new bike tyres advice

wallofbeans

Nasqueron wrote: »

23 is just the width of the tyre - 23mm 25mm and 28mm alongside 35mm, 38mm and 40mm which are the common widths for 700c wheels (700mm is diameter of the wheel). 1.35 / 1.50 is just the imperial equivalent which are used for MTB tyres (as the wheels tend to be in inches e.g. 26" diameter or 27.5" / 29")


Bike tyres don't tend to have huge amounts of grip even the MTB knobbly ones, the Marathon Plus have good puncture protection and aren't horribly slow so if you can get them in smaller size you might as well use them as they roll fine

I've found the Marathon Plus in the size I have (20 x 1.35) but also in 20 x 1.75 and wonder if that would work and if so would it be better or worse to have that extra width...?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/schwalbe-marathon-plus-20-bike-tyre-smartguard/

custardy

You need to ensure you have clearance for 1.75 if your bike didnt come with them from new,though you likely do.
The extra width should provide more comfort. Unlikely there will be a massive difference in rolling resistance.

Nasqueron

wallofbeans wrote: »

I've found the Marathon Plus in the size I have (20 x 1.35) but also in 20 x 1.75 and wonder if that would work and if so would it be better or worse to have that extra width...?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/schwalbe-marathon-plus-20-bike-tyre-smartguard/

If the bike came with 1.75 on front and back it should be fine (though not all tyres are equal!). To be honest I wouldn't bother though, you're not going to get a massive increase in grip from the extra .25 (remember bike tyre contact area with the road is about the size of a postage stamp) and rolling resistance is as much about the tyre material and design as the width - continental say the 28c version of their race tyre gp4000s II is the fastest of the 3 they make.


Your bike, particularly if you are not savvy doing puncture repair, would be best equipped with good puncture protection, perhaps even tubeless or solid tyres

wallofbeans

I don't think it did come with 1.75 front or back. I think the 1.50 I have on the front was the original tyre on what I think is a 2011/12 model that I bought second hand (but hardly used) in 2015. Newer versions of the same bike do come with 1.75 tyres though so they might fit... How can I know for sure?

The replacement tyre I got a year ago is 1.35 and looks surprisingly slim compared to the 1.50, even though the actual difference is quite minimal.

More options.... oh no.... I do want to get the best thing and not just go with whatever the local bike shop happen to have in stock...

custardy

wallofbeans wrote: »

I don't think it did come with 1.75 front or back. I think the 1.50 I have on the front was the original tyre on what I think is a 2011/12 model that I bought second hand (but hardly used) in 2015. Newer versions of the same bike do come with 1.75 tyres though so they might fit... How can I know for sure?

The replacement tyre I got a year ago is 1.35 and looks surprisingly slim compared to the 1.50, even though the actual difference is quite minimal.

More options.... oh no.... I do want to get the best thing and not just go with whatever the local bike shop happen to have in stock...

Personally I would go with the 1.50 then.
then you can focus on what make/spec you are going for.

wallofbeans

custardy wrote: »

Personally I would go with the 1.50 then.
then you can focus on what make/spec you are going for.

So I shouldn't focus on the Schwalbe Marathon's? Because that's the issue, I can't find the Marathon Plus's in 1.50 - they only seem to come in 1.35 or 1.75. Amazon do have the Marathon Racer's in 1.50 but having that extra puncture protection seems like a good idea so I'd rather have the Plus's I think...

Can you recommend other good brands?

wallofbeans

Might these do the trick? I'm not sure how "green guard" differs... but these are 1.50 and cheaper!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Schwalbe-Marathon-365-Cycling-Tyres-Unisex/dp/B01FK3BUVO/?th=1&psc=1

EDIT: I've just been talking to Amazon about exactly which tyres these are as several different types are mentioned in the listing. They've gone away to investigate...

custardy

wallofbeans wrote: »

So I shouldn't focus on the Schwalbe Marathon's? Because that's the issue, I can't find the Marathon Plus's in 1.50 - they only seem to come in 1.35 or 1.75. Amazon do have the Marathon Racer's in 1.50 but having that extra puncture protection seems like a good idea so I'd rather have the Plus's I think...

Can you recommend other good brands?

I agree,for your use then a level of robustness in the tyre is certainly a good thing.
Though I would recommend getting the skills/practise to do your own puncture repair/tyre swaps.

Stick with the big brands and you cant really go wrong.

I stumbled on these

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/tyres-small/schwalbe-marathon-gt-365-hs475-tyre-with-reflex-20-x-150-inch-40406/

Depends on how rough your terrain is of course

wallofbeans

custardy wrote: »

I agree,for your use then a level of robustness in the tyre is certainly a good thing.
Though I would recommend getting the skills/practise to do your own puncture repair/tyre swaps.

Stick with the big brands and you cant really go wrong.

I stumbled on these

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/tyres-small/schwalbe-marathon-gt-365-hs475-tyre-with-reflex-20-x-150-inch-40406/

Depends on how rough your terrain is of course

How weird. I was just looking at a review of those too. It suggested that these might be a bit hardcore for my needs and the Marathon GT's might be a better angle for me, although I'm not sure they come in the size I want. Or to honest, back to the Marathon Plus's...

I don want to figure out if my bike can handle the 1.75's though...

Nasqueron

You can measure the clearance easily enough, put 1.5 on and see how much space you have at the narrowest point. Frames don't often change a huge amount in between years so 1.75 will probably work but maybe worth going to a bike shop and asking them to see



I reckon the Marathon GT would be fine if sticking with 1.5 or go for the Marathon Plus and run 1.35