I was surprised to see that the Schwalbe Marathon has a better pattern and offers better off-road riding than the Marathon Plus. In my opinion, this would make more sense the other way around. All of these tires have reflective sidewalls, which make them stand out at night and are very safe to ride at night. Every commuter bike needs to have these, in my opinion. Schwalbe Marathon GT: 3 The Schwalbe Marathon (a.k.a. Marathon Greenguard) is a good overall performer at a reasonable price point. This is an excellent commuter tire unless you have a good reason to opt for the Marathon Plus. Which one should you get? They all have their strengths and weaknesses and try to strike the right balance yet appeal to a different type of user.

If you’re like me, who rides on mostly decent roads and wants a good commuter tire, any one of them is a good fit. Even if your budget only allows for the cheapest Continental Ride Tour, you won’t be disappointed. mm is the best tire width for commuting because it offers sufficient cushioning, so it absorbs the road buzz, and it’s not too bulky to slow you down because of its excessive weight. Electric bikes built for everything and priced for everyone. Shop Rad Power Bikes, America's #1 electric bike brand. Get out. Go further. Ride Rad. The other set of figures you may see is ETRTO sizing like this 28-622. The first number here is tyre width while the second number relates to wheel diameter. Since I ran these tests on different days, other factors, such as slight differences in tire pressure, temperature, wind, and humidity, played a much more important role in determining my average speed. Finance is subject to application, financial circumstances and borrowing history. Performance Cycling Limited FRN: 720557 trading as Tredz are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. We are a credit broker not a lender – credit is subject to status and affordability and is provided by Mitsubishi HC Capital UK PLC. Terms & Conditions Apply.

Weight is an essential aspect for many riders who want their bike to be as light as possible. Since these tires are in the commuter range and have at least some puncture protection, they will not be as light as racing tires, where each gram counts. In my view, a heavy tire is not a huge penalty on a commuter bike, which needs to be functional, comfortable, and durable.

The negative characteristics are more noticeable in this 28-622 (700x28) version, the narrowest in the range, because you'll be putting around 85-100psi in the tyres and fitting them to a road bike. What stands out to me is that the weight of the tires comes into play much less than I expected, so much so that you can’t even tell the difference based on this experiment. Even when you handle the tires off the bike, you will notice how heavy the Marathon Plus is, but of course, this comes with the great benefit of very high protection. That's right: a road bike. The Touring Plus is narrower than its nominal size, to the extent that you're unlikely to want to fit it to your tourer or cyclo-cross bike. My vernier calliper says that while the height from the rim is about 28mm, it measures just under 24mm at its widest when fitted to a normal, 14mm-internal road rim.As a serious bike commuter, you want to ride in comfort, and you’ll want to avoid punctures as much as possible. But which tire represents the best value? I spent a lot of money and time testing the most regarded commuter tires. Here is a detailed comparison of the six best commuter tires money can buy. Weight: 540g (700c | 28mm), 690g (700c | 35mm), 790g (700c | 42mm), 900g (700c | 47mm), 660g (27" | 1-1/4") Agility is another, much more important factor to consider than speed because it’s clearly noticeable as you switch between tires. I didn’t find an empirical way to measure this, so it’s based on perception. Here, the weight comes into play a great deal.

In my experience, none of these tires were straightforward to mount, probably because they are all wire bead tires. Folding tires stretch easier, so they are easier to put on the rim. I paid the following amounts for these tires. I realize that these prices change over time, and these tires have become much more expensive recently, but they haven’t changed relative to each others’ prices. But first I had to fit them. It was extraordinarily difficult. Of the scores, perhaps hundreds, of different tyres I've fitted, these were the toughest. In the end, it took: six to eight cable-ties around each rim, squeezing the tyre down into the well; a liberal application of chalk; much swearing; and considerable discomfort. My hands afterwards were like claws. The Continental Ride Tour Reflex tyre is the perfect choice for urban cyclists who ride to work, university or school every day. Asphalt roads, gravel paths, urban environment – the ExtraPunctureBelt Breaker offers reliable protection from punctures. A continuous centre tread ensures good rolling characteristics, the side tread offers enough traction when cornering. A solid tyre with a clear focus on durability. For road.cc readers (and writers), the Touring Plus will suit some bikes... but not the kind of bike that you would ordinarily fit with 24mm tyres. In 42mm on an urban dreadnought like a Pashley Roadster? Sure. In 35mm on a short-hop folding bike (if such a size were produced)? No problem.

RIDE Tour

Chain reaction Cycles and CRC are trading names of Wiggle Ltd (In Administration) registered in the United Kingdom at 1000 Lakeside, Suite 310, Third Floor N E Wing, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO6 3EN, The Schwalbe Marathon Plus is the heaviest of the tires I tested. It’s regarded by many as the best commuter tire for its excellent puncture resistance.