Thorn Cycles Forum

Community => Non-Thorn Related => Topic started by: Aushiker on April 21, 2014, 02:02:38 PM

Title: New "Flat-Less" Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres for 2014
Post by: Aushiker on April 21, 2014, 02:02:38 PM
Schwalbe is releasing an updated Schwalbe Marathon Plus in 2014 according to the latest press release from Schwalbe.

Quote
Now Schwalbe is presenting a new version of its Marathon Plus. Despite its thick protective layer, the tyre rolls surprisingly lightly. “Our laboratory test have shown that among tyres with thick puncture protection belts, the Marathon Plus has by far the lightest rolling characteristics", says René Marks.

The side walls have also been optimised. Since the tyre is so substantial, it has often been ridden with too low air pressure. These years of "mishandling" would sometimes lead to cracks in the side walls. Now a special anti-aging technology works to protect the side walls of the Marathon Plus from premature cracking as well as adverse weather conditions. The rubber compound also makes the Marathon worthy of its name: The Endurance Compound rolls for thousands of kilometres with excellent performance characteristics and low abrasion.

The patented ‘Plus’ of the Marathon is still the heart of the tyre: Smart Guard, the protective belt consisting of five millimetre thick natural rubber. The tyre is now partly made from recycled rubber and is therefore resource-friendly.

Press release can be found at http://www.schwalbe.com/en/pressereader/the-new-flat-less.html

Andrew
Title: Re: New "Flat-Less" Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres for 2014
Post by: jags on April 21, 2014, 02:32:11 PM
bet there still way to heavy :o
Title: Re: New "Flat-Less" Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres for 2014
Post by: honesty on April 21, 2014, 04:42:37 PM
The new Marathon almotion looks like an interesting proposition.
Title: Re: New "Flat-Less" Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres for 2014
Post by: Slammin Sammy on April 21, 2014, 07:48:56 PM
bet there still way to heavy :o

1100g Anto, for the 26x2.0! The same size Mondial is two thirds the weight (740g).

i haven't tried them, but I expect the Plus is also more rigid, leading to a "wooden" feel. I don't think they'll ever make it onto my bike.

And yes, the Almotion is intriguing, as the 2.15 version is only 40g heavier than the Mondial 2.0. It's a candidate for replacing my Duremes (which coincidentally gave me my first flat yesterday - a pinhole on the tread side of the tube at the valve. I couldn't find the slightest sign of tread penetration however, so I'm chalking it up to grit trapped in between tyre and tube.)

Anyone know what the 26x2.0 Duremes weigh? Now they've been discontinued, they're not on the Schwalbe website anywhere.

Title: Re: New "Flat-Less" Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres for 2014
Post by: jags on April 21, 2014, 08:02:48 PM
hard i think to beat the ride of the supreams Sam and a hell of a lot lighter.
to be honest if the tyre is good in the first place getting a puncture is down to bad luck . ;D


jags.
Title: Re: New "Flat-Less" Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres for 2014
Post by: sd on April 22, 2014, 10:53:26 PM
   Sod punctures the problem with you lot, is you try different tyres!! I use Marathon Plus only and that way you don't notice the difference... Bet you never thought about that!!!
    I had my first puncture for...god knows. Had to pump the tube up until it was huge to find the puncture. Could not find the cause although I did notice the tyres were nearly bald. ATB Marathon Plus tyres so may just lower pressure and ware out the edges. Alternatively I may put on 1 of the 2 spare pairs I have. Uhmm not likely to be using any other tyres soon!!
     Cycling back from the pub with the rain bucketing down on unlit rural roads has put me off punctures.
      My second hand Thorn did have some fantasticaly comfortable big apples on when I got it but to many punctures pity.
Title: Re: New "Flat-Less" Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres for 2014
Post by: sd on April 22, 2014, 11:05:29 PM
hard i think to beat the ride of the supreams Sam and a hell of a lot lighter.
to be honest if the tyre is good in the first place getting a puncture is down to bad luck . ;D


jags.

I have had loads of punctures on tyres in excellent condition. Roughly once a month. Hopefully I will remember when I next get one cycling back from the pub how to disconnect the Rohloff to take of the rear wheel!! ;)
Title: Re: New "Flat-Less" Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres for 2014
Post by: Andre Jute on April 22, 2014, 11:45:56 PM
  Sod punctures the problem with you lot, is you try different tyres!! I use Marathon Plus only and that way you don't notice the difference... Bet you never thought about that?

That's one solution! If you don't know that there are lighter tyres that ride less like stone circles, you can't complain! But the other guys do have a point. The Marathon Plus sacrifices everything to puncture proofing and longevity.

     My second hand Thorn did have some fantasticaly comfortable big apples on when I got it but to many punctures pity.

Never had a single puncture in over 7000km on Big Apple Liteskins.
Title: Re: New "Flat-Less" Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres for 2014
Post by: sd on April 22, 2014, 11:53:10 PM

Never had a single puncture in over 7000km on Big Apple Liteskins.
What, on the same pair?
Title: Re: New "Flat-Less" Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres for 2014
Post by: Andre Jute on April 23, 2014, 01:35:17 AM
Yes, it looks like they could make 10K. Those are kilometers, eh, not miles. Currently at about 4500 miles and expected to go 6000 miles.
Title: Re: New "Flat-Less" Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres for 2014
Post by: David Simpson on April 23, 2014, 06:45:43 AM
Anyone know what the 26x2.0 Duremes weigh?

They are still listed on starbike.com.

folding = 590g
wired = 640g

I've just passed 3200km (2000 miles) on my Duremes, and I love them.  My commute consists of both paved sections and graveled trails, and they have been great tires for me.  Of course (as has been pointed out already), they are the only tires I have used on my Nomad, so I have nothing to compare them too.

- Dave
Title: Re: New "Flat-Less" Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres for 2014
Post by: sd on April 23, 2014, 08:36:12 AM
Yes, it looks like they could make 10K. Those are kilometers, eh, not miles. Currently at about 4500 miles and expected to go 6000 miles.
Sorry great difficulty in believing that as doubt I have done that much on my Marathon plus tyres and they are ATB ie decent amount of tread. Certainly don't recall Big Apple having more tread.
 What is the "eh" about?
Title: Re: New "Flat-Less" Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres for 2014
Post by: sd on April 23, 2014, 08:48:50 AM
  The Marathon Plus ATBs are not 1.75 but 2.25 so maybe not so wooden/stone like. As stated bucketing down, pitch black possibly had a few to drink so in those circumstances its just possible that you all might be more inclined towards Marathon Plus. I would certainly give big apple a go as found them extremely comfortable. Thought the reason was the thudbuster that came with the bike turns out not. Pity.
Title: Re: New "Flat-Less" Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres for 2014
Post by: honesty on April 23, 2014, 02:08:18 PM
Tyre wear is massively dependent on external factors like terrain ridden over, rider weight, etc. A much lighter person than you that rides exclusively on well maintained tarmac with get thousands of miles more out of a tyre than a heavy person riding single track whatever the tyre is.
Title: Re: New "Flat-Less" Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres for 2014
Post by: jags on April 23, 2014, 02:45:04 PM
sd i had no more that 50 miles on my spanking new marathon plus when i got a puncture :o couple hundred miles later i went over some gravel and put a 3inch rip in the sidewall chainreaction replaced it for free,so yeah i'm not a big fan of them .
if you havent tried the supreams give them a go  you will soon realize there much better.
anyway that my story ;D
Title: Re: New "Flat-Less" Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres for 2014
Post by: Neil Jones on April 23, 2014, 07:32:20 PM
I've just swapped my tyres over on my RST from my winter Marathon Plus to the Supremes. My average speed is up by 1mph but it feels much faster than that. Had 2 punctures in 3000 miles using Supremes, never had a puncture in 7000 miles using Marathon Plus, touch wood. I need bulletproof reliability on my 4:45am commute as I ride on unlit country roads which the Marathon's provide, yes they are heavy and feel 'dead' but they are the best at what they were made to do but as Jags says the Supremes are great tyres,
Neil.
Title: Re: New "Flat-Less" Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres for 2014
Post by: David Simpson on April 23, 2014, 07:46:03 PM
Hi Neil --

My average speed is up by 1mph but it feels much faster than that.
Neil.

I'm curious about the faster "feeling".  What is it that makes it feel faster?  I have read that narrower, higher-pressure tires often feel faster because they have a harsher, less smooth ride.  Is that what you are feeling?  Or is it the acceleration?

Thanks,
Dave
Title: Re: New "Flat-Less" Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres for 2014
Post by: Neil Jones on April 23, 2014, 08:51:17 PM
Hi Dave, well it's hard to describe really. The way I compare them is like this - riding Marathon Plus is akin to walking on dry sand whereas the Supremes are on wet sand if that makes any sense. The handling is much sharper and the bike is altogether more responsive. I don't think there is much difference comfort wise, maybe the Pluses have a slight edge. I think the Supremes encourage you to push that bit harder. Hope this makes some sort of sense,
Neil.
Title: Re: New "Flat-Less" Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres for 2014
Post by: Neil Jones on April 23, 2014, 08:56:30 PM
Oh yes I forgot to say The Marathon Plus I'm using are 26x1.5 and the Supremes are 26x1.6, both run at 67psi front and 73psi rear.
Neil.
Title: Re: New "Flat-Less" Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres for 2014
Post by: David Simpson on April 23, 2014, 09:02:40 PM
The way I compare them is like this - riding Marathon Plus is akin to walking on dry sand whereas the Supremes are on wet sand if that makes any sense. The handling is much sharper and the bike is altogether more responsive. I don't think there is much difference comfort wise, maybe the Pluses have a slight edge. I think the Supremes encourage you to push that bit harder.

Thanks, Neil.  Yes, that makes sense.

I wonder how much of the feeling is influenced by the sidewall construction.

- Dave
Title: Re: New "Flat-Less" Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres for 2014
Post by: Slammin Sammy on April 24, 2014, 09:01:34 PM
Neil, I completely concur with your comments about the Supremes. I swapped from a pair of Conti Travel CONTACTs in 35C to Supremes on my Trek 520, and they just seem to ROLL and TURN much better! I chalk it up to the tyre profile, sidewall construction and tread-sidewall transition. The Contis had a horribly square profile and unforgiving sidewall, but I also didn't know what I was missing until I switched.

On the subject of repeated punctures, in my own ham-handed experience, the skill of the practitioner has an enormous bearing on the longevity of the tyre/tube combination. I know it should go without saying, but it is absolutely essential to install the tube correctly (neat and even distribution around the rim, no pinch points, perfectly clean rim bed, high quality tube and rim tape, etc.). I have recently tried lightly dusting the tube with talcum powder before installing it in the tyre, as an aid in tube alignment during inflation. No flats yet!

I dunno what happened on my recent rail trail ride. My Victorian hosts all sagely agreed I must have collected a "bindi", but I could find no indication of it despite forensic examination of the tyre. On the other hand, I did find some sand grit, which may have entered during water crossings (?), or when it was being ridden while flat. I'll never know...

PS - The same wheel popped a spoke yesterday! Lightly loaded, at speed on some sharp bumps. It's hurt my pride as a wheel builder (first time), and brought me down to earth (not literally), but a good lesson nonetheless.  >:(
Title: Re: New "Flat-Less" Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres for 2014
Post by: il padrone on April 25, 2014, 01:24:15 PM
Sorry great difficulty in believing that as doubt I have done that much on my Marathon plus tyres and they are ATB ie decent amount of tread. Certainly don't recall Big Apple having more tread.
 What is the "eh" about?

I have ridden 14,000kms on three pairs of Vittoria Randonneur Cross tyres. That's 14,000kms on each, not total  ;D Current tyre is the Randonneur Pro and it has done 8,000kms so far - minimal signs of wear

Zero penetration punctures in any of them. I have had two or three flats, but on checking tyres and tubes these have each turned out to be a peeling patch from a previous era of punctures, or a small split in the tube, probably due to age as they have lasted so long.

BTW the 26x1.75" Rando Crosses weigh about 700g. Their performance is every bit as robust as the Marathon Plus IMHO.
Title: Re: New "Flat-Less" Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres for 2014
Post by: Andre Jute on April 25, 2014, 11:38:25 PM
The Marathon Plus — and the workalike Bontrager Satellite Elite Hardcase (maybe made by Schwalbe for Trek?) I also have — offer in addition to a harsh ride a thumbreaking resistance to being put on the rim or being taken off again. I used to say that it was just as well they are puncture-proof, because I doubt that on the road I could have gotten them off or on again. Fitting them, accomplished on a work-table at a convenient height with several hefty tyre levers to hand, left me in such a sweat I had to take a shower...
Title: Re: New "Flat-Less" Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres for 2014
Post by: NZPeterG on April 27, 2014, 10:19:30 AM
Hi All
This is the only way forward for cycling and for cycle touring too!

http://youtu.be/5jix_puHwh8 (http://youtu.be/5jix_puHwh8)

Happying Cycling  ;)

Kiwi Pete  8)
Title: Re: New "Flat-Less" Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres for 2014
Post by: Aushiker on April 28, 2014, 09:17:51 AM
Hi All
This is the only way forward for cycling and for cycle touring too!

Maybe an Almotion (http://aushiker.com/touring-tyres/) might be a more suitable alternative ...

Andrew
Title: Re: New "Flat-Less" Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres for 2014
Post by: NZPeterG on April 28, 2014, 10:06:45 AM
Maybe an Almotion (http://aushiker.com/touring-tyres/) might be a more suitable alternative ...

Andrew

Hi Andrew,
Yes your right, that is one of a load of good Tubeless Tyres and you just have to add a little Sealant.

Pete.....

Title: Re: New "Flat-Less" Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres for 2014
Post by: sd on May 21, 2014, 09:04:37 PM
  Tubeless. If it is unrepairable due to a puncture what do you do?
I have used gunk before and it doesn't appear to be of any benefit. Have I been doing something wrong. IE do you keep on pumping up the tyres each time they go down until it eventually seals. The punctures when I used gunk seemed to be just as often.
Title: Re: New "Flat-Less" Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres for 2014
Post by: NZPeterG on May 24, 2014, 12:35:50 PM
 Tubeless. If it is unrepairable due to a puncture what do you do?
I have used gunk before and it doesn't appear to be of any benefit. Have I been doing something wrong. IE do you keep on pumping up the tyres each time they go down until it eventually seals. The punctures when I used gunk seemed to be just as often.

Hi sorry for being so slow at getting back to you!

1st Gunk! their only a few that work! the main one being Stan's No Tube's.

2nd If you have a bigger hole in your tyre that the Sealant will not seal up? it's an easy fix! you just fit a tube, and ride on.

3rd On your day off you clean the inside of the tyre and put a patch inside! just like fixing a hole in a tube!

4th Cycling Tubeless is like Driving your car with Tubeless Tyre's! SAFER! and Almost all Car's Sold in the last 20+ years are Tubeless..  8)

So have fun and go riding  ;)

Kiwi Pete...
 8)

Title: Re: New "Flat-Less" Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres for 2014
Post by: sd on May 24, 2014, 07:07:47 PM
I hope I remember this as I have still got 2 spare tyres and have only just fitted 2. Will definitely have them next.  Thank you for your time.  SD