Schwalbe marathon plus

[Crankarm]

Schwalbe must be aware of the fitting problems with their SMP+ tyres but choose to do nothing about it. I bought a pair for my Brompton and whilst not impossible to get on they weren't the easiest compared to Brompton's Kevlar tyres. I smeared the edge of the tyre along the bead with a very light coating of grease and the tyres then popped on ok using just hands. I can't see the logic behind making a tyre with such close tolerances to fitting over a rim. Other manufacturers manage to do it so why can't Schwalbe? Bonkers. And the tyres aren't that good at repelling punctures either as I got two in the next month. I much prefer Specialised Nimbus Armadillos - much easier to get and on and off plus excellent puncture resistance and far lighter, lower rolling resistance and quieter.

 

[Panter]

I must admit I was quite concerned after I'd finally managed to wrestle my first pair over the rims in case I did ever have to remove them out on the road.
Happily, it was over 2000 miles before that scenario occurred and as per the above, it slipped on and off easily after a bit of use. Outstandingly good tyres

 

[vickster]

Mine came from an LBS, I paid close to RRP but with free fitting, well worth it. If they do what they are meant to, I hope never to have to remove them. That said I do find them very slow, so they may go at some point

 

[Cuchilo]

I don't find them that slow and think the effect of new rubber on the wheels outweighs any drag they may have .

 

[MarkF]

I've been using Marathons for 15 years or so, 35mm originals and latterly Plus' s on the tandems, 32mm originals on my work, touring, and audax bikes. Never had any trouble with them at all, I swear by them.

9 years for me, never even bother taking a repair kit out unless I am on tour.

 

[Piemaster]

Only time the M+ come off the Xtracycle bike is to fit the Marathon Winters spiked tyres. Takes an hour but the bike isn't a quick change anyway, the freeradical bags have to be negotiated, dynamo disconnected and it's fitted with locking skewers.
Only used on short errands and shopping so never bother with puncture kit. I'm guessing I'm actually more likely to get punctures from road debris in the areas I use it than the longer country rides out on the road bike.

 

[jefmcg]

I had a weird M+ experience. I had them on my folder (349, like a brompton), and I got 3 punctures in succession. I thought the tyre was faulty, so replaced it and put it in the shed. The replacement tyre had no problems, so it wasn't the rim or tube. When that tyre wore out, I ended up putting the M+ back on, and had no further punctures even though the black nearly wore off the tyre: it was green (or blue, I can't remember which) by the time I replaced it.

So the M+ wasn't faulty, I was just unlucky. But I broke at least one tyre lever for every one of those punctures, so I gave up on them.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

A **** to fit but worth the struggle.

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

The smaller wheeled ones may well be more difficult but the key to fitting or removing the 700c ones, as the Spa Cycles video demostrates, is to continue to work the beading into the well opposite where you are trying to push the last section on or to lever off the first section.
The other tip I picked up recently was, when fitting, to fit the beading over the valve last. This allows you to use the valve to push the inner tube up against the top of the tyre away from the beading so you don't catch it against the rim.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

Schwalbe must be aware of the fitting problems with their SMP+ tyres but choose to do nothing about it. I bought a pair for my Brompton and whilst not impossible to get on they weren't the easiest compared to Brompton's Kevlar tyres. I smeared the edge of the tyre along the bead with a very light coating of grease and the tyres then popped on ok using just hands. I can't see the logic behind making a tyre with such close tolerances to fitting over a rim. Other manufacturers manage to do it so why can't Schwalbe? Bonkers. And the tyres aren't that good at repelling punctures either as I got two in the next month. I much prefer Specialised Nimbus Armadillos - much easier to get and on and off plus excellent puncture resistance and far lighter, lower rolling resistance and quieter.

I've often thought the same. The more recent B ones seem to be a little tighter, this coincides with the increased pressure (80 psi to 110 psi). I wonder if it's to do with the thicker rubber and sidewalls - ie if the tyres were slacker they'd pop off the rim?

 

[jefmcg]

The smaller wheeled ones may well be more difficult

I believe this is true, but here is someone I "know" (forum friend) taking a M+ off a 18" birdy wheel.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xZ6Lybtc8Q

 

[paddypete]

i bought a pair of city jets 26x195 and one is a bit out of shape,ive herd a few comments about the quality of swalbe recently

 

[Leodis]

The last set I got i had the LBS fit them, a lot easier and when the tubes get damaged its them paying for it. They are great for punctures but are slower and a worry if you do get a flat getting them off and back on roadside.

 

[machew]

The only problem I had with M+ was buying the wrong size for a 20" wheel. I thought that all 20" wheels were the same size