27.5" (650b) ..........slimmer/thinner tyres questions.

[Dave7]

On my 27.5" Giant Talon it has quite wide/chunky Rocket Ron tyres. These are, I think, an over-kill for the type of off-road cycling I do........mainly Trans-Penine way (pot-holes & gravel type paths). Bearing in mind I have to ride perhaps 3 miles on the roads to get to these trails.

So..........I am thinking off changing over to thinner/slicker tyres e.g. these Schwalbe Marathon Plus
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/schwalbe-ma...|pcrid|67090789262|pkw||pmt||prd|5360646510uk
BUT>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>I read that they are extremely difficult to fit.

1) Do you think it will make the riding noticably "easier/faster" ?
2) Any thoughts on the Schalwbe?
3) Any other recommendations ?
Thanks

 

[vickster]

Personally I don't much like M+ as I find them slippy and slow on road. I've luckily not had to remove following LBS fitting!
Others do however. Many posts if you search

 

[Dave7]

Personally I don't much like M+ as I find them slippy and slow on road. I've luckily not had to remove following LBS fitting!
Others do however. Many posts if you search

Yes.........I have googled it but thought I would get first hand(ish) CC reports.
So...............if you had to choose again what would you go for ??

 

[vickster]

Well those are 700c x28mm on a flatbar. When I was thinking of changing, I got some bontrager hard case lite as recommended by CCers. As I never fitted them and I'm now selling the bike they were returned. Not sure if they come in 650c

 

[Pale Rider]

On my 27.5" Giant Talon it has quite wide/chunky Rocket Ron tyres. These are, I think, an over-kill for the type of off-road cycling I do........mainly Trans-Penine way (pot-holes & gravel type paths). Bearing in mind I have to ride perhaps 3 miles on the roads to get to these trails.

So..........I am thinking off changing over to thinner/slicker tyres e.g. these Schwalbe Marathon Plus
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/schwalbe-ma...|pcrid|67090789262|pkw||pmt||prd|5360646510uk
BUT>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>I read that they are extremely difficult to fit.

1) Do you think it will make the riding noticably "easier/faster" ?
2) Any thoughts on the Schalwbe?
3) Any other recommendations ?
Thanks

The tyre in your link is a 700c so won't fit.

There is a 650b Marathon Plus, marked as 'new' in the table linked below.

Which brings us to another consideration.

There is a lack of choice in after market 650b tyres compared to the more traditional sizes.

That is slowly improving, but you may find the Marathon Plus size you want is not available cheaply.

http://www.schwalbe.com/gb/tour-reader/marathon-plus.html

 

[outlash]

I have a pair of Rocket Rons for my cross bike for when it gets muddy, but they're still decent on gravel and drier days too. Why not something with a semi slick like Sammy Slicks? I'd go with the principle that if you hit gravelly parts you'll still need some kind of tread to hang on to.

 

[Pale Rider]

I have a pair of Rocket Rons for my cross bike for when it gets muddy, but they're still decent on gravel and drier days too. Why not something with a semi slick like Sammy Slicks? I'd go with the principle that if you hit gravelly parts you'll still need some kind of tread to hang on to.

Further to my earlier reply, no 650b in Sammy Slick.

http://www.schwalbe.com/gb/offroad-reader/sammy-slick.html

I don't think Schwalbe offer a semi slick in 650b, although there's that many tyres on website there may be one somewhere.

 

[outlash]

Shame, because they're ideal tyres for that kind of terrain in the dry. Not my area of expertise but is there a great deal of choice in 650b?