Conti Contact Security vs Schwalbe Marathon Plus cycle tires

[TJ]

http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/ti contact security.shtml

Continental, Germany tells us the Contact Security is

"Designed for industrial applications, the ContactSecurity can also
perform well in everyday use. Its massive puncture-proof breaker was
developed to resist metal cuttings and shards on factory grounds. In
view of its tough construction, it is not a comfortable touring tyre
with low rolling resistance, but it does effectively ward off gravel
and shards on short stretches in the city."

How do these compare for puncture protection, speed and mileage
against the Schwalbe Mararthon Plus ??

Thanks

 

[Tom Sherman]

TJ wrote:
> http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/ti contact security.shtml
>
> Continental, Germany tells us the Contact Security is
>
> "Designed for industrial applications, the ContactSecurity can also
> perform well in everyday use. Its massive puncture-proof breaker was
> developed to resist metal cuttings and shards on factory grounds. In
> view of its tough construction, it is not a comfortable touring tyre
> with low rolling resistance, but it does effectively ward off gravel
> and shards on short stretches in the city."
>
The page also says "The tread derives it’s superb function from a closer
look at nature’s solutions. Animal paws were the model for designing the
tread pattern and it’s surface!"

How many animals have wheels and travel primarily on pavement?

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

 

[Tom Anderson]

On Sun, 24 Feb 2008, TJ wrote:

> http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/ti contact security.shtml

I note that the 26" version is only rated up to 58 psi, and they recommend
only 45 psi. That seems incredibly low for a road tyre. Does the stiffness
of the construction make up for it? They do say:

"The Contact Security is designed for commuters who simply can't risk a
puncture; people who want a no-hassle ride to work when speed and rolling
resistance is not an issue."

Which implies poor rolling resistance; maybe that's part of the reason.

tom

--
inspired by forty-rod whiskey

 

[Duncan Smith]

>
> I note that the 26" version is only rated up to 58 psi, and they recommend
> only 45 psi. That seems incredibly low for a road tyre. Does the stiffness
> of the construction make up for it? They do say:
>

Dutch Perfects have a similarly low pressure rating - I just ignore it
and put a ton in anyway - so far, so good.

Regards,

Duncan

 

[datakoll]

"The Contact Security is designed for commuters who simply can't risk
a
puncture; people who want a no-hassle ride to work when speed and
rolling
resistance is not an issue."

an accurate statement.
when speed and MITTY PRO RACER EFFECT SYNDROME are not issued.
Conti designs around (?) a responsive sidewall. Seems that way as
often a Conti sidewall is the tire's weakest area, when loaded with
rubber as on the Security, less responsive than a TT.

I carry groceries and camping equipment. The Security used here as a
rear tire with a TT front was always (now at the end) pumped to near
90-100 pounds. At higher pressures, the tire is slippery during the
break in miles. Slippery as overloaded slippery tho I ran it unloaded
and it was again slippery. I assume I reduced the contact suface above
a thick belt. ??? I don't know if that's logical.

Never treid it at recommended pressures. That's from using the TT.
Recommended TT pressures, I consider largely imaginary as one curb
drop, I used non progressive bifocals, and whoooola! a cut sidewall
from impact.

Never had a flat. Is the tire fun for zipping around? sure, why not,
even when slippery.
itsnot a question of: is this tire dangerous
itsha question of does the tire conform to Mitty Syndrome or Pole
Disease.
would I buy another. yes, if the debris content is high. I would try
sanding the contact surface.
cam I compare it to a Schwalbe? what planet are you from? I have
Pasela Messengers. They're on strike. There's a comparison. The
Messengers are wooden but grip, The Security isnot wooden and is early
on slippery at lower cornering limits, at high pressures-necessary hi
pressures.
I have a Schwalbe Big Apple, unrun. It looks like the PR: new factory,
new capitol, new technology. Looks a lot like a Pasela Messenger but
thinner.

 

[max]

In article
<9e9a39f5-f27f-4f2f-a5af-3eb1f0e8fd52@o10g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>,
Duncan Smith <[email protected]> wrote:

> >
> > I note that the 26" version is only rated up to 58 psi, and they recommend
> > only 45 psi. That seems incredibly low for a road tyre. Does the stiffness
> > of the construction make up for it? They do say:
> >
>
> Dutch Perfects have a similarly low pressure rating - I just ignore it
> and put a ton in anyway - so far, so good.
>
> Regards,
>
> Duncan

I would be wary -- overpressure failures may not manifest immediately,
and will tend to fail out the sidewall.

i did something like that to a $$$ studded Nokian tire a few years back
in an ill-advised attempt to lower rolling resistance. I ran it at 100+
psi instead of the recommended 65 max and blew out a sidewall after 4
months. Front wheel. Fortunately it happened while it was parked in my
office and not out on the ice.

..max

 

[Andre Jute]

On Feb 24, 3:07 pm, TJ <[email protected]> wrote:
> http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/ti contact security.shtml
>
> Continental, Germany tells us the Contact Security is
>
> "Designed for industrial applications, the ContactSecurity can also
> perform well in everyday use. Its massive puncture-proof breaker was
> developed to resist metal cuttings and shards on factory grounds. In
> view of its tough construction, it is not a comfortable touring tyre
> with low rolling resistance, but it does effectively ward off gravel
> and shards on short stretches in the city."
>
> How do these compare for puncture protection, speed and mileage
> against the Schwalbe Mararthon Plus ??
>
> Thanks

I haven't tried the Continental Contact Security and, having read what
the manufacturers say about it in the sections you and Tom quote, I
won't be trying them. I do however have experience of the Schwalbe
Marathon Plus and the very similar Bontrager Satellite Elite Hardcase,
which are everything Continental says the Contact Security isn't: the
Marathon Plus and the Bontrager Hard Case are high-pressure, low
rolling-resistance tyres of exceptional puncture resistance; they also
have perfectly good grip in the wet, considering that their tread is
very low and the sipes are only at the sides of the tyres. I switched
to Marathon after a series of flats in, among others, Continental
tyres, that cost me about 125 Euro for new tubes and labour to fix
flats, and after several ruined rides in the same week bit the bullet
and bought the expensive Marathon Plus, and have not looked back; zero
flats in about another 2000km on the same roads. The Bontrager
Satellite Elite Hardcase came on my Trek "Smover" and has about 1750km
on the same roads that Contis (*not* the Contact Security) weren't
good enough on. The Bontrager tyres have nice graphics, if such things
matter to you, illustrated on my Trek "Smover" at:
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fiultra/BICYCLE & CYCLING.html

There is nothing to choose between the Marathon Plus and the Bontrager
Hardcase except that the Schwalbe tyre usually costs more even at the
discounters, though I must admit I haven't fitted the Bontrager to
rims yet (they came with the bike as a standard fitting); the Marathon
was difficult enough to fit, being enormously stiff, but nowhere near
impossible with patience. I wouldn't want to change a tube beside the
road though with these tyres fitted. I suspect the Bontrager will be
the same or a little more difficult to remove and refit as it feels
stiffer still. Neither tyre shows appreciable wear in around 2k klicks
on roughish roads. If comfort matters to you, you can have it on
either by inflating to about 60psi at which they are quite resilient
and do not add appreciable drag through higher rolling resistance, but
I have suspension seatposts and forks on both my current bikes so I
pump them up to about 85psi for minimum rolling resistance, at which
point there is no rolling resistance penalty over any other tyre I
have ever used; inflate higher still and the action becomes a bit
jiggly on poor roads and the suspension starts working harder for its
living.

As you can guess, I'm a big fan of the Schwalbe Marathon Plus and the
Bontrager Satellite Elite Hardcase -- I hate flats.

Andre Jute
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fiultra/BICYCLE & CYCLING.html

 

[datakoll]

One necessary comparison: using a Specialized thornproof or thornproof
plus slime tube in a sportier tire fills the bill excepting a thicker
sidewall. Thicker sidewalls are not so thicker tho...that's a toss up
depending on condiTions and riding habits.

a thornproof in a Security doesnot normally flat

 

[Simon Brooke]

Andre Jute wrote:

> the
> Marathon Plus and the Bontrager Hard Case are high-pressure, low
> rolling-resistance tyres of exceptional puncture resistance; they also
> have perfectly good grip in the wet, considering that their tread is
> very low and the sipes are only at the sides of the tyres.

Contrary to common opinion, for any given rubber compound, (on bicycles)
slick tyres are better in the wet than tyres with tread. They also tend to
roll slightly better. Bicycle tyres with tread are only beneficial on soft
surfaces, not on tarmac.

--
[email protected] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

:: Wisdom is better than weapons of war ::
:: Ecclesiastes 9:18 ::

 

[Duncan Smith]

On Feb 24, 8:13 pm, Simon Brooke <[email protected]> wrote:
> Andre Jute wrote:
> > the
> > Marathon Plus and the Bontrager Hard Case are high-pressure, low
> > rolling-resistance tyres of exceptional puncture resistance; they also
> > have perfectly good grip in the wet, considering that their tread is
> > very low and the sipes are only at the sides of the tyres.
>
> Contrary to common opinion, for any given rubber compound, (on bicycles)
> slick tyres are better in the wet than tyres with tread. They also tend to
> roll slightly better. Bicycle tyres with tread are only beneficial on soft
> surfaces, not on tarmac.
>
> --
> [email protected] (Simon Brooke)http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
>
> :: Wisdom is better than weapons of war ::
> :: Ecclesiastes 9:18 ::

True, since a bicycle cannot aquaplane there's no need for any tread
(on the road).

Duncan

 

[Jay]

"TJ" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:6c393581-10a2-4520-8816-e27ea5bc6295@h25g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/ti contact security.shtml
>
> Continental, Germany tells us the Contact Security is
>
> "Designed for industrial applications, the ContactSecurity can also
> perform well in everyday use. Its massive puncture-proof breaker was
> developed to resist metal cuttings and shards on factory grounds. In
> view of its tough construction, it is not a comfortable touring tyre
> with low rolling resistance, but it does effectively ward off gravel
> and shards on short stretches in the city."
>
> How do these compare for puncture protection, speed and mileage
> against the Schwalbe Mararthon Plus ??
>
> Thanks
>
I am quite happy with SM+ for Chicago city commuting. I hate flats, and I
don't get any.

As far as I am concerned (personally), this issue is closed.

J.

 

[Ben C]

On 2008-02-24, Duncan Smith <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Feb 24, 8:13 pm, Simon Brooke <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Andre Jute wrote:
>> > the
>> > Marathon Plus and the Bontrager Hard Case are high-pressure, low
>> > rolling-resistance tyres of exceptional puncture resistance; they also
>> > have perfectly good grip in the wet, considering that their tread is
>> > very low and the sipes are only at the sides of the tyres.
>>
>> Contrary to common opinion, for any given rubber compound, (on bicycles)
>> slick tyres are better in the wet than tyres with tread. They also tend to
>> roll slightly better. Bicycle tyres with tread are only beneficial on soft
>> surfaces, not on tarmac.
>>
>> --
>> [email protected] (Simon Brooke)http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
>>
>> :: Wisdom is better than weapons of war ::
>> :: Ecclesiastes 9:18 ::
>
> True, since a bicycle cannot aquaplane there's no need for any tread
> (on the road).

The effect of the tread on a car tyre is mostly to give you better grip
for braking and cornering in wet conditions. Most drivers will have
locked wheels or skidded a bit in the wet, and this is noticeably easier
to do with worn tyres (even if they're still legal). Many fewer drivers
have ever experienced aquaplaning.

Certainly I've never heard of a bicycle aquaplaning but it's conceivable
that on wider and lower pressure bicycle road tyres the tread does give
you a bit more wet grip.

 

[Tom Sherman]

Jay Bollyn wrote:
> "TJ" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:6c393581-10a2-4520-8816-e27ea5bc6295@h25g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>> http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/ti contact security.shtml
>>
>> Continental, Germany tells us the Contact Security is
>>
>> "Designed for industrial applications, the ContactSecurity can also
>> perform well in everyday use. Its massive puncture-proof breaker was
>> developed to resist metal cuttings and shards on factory grounds. In
>> view of its tough construction, it is not a comfortable touring tyre
>> with low rolling resistance, but it does effectively ward off gravel
>> and shards on short stretches in the city."
>>
>> How do these compare for puncture protection, speed and mileage
>> against the Schwalbe Mararthon Plus ??
>>
>> Thanks
>>
> I am quite happy with SM+ for Chicago city commuting. I hate flats, and I
> don't get any.
>
> As far as I am concerned (personally), this issue is closed.
>
Unless the tires are discontinued (e.g. Schwalbe City Jet), or moved to
production in a country that results in a significant drop in quality
(e.g. Tioga Comp Pool).

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

 

[Roger Merriman]

Ben C <[email protected]> wrote:

> On 2008-02-24, Duncan Smith <[email protected]> wrote:
> > On Feb 24, 8:13 pm, Simon Brooke <[email protected]> wrote:
> >> Andre Jute wrote:
> >> > the
> >> > Marathon Plus and the Bontrager Hard Case are high-pressure, low
> >> > rolling-resistance tyres of exceptional puncture resistance; they also
> >> > have perfectly good grip in the wet, considering that their tread is
> >> > very low and the sipes are only at the sides of the tyres.
> >>
> >> Contrary to common opinion, for any given rubber compound, (on bicycles)
> >> slick tyres are better in the wet than tyres with tread. They also tend to
> >> roll slightly better. Bicycle tyres with tread are only beneficial on soft
> >> surfaces, not on tarmac.
> >>
> >> --
> >> [email protected] (Simon Brooke)http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
> >>
> >> :: Wisdom is better than weapons of war ::
> >> :: Ecclesiastes 9:18 ::
> >
> > True, since a bicycle cannot aquaplane there's no need for any tread
> > (on the road).
>
> The effect of the tread on a car tyre is mostly to give you better grip
> for braking and cornering in wet conditions. Most drivers will have
> locked wheels or skidded a bit in the wet, and this is noticeably easier
> to do with worn tyres (even if they're still legal). Many fewer drivers
> have ever experienced aquaplaning.
>
> Certainly I've never heard of a bicycle aquaplaning but it's conceivable
> that on wider and lower pressure bicycle road tyres the tread does give
> you a bit more wet grip.

i think you'll find it's not but that tread provieds surer grip, when on
say park paths or cycle lanes.

roger
--
www.rogermerriman.com

 

[datakoll]

On Feb 24, 5:20 pm, Tom Sherman <[email protected]>
wrote:
> Jay Bollyn wrote:
> > "TJ" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >news:6c393581-10a2-4520-8816-e27ea5bc6295@h25g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> >>http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/ti contact security.shtml
>
> >> Continental, Germany tells us the Contact Security is
>
> >> "Designed for industrial applications, the ContactSecurity can also
> >> perform well in everyday use. Its massive puncture-proof breaker was
> >> developed to resist metal cuttings and shards on factory grounds. In
> >> view of its tough construction, it is not a comfortable touring tyre
> >> with low rolling resistance, but it does effectively ward off gravel
> >> and shards on short stretches in the city."
>
> >> How do these compare for puncture protection, speed and mileage
> >> against the Schwalbe Mararthon Plus ??
>
> >> Thanks
>
> > I am quite happy with SM+ for Chicago city commuting. I hate flats, and I
> > don't get any.
>
> > As far as I am concerned (personally), this issue is closed.
>
> Unless the tires are discontinued (e.g. Schwalbe City Jet), or moved to
> production in a country that results in a significant drop in quality
> (e.g. Tioga Comp Pool).
>
> --
> Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
> The weather is here, wish you were beautiful- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

A Conti TT with thornproof tube beats a Schwalbe Marathon 8 days a
week.
compare the stats

 

[Andre Jute]

On Feb 24, 10:20 pm, Tom Sherman <[email protected]>
wrote:
> Jay Bollyn wrote:
> > "TJ" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >news:6c393581-10a2-4520-8816-e27ea5bc6295@h25g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> >>http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/ti contact security.shtml
>
> >> Continental, Germany tells us the Contact Security is
>
> >> "Designed for industrial applications, the ContactSecurity can also
> >> perform well in everyday use. Its massive puncture-proof breaker was
> >> developed to resist metal cuttings and shards on factory grounds. In
> >> view of its tough construction, it is not a comfortable touring tyre
> >> with low rolling resistance, but it does effectively ward off gravel
> >> and shards on short stretches in the city."
>
> >> How do these compare for puncture protection, speed and mileage
> >> against the Schwalbe Mararthon Plus ??
>
> >> Thanks
>
> > I am quite happy with SM+ for Chicago city commuting. I hate flats, and I
> > don't get any.
>
> > As far as I am concerned (personally), this issue is closed.
>
> Unless the tires are discontinued (e.g. Schwalbe City Jet), or moved to
> production in a country that results in a significant drop in quality
> (e.g. Tioga Comp Pool).

And unless there is a significant price difference. Though the
recommended retail price is about the same for the Schwalbe Marathon
Plus and the Bontrager Satellite Elite Hardcase, from the discounters
the Bontrager was about 60 per cent the price the last time I looked.
As I have both and cannot for the life of me see any significant
difference, a 40 per cent price difference would have to feature in my
decision.

Andre Jute
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fiultra/BICYCLE & CYCLING.html

 

[Ron Wallenfang]

On Feb 24, 8:09 pm, Andre Jute <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > I am quite happy with SM+ for Chicago city commuting. I hate flats, and I
> > > don't get any.
>
> > > As far as I am concerned (personally), this issue is closed.
>
>> And unless there is a significant price difference. Though the
> recommended retail price is about the same for the Schwalbe Marathon
> Plus and the Bontrager Satellite Elite Hardcase, from the discounters
> the Bontrager was about 60 per cent the price the last time I looked.
> As I have both and cannot for the life of me see any significant
> difference, a 40 per cent price difference would have to feature in my
> decision.

I have Schwalbe Marathon Plus on one of my TREK 520 bikes and
Bontrager Select K (with a kevlar strip inside) on the other. Both
have worn well with minimum flats. The Schwalbe's have gone about
10,000 miles with just two flats. The Bontrager rear tire wore out
more quickly than that but still wore longer than most tires, and with
only a couple flats. I'll replace the Schwalbes before my next long
ride this summer. I am not familiar with the Satellite Elite
Hardcase. How does it compare with the Select K?

I did not have good luck with thorn resistant tubes. Several of them
had stem failures.

Using a separate Kevlar lining with a thin tube wasn't good because
the sharp edge on the Kevlar caused flats. So I went to the Select
K. And then also the Schwalbe's after I had heard about them.

 

[max]

In article <[email protected]>,
Tom Sherman <[email protected]> wrote:

> Jay Bollyn wrote:
> > "TJ" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:6c393581-10a2-4520-8816-e27ea5bc6295@h25g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> >> http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/ti contact security.shtml
> >>
> >> Continental, Germany tells us the Contact Security is
> >>
> >> "Designed for industrial applications, the ContactSecurity can also
> >> perform well in everyday use. Its massive puncture-proof breaker was
> >> developed to resist metal cuttings and shards on factory grounds. In
> >> view of its tough construction, it is not a comfortable touring tyre
> >> with low rolling resistance, but it does effectively ward off gravel
> >> and shards on short stretches in the city."
> >>
> >> How do these compare for puncture protection, speed and mileage
> >> against the Schwalbe Mararthon Plus ??
> >>
> >> Thanks
> >>
> > I am quite happy with SM+ for Chicago city commuting. I hate flats, and I
> > don't get any.
> >
> > As far as I am concerned (personally), this issue is closed.
> >
> Unless the tires are discontinued (e.g. Schwalbe City Jet), or moved to
> production in a country that results in a significant drop in quality
> (e.g. Tioga Comp Pool).

that happened to me; i used to like vittirio (?) Courier TTs. kevlar
belted, pretty bullet proof, durable and i liked the colors. out of
production it appears, wish i'd bought a few extra.

 

[Pete Biggs]

Tom Anderson wrote:

>> http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/ti contact security.shtml
>
> I note that the 26" version is only rated up to 58 psi, and they
> recommend only 45 psi. That seems incredibly low for a road tyre.

Not for a *fat* road tyre. The ones with the 58 ratings are 1.75" and 47mm.
That's fat for "road" tyre. 58 psi will make them hard enough, missus.

Speed fans won't be interested in such heavy tyres anyway.

~PB

 

[Pete Biggs]

Ben C wrote:

> Certainly I've never heard of a bicycle aquaplaning but it's
> conceivable that on wider and lower pressure bicycle road tyres the
> tread does give you a bit more wet grip.

It is inconceviable unless you're doing about 50 mph. Or is it 80 mph?

Even a "wide" bicycle tyre is narrower and rounder than a car tyre. With a
bicycle tyre, the water is squidged out sideways even with a slick tread.
Only if you rode at incredibly high speeds could you ride on top of a layer
of water.

However, tyres with tread cut-outs tend to have a deeper tread (layer of
rubber, or synthetic rubber) that happens to provide some more natural
puncture resistance.

~PB