Author Topic: Schwalbe Supreme failure  (Read 6184 times)

hendrich

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Schwalbe Supreme failure
« on: August 17, 2025, 11:28:27 PM »
During a 6 week tour in Quebec, our rear Schwalbe Supreme 50-559 failed. The Kevlar rim strip separated from the wall and was not ridable. The problem was not caused by brakes against the tire or any other noticeable abrasion. The tire failed, perhaps a bad tire. On other websites, people have mentioned sidewall problems with Supremes, and not good for long distance tours.  We ride a tandem, heavily loaded, but well within the stated load capacity of the tires. These tires were relatively new, 2000 miles of use. This left us stranded 40 km from the nearest town. After 3 days we found new tires. We will now always carry a folding spare tire.

jul

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Re: Schwalbe Supreme failure
« Reply #1 on: July 11, 2026, 10:05:18 PM »
Do you have photos please ?

martinf

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Re: Schwalbe Supreme failure
« Reply #2 on: July 12, 2026, 06:47:02 AM »
I've been using Schwalbe Marathon Supreme tyres for at least 15 years.

In 4 different sizes, 559x50, 559x4, 584x50 and 584x42.

I currently have them on 7 of the family bikes, they have a total of 62,600 kms of use.

I have scrapped 2, both in the 26" 559x50 size. These were the tyres that I had used for my 3,300 km tour to Spain and Portugal, carrying a fairly heavy load (max all-up weight 123 kg), at times on rocky tracks. After that tour I fitted new Supremes to my tourer and eventually finished off the tyres on one of my utility bikes. The rear tyre failed with a bulge (ruptured carcass) about where the puncture resistant belt fits, a short time after I dropped off an 18 cm kerb with fully loaded rear panniers. It had been first used ten years before the failure and had done 8,625 kms, in my opinion a good score for a lightweight tyre used on a rear wheel. I replaced the front tyre at the same time, as it had a deep cut through the thread, this tyre had done 12,109 kms. Still lots of tread left on both. All the other Supremes are still in use.

The other 26" 559 tyres that I currently use are :

- Schwalbe Marathon Dureme, which are supposed to be tougher than Supremes and are only slightly slower on tarmac. But these haven't been available for several years.
- Schwalbe Marathon Mondial, a heavier, slower and tougher tyre with reinforced sidewalls that seems more suitable for extensive riding off tarmac.
- Schwalbe Marathon Plus, a rather sluggish puncture-resistant tyre I use on the rear wheels of my visitor bikes to avoid visitors having to fix rear wheel punctures and hence mess up the adjustment on the Shimano hub gears.
- Nokian Hakkapeliitta W240 studded tyres that go on one of my utility bikes when icy roads might be a problem. I have had these for a long time, but haven't used them much recently as ice and snow has become rare here over the past 20 years or so.

jul

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Re: Schwalbe Supreme failure
« Reply #3 on: July 12, 2026, 07:32:19 AM »
Good feeback.  8)

Andre Jute

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Re: Schwalbe Supreme failure
« Reply #4 on: July 13, 2026, 12:09:22 AM »
Good feedback.  8)

Absolutely. This is one of those rare occasions that I wish we had a 'like' button on the forum, or something similar, so I, and everyone else, could approve Martin's expertise so generously shared.

Andyb1

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Re: Schwalbe Supreme failure
« Reply #5 on: July 13, 2026, 09:43:56 AM »
Agreed Andre.

Another factor regarding tyre failure is of course their age (and how they have been stored…..moisture, uv exposure, on a wheel or folded etc).   Touring tyres by design should last for a good mileage (say 10,000 miles) so can take many years to wear out.  In the last few years I have scrapped 4 x tyres due to cracking not wear.   All were on secondhand bikes so their age was not known.

The recommended life for caravan tyres is 5 - 7 years.   If good reliability is wanted maybe we should consider a similar maximum age for cycle tyres?  But few if any have a date stamp showing when they were manufactured.

jul

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Re: Schwalbe Supreme failure
« Reply #6 on: Today at 01:40:16 PM »
I'm still on tour with my Nomad and my rear Supreme show sign of weakness after 9500kms



Possible to ride without problem ?

martinf

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Re: Schwalbe Supreme failure
« Reply #7 on: Today at 04:18:53 PM »
Some of the tyre carcass threads are cut on that tyre, I reckon it will eventually fail with a ruptured carcass. So I would replace it, so long as I could find a decent replacement.

On tour, if no good tyres are easily found, I would put a big patch on the inside of the tyre and hope that it lasts till the end of the tour. I still have some of the big rectangular patches that look as if they are made of tarred canvas, these used to be included in puncture repair kits in the 1970's.

I suppose the modern equivalent is something like this :

https://eu.restrap.com/fr/products/tyre-boot-kit?oc=FR&_su_rec=K6rF_pVYdOCxN9WXFE2z4xPmt3A-qF5lXjM6zg_wpFOFtjPLZMkdqXqPpaolNWlFLNAtR-7394hUgue8xJ8-osOekDmr8mIgFtFfpfMnggOPKlb3RoejAcZfGIp-cEgLMI2JokGS7Yu4uuPgGOBCxYGa_FHvVQFf56GEkQAFyqBBeHH_bPO2xqQWUJ3BY-HAKAFp_LzDrPBnXoTeXIKeUF98SBym29k6EnAJDsmjkKUP5fjYOi3wFetE3yVoaN9q6neSjClVrWDPxd3uHA&_su_rec_id=c28ca80a-9e0d-4aff-b6ff-f7698a6cd283-1791989603

Another method is to use a section of a lightweight tyre as a patch. I have an 11 x 6 cm piece of a Kojak tyre in my touring tool kit, the idea is that if I get a really deep cut in the tread area I can glue this patch inside the tyre and (hopefully) be able to ride to the nearest bike shop, garage or supermarket that stocks a 26" tyre.

UKTony

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Re: Schwalbe Supreme failure
« Reply #8 on: Today at 08:51:36 PM »
Apparently, bank notes make good emergency tyre boots to prevent the inner tube bubbling out of a tear in the sidewall. Not tried it myself. A Google search will give you AI info and YouTube vids.