Touring tyre help please

[Bigtallfatbloke]

Ok I know have asked about tyres elsewhere on this board but i am still confused. I need to change the tyres on my Galaxy before my German adventure because the rear one is worn down a fair bit. I want to take the opportunity to relpace them with tyres that provide a faster ride than the schwalbe marathons my bike was supplied with, but they still need to be approriate for touring with a full camping 4 pannier load.

I thought about fitting these:

Schwalbe racer
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360025486&N=Schwalbe Marathon Racer

But because I wasn't sure I asked Wiggle for their comments as to if they would fit and suit my need. Here is the reply:

Thank you for your email.

Mentioned tyre will not work.
You will need tyre form this range:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/CategoryProducts.aspx?categoryName=Tyres - Road City&cat=Cycle

Schwalbe Marathon Reflective Kevlar Belt Tyre 700x32 will be fine:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDeta...Schwalbe Marathon Reflective Kevlar Belt Tyre

It will be OK for touring - if not ideal.

Specialized Inner Tube Presta 700x28-38:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=819656385&N=Specialized Inner Tube
will be appropriate

Regards


Wiggle Customer Services

...so now I am still confused...why wont it work? The suggested tyre is in their words "not ideal"...erm...why?

Also the lower weight of the suggested tyre is appealing to me...but what is the trade off compared to my existing Marathons?

...these tyres need to get me from from Bremen to Basel safely, so I want to get it right....what would you do? Which tyres should I fit?

Thanks in advance for any help offered.

 

[domtyler]

Have you considered Sport Contacts? I have them in 700x28 on my bike and that is used with full panniers and a child and child seat on the back which must be considerably heavier than just panniers. They have been going all winter long and still look fine, no punctures in that time. They are very light and almost as fast rolling as the GP4000S tyres I have on my other bikes.

While they are slicks I have been going off road with them too, gentle stuff like across the fields and down the canal tow paths in dryish weather with the kid on the back with no problems whatsoever.

 

[redfox]

I have traditionally been a big fan of Marathon Plus for touring but, since a trouble free switch to Schwalbe Stelvios for audax use, I decided to do the last tour on them and they seemed fine.

I was really concerned at first because they look flimsy compared to the M+ ( most tyres do I guess), but there wasn't a lot of choice in the 700*28 sizing I wanted.

I kept them on through winter and have done about 4,000K on them now. Virtually without incident until a few weeks ago when some glass shredded the rear's sidewall and required a replacement. However, the glass probably would have taken out the M+'s sidewall as well.

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

These?
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDeta...ntinental Sport Contact Hybrid Tyre With Tube

Will they fit my wheels? I have 700cx32 (which means little to me...it's just written on the tyre)

..I couldnt find the Schwalbe Stelvios on wiggle or evans sites...(I may be looking in th ewrong place though)

 

[redcogs]

Never had a puncture on Marathon plusses

 

[domtyler]

These?
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDeta...ntinental Sport Contact Hybrid Tyre With Tube

Will they fit my wheels? I have 700cx32 (which means little to me...it's just written on the tyre)

..I couldnt find the Schwalbe Stelvios on wiggle or evans sites...(I may be looking in th ewrong place though)

Those are the Sport Contacts I have yep. A good compromise between light weight racer and heavy duty tourer I reckon. They will fit your wheels no problem if you already have 32's.

Aren't the Stelvio's lightweight race tyres? I had them on my Focus Cayo in 700x23 and really liked them but I don't know if I would trust them for touring though?

 

[jags]

what about the marathon supream's

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

They will fit your wheels no problem if you already have 32's.

Ok...so I should order the 700cx32 size right? I dont understand what these numbers actually mean (sorry) ..if somebody can explain them to me that would help me as well.

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

what about the marathon supream's

http://www.schwalbe.co.uk/c2-1068-schwalbe-tires-marathon-supreme.html
http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/product/108852.html

Ok I found this on them..they look cool as well...in fact they are the lightest of those I have seen so far as well...but they only have a 700x35 option not a 700x32 option WHAT DOES THIS MEAN??????

 

[Brock]

if you think of 700s as road wheel size, and 26 as mountain bike wheels you'll not go far wrong, the next option is the width, in the case of your tyres '32' is quite a wide road tyre.
Road wheels tend to safely accept a range of widths, normally 23-25 or 25-32... (I'm not really sure about this, someone will correct me). Your tyres have 700x32, so it's pretty safe to assume you could use 700x28 or even 700x25....maybe...
But basically the 32 part is width of tyre in mm.. I think.. hmmm Have you asked Sheldon?

Don't quote me or sue me, but that's how I see it.

 

[Brock]

Wow that was helpful wasn't it!?

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

Cheers mate..I understand now.

I am assuming that thinner tyres means faster but less comfy as a general rule right?

Those supremes look excellent but they only seem to be available in a 35 or a 40 width...so even though the tread might be faster am I correct in assuming that the extra width of the tyre might negate the extra speed of the slicker tread design?
And will these fit under my mudguards still????
...see this is where a GOOD Lbs could earn some cash from me...shame all those around here are simply interested in selling me an MTB.

 

[Brock]

I'd suggest looking for 700x28s, it'll be a significant change from your 32s, but should still be reasonable for touring.
The Panaracer Paselas maybe an option if you can stomach brown sidewalls?

 

[Brock]

I am assuming that thinner tyres means faster but less comfy as a general rule right?

Those supremes look excellent but they only seem to be available in a 35 or a 40 width...so even though the tread might be faster am I correct in assuming that the extra width of the tyre might negate the extra speed of the slicker tread design?
And will these fit under my mudguards still????

I think you're right on all these assumptions mate, the mudguard thing especially is a critical consideration.

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

..hmm...those Continental Sport Contacts are available in 700x28...