Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Let's face it: until drunks stop tossing their empties in the street and druggies stop punching out car windows to steal wallets, bicyclists will be running over glass, and tires will be going flat. This is enough of an annoyance when you're off to Quickie Mart to buy a loaf of bread, but it's positively vexatious when you are a commuter, when a flat tire often means you're late to work. Or late getting home when you're done with work.
Bicycle manufacturers know this. That's why even the entry-level "commuter" or "utility" model bikes often come with puncture-resistant tires, like the Bontragers (quite good tires, by the way) that my Trek hybrid originally had, before they got so bad that even the punctures had punctures. I replaced them with these even though they had some tread left. That's the way it goes with puncture-resistant tires: once they get a few punctures, they become more susceptible to more punctures. A "vicious cycle," if you will.
Anyway, Schwalbe is one of the premier bike tire brands. They're quite well-known in Europe, and less so in the U.S., except among "serious" riders. Cargo haulers swear by them, as do commuters. Reportedly, this is the single most popular commuter-type tire in Europe. Europeans know what's up; this tire is designed for heavy use in all urban conditions, wet and dry. Tread is good for damaged pavement--not too much, not too little--which is good because with the economic situation we're in, there's going to be a whole lotta pavement going bad in the next few years. If your pavement is REALLY bad, as in breaking apart, then I would recommend some tires with a fairly flat middle part and more of a mountain bike tread toward the edges to help with cornering, rather than the Marathons. Another thing these tire have going for them are the reflective sidewalls, which significantly increase your visibility when viewed from the side; this is a major consideration with so many drivers being either drunk or simply "out to lunch."
Of course, the main selling point is the innovative puncture-resistant layer under the tread. Schwalbe is said to be the best in this regard, but I haven't had these tires long enough to comment on that. The shards will assuredly put them to the test in due time. I can say that, unlike some other "ruggedized" tires, their rolling resistance is no higher than the last ones I had, nor did I notice an increase in weight.
All in all, I'm very happy with the Schwalbes. True, they are expensive, but the axiom about getting what you pay for is especially true with bicycle tires, perhaps the single most important component on the bike, and ironically, also the most overlooked. Outfitting your bike with good parts, especially good tires, does pay real dividends in terms of safety, and also in terms of long-term maintenance costs (since they need less frequent replacement.) Cheapo tires, in addition to having a shorter lifespan, often fail completely (and painfully) from incidents that only superficially damage premium tires.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Schwalbe Marathon Plus HS 348 Road Bike Tire
Schwalbe Marathon Plus RLX Bicycle Tires are designed for extended durability and outstanding performance. The SmartGuard layer made from a flexible, special rubber offers particular resistance to shards of glass and flints. The SmartGuard belt does not increase rolling resistance.
Click here for more information about Schwalbe Marathon Plus HS 348 Road Bike Tire
No comments:
Post a Comment