them.

Her main is use is commuting, about 10 miles a day, sometimes with a
2 year old in a baby seat behind her, so I am looking for puncture
resistance and general resilience rather than performance.

When this was discussed here in 1991 the Continental Top Touring
seemed to get a lot of support. I can't see these on Wiggle, have
they been replaced with something else?

Thanks

Julesh

The two bikes I run Schwalbe Marathon Plus 700x28's on have never had
punctures.

My audax bike is an Orbit, and has done 6000km over the summer on
Schwalbe Stelvio 700x28's with no punctures.

Before I replaced them with Marathon Plus, my utility bike (a fixie)
had cheapie Michelin tyres and had four punctures in a week.

Therefore, IME you can't go far wrong with Schwalbe.

I, OTOH, have clocked five p+nct+r+s on Schwalbe tyres in my last 3 audax
outings. Two on a 37-406 Marathon Racer, three on a 28-406 Stelvio...

I shall, however, continue to use 'em as the acceptably-rapid alternatives
in 406 are Even Worse.

The big wheel bikes use Panaracer Paselas.

--
Dave Larrington
<http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk>
Barley, barley, barley, world cruise. You never see a farmer on
a bike.

Julesh said:

Mrs Julesh's bike (an Orbit road bike of circa 1992) needs a new set of
tyres. The present ones are "700c/32" and I'd like any
recommendations(preferably from what Wiggle stocks) on what I should
buy to replace them.

Her main is use is commuting, about 10 miles a day, sometimes with a 2
year old in a baby seat behind her, so I am looking for puncture
resistance and general resilience rather than performance.

When this was discussed here in 1991 the Continental Top Touring seemed
to get a lot of support. I can't see these on Wiggle, have they been
replaced with something else?

Thanks

Julesh

Assuming you want p*nct*r* resistance then you'll get recommened the Schwalbe Marathon Plus available from wiggle in 700x32c for £21.59. Apparently this is virtually bomb proof, others will extound it's virtues better than I (I don't have any :-) The vanilla Marathons are very good as are the any of the Specialized Armadillo tyres (I have riden both of these and have had no visits from the p*nct*r* fairy whilst using them). Wiggle only seem to go up to 28c for the Specialized's.

Bryan

Chris Smith said:

Schwalbe

Second endorsement for Schwalbe. They wear out eventually (you don't say)
but a combination of Kevlar puncture protection, a reflective sidewall, a
good dynamo track and a sensible tread pattern gets my vote.

Tim

Julesh said:

When this was discussed here in 1991 the Continental Top Touring
seemed to get a lot of support. I can't see these on Wiggle, have
they been replaced with something else?

TT 2000: difficult to fit, questionable sidewall quality.

~PB

Dave Larrington said:

I, OTOH, have clocked five p+nct+r+s on Schwalbe tyres in my last 3 audax
outings.

But were they the Marathon *Plus*

Pete Biggs said the following on 20/09/2006 17:05:

Quoted message said:

TT 2000: difficult to fit

Depends on your rims, surely? I use them, and they pop on and off quite
easily when you need them to. Can't remember which rims I have
off-hand, other than they are both Mavics (different F & R).

Quoted message said:

questionable sidewall quality.

Not had a problem myself with them. Yet....

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

Thanks everyone - Marathon plus it is then.

Julesh

Paul Boyd said:

Quoted message said:

TT 2000: difficult to fit

Depends on your rims, surely?

I found one difficult to fit to an Open Pro: a relatively easy rim.

Might also depend on the exact version and size of tyre.

Quoted message said:

I use them, and they pop on and off
quite easily when you need them to. Can't remember which rims I have
off-hand, other than they are both Mavics (different F & R).

Quoted message said:

questionable sidewall quality.

Not had a problem myself with them. Yet....

Nor have I, but then I've never actually used one. Just fitted one and
decided against because it'd be such a bugger to fix a puncture.

Google Groups brings up a disproportionate number of complaints about the
sidewalls.

~PB

Julesh said:

Mrs Julesh's bike (an Orbit road bike of circa 1992) needs a new set of
tyres. The present ones are "700c/32" and I'd like any
recommendations(preferably from what Wiggle stocks) on what I should
buy to replace them.

Her main is use is commuting, about 10 miles a day, sometimes with a 2
year old in a baby seat behind her, so I am looking for puncture
resistance and general resilience rather than performance.

When this was discussed here in 1991 the Continental Top Touring seemed
to get a lot of support. I can't see these on Wiggle, have they been
replaced with something else?

Scwalbe Marathon Plus. 3,000 miles an naer a puncture fairy in sight.
Seem to last as well. When I've worn them out I'm going to cut them
open and see what state the blue stuff is in, but so far feels as new.

Julesh said:

Thanks everyone - Marathon plus it is then.

If after "similar to before", I'd get ordinary Marathon's, they are a solid
sensible tyre.
If after "ultimate in puncture protection, but at some weight penalty", then
the Marathon Plus.

--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

Julesh said:

Thanks everyone - Marathon plus it is then.

OK, but as others have said, make sure they're "PLUS". You'll pay a little
more than for plain Marathons, and they're a pig to fit, but once they're
on, Mrs J can stick her p* repair outfit on E-bay. ;-)

--
Cheerful Pedalling
John Mallard

John Mallard said:

Julesh said:

Thanks everyone - Marathon plus it is then.

OK, but as others have said, make sure they're "PLUS". You'll pay a little
more than for plain Marathons, and they're a pig to fit, but once they're
on, Mrs J can stick her p* repair outfit on E-bay. ;-)

Wiggle don't seem to stock Marathons in the required size anyway so a
plus is what I've ordered. Mrs J doesn't possess a puncture repair
outfit as Mrs J doesn't fix her own punctures!

Julesh

POHB said:

Dave Larrington said:

I, OTOH, have clocked five p+nct+r+s on Schwalbe tyres in my last 3
audax outings.

But were they the Marathon *Plus*

No, they were a Stelvio and a Marathon Racer, like I said up there ^.

The 406 Marathon Plus is 47 mm wide and won't fit either machine.

--
Dave Larrington
<http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk>
Murdock's Gardening Law: If it's green, the paving isn't
finished yet.

Tosspot said:

Julesh said:

Mrs Julesh's bike (an Orbit road bike of circa 1992) needs a new set
of tyres. The present ones are "700c/32" and I'd like any
recommendations(preferably from what Wiggle stocks) on what I should
buy to replace them.

Her main is use is commuting, about 10 miles a day, sometimes with a 2
year old in a baby seat behind her, so I am looking for puncture
resistance and general resilience rather than performance.

When this was discussed here in 1991 the Continental Top Touring
seemed to get a lot of support. I can't see these on Wiggle, have they
been replaced with something else?

Scwalbe Marathon Plus. 3,000 miles an naer a puncture fairy in sight.
Seem to last as well. When I've worn them out I'm going to cut them
open and see what state the blue stuff is in, but so far feels as new.

In comparison I have the Schwalbe Marathon (ie not the plus version)
fitted and only one puncture after 4000km (caused when I was pushing the
bike with fully loaded panniers down a curb onto an unseen sharp
stone... D'oh!) otherwise they seem as good as new. I'd do think the
reflective sidewall is a very nice touch too.

Is it noticable whilst riding that the Plus version is slightly heavier?

mblewett said:

Tosspot said:

Julesh said:

Mrs Julesh's bike (an Orbit road bike of circa 1992) needs a new set
of tyres. The present ones are "700c/32" and I'd like any
recommendations(preferably from what Wiggle stocks) on what I should
buy to replace them.

Her main is use is commuting, about 10 miles a day, sometimes with a
2 year old in a baby seat behind her, so I am looking for puncture
resistance and general resilience rather than performance.

When this was discussed here in 1991 the Continental Top Touring
seemed to get a lot of support. I can't see these on Wiggle, have
they been replaced with something else?

Scwalbe Marathon Plus. 3,000 miles an naer a puncture fairy in sight.
Seem to last as well. When I've worn them out I'm going to cut them
open and see what state the blue stuff is in, but so far feels as new.

In comparison I have the Schwalbe Marathon (ie not the plus version)
fitted and only one puncture after 4000km (caused when I was pushing the
bike with fully loaded panniers down a curb onto an unseen sharp
stone... D'oh!) otherwise they seem as good as new. I'd do think the
reflective sidewall is a very nice touch too.

Is it noticable whilst riding that the Plus version is slightly heavier?

Dunno, not ridden the normal ones. On the other bike I have the
Marathon XRs, 500 miles no trouble and a few friends have 2000km+ no
trouble They feel 'better' than the Marathon Plus, for whatever value
of 'better'[1].

It does seem a trait of the Marathons that they are very durable. I
think, this is just an opinion, that they are a bit slippy in the wet,
but apart from that, they're the Dogs Fandango for commuting.

Any other recommendations for commuting tyres?

[1] Probably because they don't have the 'blue sponge' of the Plus, but
I don't have the miles to say if they perform better on the puncture front.