12.10.2014

I had four punctures in only about 120 miles of cycling on my new Trek DS Sport 8.6 with Bontrager tyres. The bike’s great, but the tyres are rubbish, and as I was buying my third pair of replacement inner tubes the sales guy suggested puncture protective tyres. Frankly, mechanical ignoramus that I am, I did not even know such things existed.As usual a visit to Amazon produced a great selection; I always regard price as a give-away on items you want to reply on and so the slightly higher price than most and the large number of 5 stars attracted me to these Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres.It is in my nature to worry a lot about reviews that express difficulty in performing manual tasks; this is because I am a total half-wit when it comes to doing anything with my hands.I get men to do even the simplest of tasks in the home and any device in need of repair is either simply replaced or sent to a mender. My skills extend to very minor mechanical tasks but this does at least include mending punctures (or rather replacing the inner tube) and I have put new tyres on a bike before as well.I figured there was a You Tube video; I had got string and cable ties if needed; I’d had tyres on and off many times before and, most encouraging of all, and probably the decider for me, many of the reviews plainly thought the difficulties of fitting, expressed by so many, were exaggerated. So I decided to take the risk.To say they were much easier than I expected would be a huge understatement. Unfortunately, I cannot say that the exercise was trouble free but I believe this to be due to my own carelessness and absolutely not any refleciton of the tyre. On my first attempt everything seemed perfect and I had got the tyre on so easily I actually wondered if I had received the same tyre as ordered.However, on inflation, reaching about 80 psi the inner tube burst. Yet another tube up the Swuanee. I am still not entirely clear what caused this but I think I had not checked thoroughly and there was a place where the tyre was not on the rim properly. None weeks later I still have some minor hearing loss from the bang and ringing in my ears and I am awaiting an apppointment at Ear Nose and Throat. This is not a joke or an exaggeration. I am told I may have permanent damage. Be warned!Anyway, undaunted I tried again. The second time around, again dead easy to get the tyre on, but this time I made extra sure that it was sat perfectly in the rim and that the tube was not caught between tyre and rim in any place. I also inflated it gingerly and checked the tyre at about 2 bar before going further. This time all went smoothly; with this practice the other wheel took no time at all.I didn’t need the YouTube video, I didn’t need string or cable ties, I didn’t even need a tyre lever. I was able to get them on with my fingers alone. I just did not find that the tyre came off on one side as you worked in the other as so many seemed to find. I am not showing off. I want people to know that they are much easier than some would have you believe. If I can do it, anyone can do it, trust me on this.They look the part as well and the ride is undoubtedly smoother and even more comfortable than it was before. Nor do they seem to me to be materially heavier than what I had before. I found that I did not need to blow them up to the 80 to 85 psi I used to use previously with my Bontrager tyres. 70 psi seemed perfectly sufficient.So far, after nine weeks as already mentioned, and much use, I have not had a single puncture. To say that I am mightily impressed would be a massive understatement. These tyres really are the business. Absolutely first class.

7.7.2009

Let's face it: until drunks stop tossing their empties in the street and druggies stop punching out car windows to steal wallets, bicyclists will be running over glass, and tires will be going flat. This is enough of an annoyance when you're off to Quickie Mart to buy a loaf of bread, but it's positively vexatious when you are a commuter, when a flat tire often means you're late to work. Or late getting home when you're done with work.Bicycle manufacturers know this. That's why even the entry-level "commuter" or "utility" model bikes often come with puncture-resistant tires, like the Bontragers (quite good tires, by the way) that my Trek hybrid originally had, before they got so bad that even the punctures had punctures.I replaced them with these even though they had some tread left. That's the way it goes with puncture-resistant tires: once they get a few punctures, they become more susceptible to more punctures. A "vicious cycle," if you will.Anyway, Schwalbe is one of the premier bike tire brands. They're quite well-known in Europe, and less so in the U.S., except among "serious" riders. Cargo haulers swear by them, as do commuters. Reportedly, this is the single most popular commuter-type tire in Europe. Europeans know what's up; this tire is designed for heavy use in all urban conditions, wet and dry. Tread is good for damaged pavement--not too much, not too little--which is good because with the economic situation we're in, there's going to be a whole lotta pavement going bad in the next few years. If your pavement is REALLY bad, as in breaking apart, then I would recommend some tires with a fairly flat middle part and more of a mountain bike tread toward the edges to help with cornering, rather than the Marathons. Another thing these tire have going for them are the reflective sidewalls, which significantly increase your visibility when viewed from the side; this is a major consideration with so many drivers being either drunk or simply "out to lunch."Of course, the main selling point is the innovative puncture-resistant layer under the tread. Schwalbe is said to be the best in this regard, but I haven't had these tires long enough to comment on that. The shards will assuredly put them to the test in due time. I can say that, unlike some other "ruggedized" tires, their rolling resistance is no higher than the last ones I had, nor did I notice an increase in weight.All in all, I'm very happy with the Schwalbes. True, they are expensive, but the axiom about getting what you pay for is especially true with bicycle tires, perhaps the single most important component on the bike, and ironically, also the most overlooked. Outfitting your bike with good parts, especially good tires, does pay real dividends in terms of safety, and also in terms of long-term maintenance costs (since they need less frequent replacement.) Cheapo tires, in addition to having a shorter lifespan, often fail completely (and painfully) from incidents that only superficially damage premium tires.

30.11.2012

I was experiencing an increasing number of flats - up to about one flat per tire every other day on my old touring tires by the time I ordered these. I did much research on replacements. The overwhelming opinion of reviews and my fellow mechanic/touring friends were between Schwalbe and Continental. (I have Conti Ultra Gators on another bike and they are fantastic tires with a much more sport oriented feel) I decided on the Schwalbes for my touring bike.The order for these delivered in two days from purchase.My previous tires were 28c and I decided to replace them with a wider 35c to better handle heavy loads. I am a daily commuter. I also tour and camp with full loads.These tires are indeed much heavier than my previous tires.

9.7.2011

I replaced a 700x28 tire with same and the Schwalbe was that exact size. The old tire was smaller than nominal size. The new Schalbe was about 8 MM taller than the old as I expected given reviews. VERY HARD to get on. Took two people. Also bought and used the liquid stuff Schwalbe sells to help the tire seat. Helped some with mounting. Probably didn't hurt that I set the tire in the hot sun to soften before I started mounting operation. Seated immediately upon instal without fuss as plenty of other tires.Later: 700x28 a bit out of round. Not enough to feel it riding but about 2MM. I've ordered another just like it and a 700x25 as well. I've put thorn resistant tube in.

19.9.2012

I waffled for a long time whether to try these tires. I was perfectly happy with the Bontragers I'd been using since I bought the bike. When my rear tire needed replacing again, and Bontrager stopped selling the tire I'd been using, I went for it.First, the installation. As suggested in other reviews, be sure to go the video site not to be named here on the web and watch the British guy install one. Once I saw his method, I installed the tire easily. I had read for years how hard these are to install. Once you know the trick, it's not so bad.Yes, the tire is heavier than my previous tire (which also had puncture protection). No,it's not an issue. The tire rolls like a dream. I don't have solid proof,

5.3.2012

I bought a pair of these tyres recently, and I've now had the chance to road test them on two day rides.First of all, I approached the fitting with trepidation having read some of the reviews on other sites. But, armed with the highly recommended YouTube video by Spa Cycles which explains how to fit them without using levers, I had them on easily within 20 minutes or so. As I'm one of the least practical people on the planet, that's good going! The "trick" is to secure the tyre using toe-clips, string or cable-ties, then gradually work round the tyre, creating slack by "bedding" the tyre in the rim well, making sure the inner isn't snagged. It's much easier to watch than explain, but if I can do it,

29.2.2016

I didn't want to wait until I had 8000 miles on the 26" X 2" Schwalbe Marathon Plus tire to write the review. Certainly, if there is any problem, I'll update my review. This is my first Schwalbe tire purchase but it won't be my last. I was reluctant to spend so much on a bicycle tire. I bought a lot of bike tires when they were $5 per tire, and now a decent tire is $20, and the SChwalbe is a lot more than that! Buying quality only hurts once. Honestly, I'll probably get 3-4 times the mileage out of this Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tire compared to the $20 tires, making the Schwalbe the less expensive tire in the long term. This isn't a racing tire. This is a reliable commuter tire.

8.9.2020

I got a pair of these for my husband's hybrid bike (700x35c) and my road bike (700x25c), both of which we use daily for commuting over some of the most glass-littered roads in existence (maybe an exaggeration, but it certainly feels that way sometimes). My husband's I installed at the beginning of the summer and mine about a month later and (now in September) we have had only one flat between the two of us, and it was on the rim side not the tire side. Some other reviewers have mentioned problems with the extra layer being off-center, but I did not see any such problem with any of the 4 tires I installed. Once they're fitted on the wheel and ready to go,

7.1.2013

These tyres last well and rarely puncture.The downside is they are slightly difficult to fit. So here are a few tips for fitting a pair in under an hour. To start have a few (three) short straps handy, they save having more than two hands involved. Look at the rim to see the channel in the centre, this is relevant but hidden later.Now fit one side of the tyre to the rim (which way will it roll? Water needs to be pushed outwards). Now put the inner tube in and inflate so there is no loose tube to trap, but it is not stretched.Now start 90 degrees from the valve as you will then finish well away from the valve as well, with the rim to fit at the top.

25.4.2013

I put a set of these on my bike after finally losing it with flat after flat after flat. It seemed all I was doing was fixing flats, throwing away tubes and I was starting to dread getting on my bike - another flat today? I read about these and researched a lot of reviews and finally decided to take the plunge. I am SO glad I did. 3 years later NOT ONE SINGLE FLAT, even in serious sticker country like New Mexico. The tires are definitely on the heavy side and I added almost 2 lbs to the weight of my bike but it is well worth it since now I don't even think about flats anymore. I can't bring myself to not carry an extra tube and a pump but I could easily have NOT carried those for all this time and never had a problem.I find the tires ride fine,

17.9.2019

I purchased the Schwalbe Marathon Plus in the 26 X 1.5 size. I installed it and it mounted easily on Mavic XC717 Disc specific rims. The bead popped on easily and evenly. The labeling on these tires reads Marathon Plus 40-559 (the first number (40) is the tire width in millimeters. The second number (559) is the tire diameter in millimeters). 26" X 1.50". Perf, Smart Guard TwinSkin Compound: EC. Made in Vietnam. This tire is marked a #7 on Schwalbe Protection Scale #1 being the low and #7 being the highest protection. This tire is suitable for electric bike use according to the literature, however it is not tubeless ready. The packaging also had a pictorial showing proper installation and inflation,

23.8.2012

I just put these tires on my Trek 7.3 FX after the original front Bontrager Race Lite Hard-Case tire developed a bubble on the tread (not the sidewall) after 1500 miles or so. While the Bontragers never gave me any trouble (with the exception of the bubble) or any flats, I wanted to try something different. I ride a mixture of roads and hard packed limestone trails. The Bontrager slicks always felt a little squirrely on the trails, so I was looking for something with a light tread pattern. I did some research and settled on the Schwalbe Marahon Plus, mostly due to its durability, and the good reviews.Yes, these tires are on the heavy side, which is the price you pay for the durability.

25.7.2013

I have a Specialised Secteur Sport Triple which has proved to be a fine mid-priced road bike, but after doing 500km in two months it became obvious that something had to be done about the tyres. The current poor state of the roads around The Chilterns meant even when riding carefully and trying to avoid all the ruts, potholes and areas of sharp grit on the road surface, I was suffering on average 2x punctures each week so I looked for a set of `puncture resistant' tyres.The Schwalbe Marathon Plus 700x35 were chosen because, although expensive, they had outstanding online reviews as being very puncture-resistant.First of all yes, they are very difficult to fit. You need a lot of strength in your thumbs to get them on the rim,

16.12.2015

These tires are excellent! I've put well over 2000 miles in southern Arizona on a pair of these tires, constantly riding through active construction zones over glass, nails, staples, and various other debris. I have ridden almost a whole year on these and have yet to get a flat since the installation of these tires; there have been several times where I've had to pull a random nail, thorn, or shard of glass from the tread of the tire, but never did it reach the tube.This peace of mind from flats does come with a price though. The tires are very heavy compared to your traditional tire due to the heavy duty rubber tread between your tube and the road. As such you'll notice a significant increase in the effort it takes to pedal your bike.

7.8.2016

I bought a swalbe marathon plus tire for my rear wheel several years ago. Within the first month, I was surprised that on my way to work, I did get a puncture during my 28 mile daily commute. It was dark and I couldn't see what I was riding over. In fact I got three punctures at the same time, because I ran over freshly cut thorny hedge clippings. The tyre didn't go down quickly though, so I was able to make it to work on time without having to repair it there and then. After pumping up, I cycled home too.The thorns were rather vicious, and very difficult to get out even with pliers, they weren't going anywhere! At home, I fixed the punctues, and continued my daily commute,

Schwalbe Marathon Plus (Perf) - Reviews

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