My favourite touring tire - Marathon XR
For the longest while Schwalbe’s touring tire line up consisted of the standard Marathon and the Marathon XR. I quickly became a fan of the XR as a very tough tire that rolled well on asphalt, but could handle gravel/dirt roads as well as off roading well. I’ve got them on my Surly Long Haul Trucker [35mm x 700c] and my Surly Big Dummy [26" x 2.0"]. To date I haven’t had a flat on an XR even in Baja. It was a given that if I was headed off on a tour I’d be running these tires. However, Schwlabe has now released a few more touring oriented models that make choosing the right tire a bit more complex.
Marathon XR 26″ x 2.0″ [folding bead] is 790g & $70USD.
Here is what Schwalbe says:
“The ultimate expedition tire! An extremely versatile tread with a incomparably friction resistant rubber compound. The TravelGuard protection belt offers excellent puncture protection at an extremely low weight. A special chafer around the bead prevents the tire scrubbing out on the rim under extreme loads. Made as a folding tire to pack easily in luggage.”
Marathon Extreme
The Marathon Extreme offers similar performance to the XR, but is lighter. It should roll as well and the more open tread pattern should work well off paved surfaces. I’ll probably give these a shot next time I would have bought some XRs to see how they stack up.
26″ x 2.0″ Marathon Extreme [folding bead] is 570g & $78USD.
Here is what Schwalbe says:
“Designed for expedition and rough terrain. Only by riding can the easy rolling ability of the Marathon Extreme be experienced. The light, yet at the same time, solid construction is made possible by the all-around SnakeSkin fabric layer. The HighDensity belt protects against punctures and is made even more efficient in this latest version with the addition of ceramic coating.
SnakeSkin + HD Ceramic Guard = Double Defense
Additionally the tire uses the latest compound. Triple Nano Compound ensures safe grip on wet roads, low rolling resistance and remarkable durability.”
Marathon Supreme
The Marathon Supreme is a road oriented touring tire that is faster rolling than the models above it while maintaining the durablity and puncture protection of the Marathon line up. I’ve been using a 26″ x 1.6″ version for a few months and have enjoyed it so far as a city tire. I’ll write a proper review at the end of this riding season when I’ve got more mileage on them. I would suggest these for paved use only due to the semi-slick tread pattern.
26″ x 2.0″ Marathon Supreme [folding bead] is 595g & $70USD.
Here is what Schwalbe says:
“Exceptional. Outstanding. The best. A touring tire that can do everything. That was the goal of our development team. For 2009 we have completely revised our : HD Ceramic Guard, Triple Nano Compound, LiteSkin side wall. The Marathon Supreme is now even lighter and faster. Puncture resistance has also been improved and its grip on wet roads remains outstanding!”
Marathon Plus Tour
The Marathon Plus Tour combines the fast rolling tread of the XR with the durability and puncture protection of the Marathon Plus. Frankly I’ve never seen a need for a harder wearing or more puncture proof tire than the XR, but perhaps in goat head country or some big cities the amount of debris you ride through may justify the weight???
26″ x 2.0″ Marathon Plus Tour [wire bead only] is 1100g & $55 USD.
Here is what Schwalbe says:
“The new Flat-less tire. A heavy-duty trekking tread for asphalt, or offroad allows this versatile tire to always feel at home, whether in everyday use, or on long tours. The robust structure is an effective damage defense that is twinned with SmartGuard, the most effective puncture protection belt for bicycle tires.”
The Standard Marathon
The standard Marathon has been around for a long time although they have recently updated it with the latest rubber technology. I can’t really see a reason to use these over the XRs as they are heavier and don’t offer any benefits other than a lower price. One exception is that they don’t make XRs in small sizes like 349 [Bike Friday Tikit] or 406 [Bike Friday NWT] so these tires get the nod in those circumstances.
26″ x 2.0″ Marathon [wire bead only] is 840g & $39USD.
Here is what Schwalbe says:
“The legend lives on. Developed over 20 years ago, at that time it was a quantum leap in performance. The first high-quality tire suitable for reliable touring and everyday use. These characteristics quickly made it popular and today it is still Europe’s most ridden touring tire. In the newest version with KevlarGuard and Allround tread compound it can fulfill everything that is expected of a Marathon tire: Effective puncture protection, durability and excellent handling characteristics.”
Hey, what a nice overview of the SCHWALBE tires for touring/road use. I’ve had some of them in use and am thinking about writing my own version with experiences about it. Seeing and reading this one on your website really motivates me to write about my own experiences.
Happy cycling and always enough air in the tires,
Daniel, who still has to fix a puncture on the Smart Sam on his MTB
Nice overview Vik – thanks..
Great write up and timely too. I am thinking about tires for my upcoming raptobike project.
Thanks,
Duncan
Nice overview Vik. Too bad some of these aren’t coming in other sizes right away. I’ll have use for something that is flat and puncture resistant in a 700c size in a couple of months.
This is a great summary of the new Schwalbe tires, Vik — thanks!
I bought the basic Marathons for my LHT because I was on a tight budget at the time. I’ve put a few thousand miles on them so far without a flat, despite riding through broken glass on the roads and on sharp shrub stubs on the trail. If I was heading out for a remote tour, I figured I’d buy the XRs to be on the safe side. But now with these others to chose from… Egad! How to chose? So, again, thanks… I think!
Comprehensive and helpful post. Thanks Vik! One question please: What do you think of using the Marathon Supreme on a single wheel trailer like the Extrawheel Voyager [ http://tinyurl.com/cohf5b ]? THANKS! –jim
Jim,
I’d run the same wheel and tire on my Extrawheel as I am on my bike…that way you can swap one or both in to keep you rolling should you have a serious equipment failure. So if you are running Supremes on the bike that makes sense.
I understand [the redundancy]. In this case, I’ll use the Extrawheel with my Catrike 700. I’m thinking a wider tire than my Stelvio 23C would be better for a trailer. NO? –jim
Hey Jim…sure a 1.6″ tire would carry the weight of your gear better than a 23mm racing tire.
Thanks Vik!
[...] for Silk]. I’d use a Planet Bike rear fender matching the fender on my 700. I’m getting Vik’s opinion on tire type and width. My thought is slightly wider than the Stelvio 23C I’m running as a [...]