Who's had a puncture with a Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyre?

[Auntie Helen]

I'm thinking of going for some faster tyres than my wonderfully-comfortable-but-pretty-fat Big Apples.

The M+ appeals strongly for its puncture resistance. However User3143 has warned me that I may not physically be able to get the tyre off to mend it (I've got a weak arm).

If punctures are a once-in-1000-mile affair I can cope with getting a taxi home and collecting the bike later (and getting Uncle James to fix the puncture, of course). Is the puncture protection as good as they say?

 

[4F]

over 4000 miles so far on mine and 18 miles of my daily commute are country miles.

 

[cheadle hulme]

1256 on my (mainly) road going MTB and no incidents. When I venture off road its great not having to worry about thorns and brambles.

 

[4F]

That is impressive, I've done 1300 miles now on the trike without incident.

I know there is all this talk about them being heavier tyres but to be honest there is not much in it on my commute times on my bike with the 700 x 25 M+ compared to my lighter bike with the michelin 700 x 23

 

[Soltydog]

I did about 2000 miles on my hybrid before having to repair an inner tube protected by a m+ I then suffered twice in a month, but I doubt any tyre would have survived. 1st caused by a 10mm sharp flint & 2nd by an inch long thorn
They are not too bad to fit onto my hybrid rims, whereas the whelbarrow tyre I've had to fit this weekend was a right B******D

 

[008]

Not even this nail could puncture a M+!! I had noticed 'something' on my tyre for a mile or so but thought it was a bit of sticky tape so carried on. It wasn't until I'd turned into a quiet road and slowed down that I heard a tapping noise (the nail impacting the road) which made me stop to investigate. Shocked to find the 'sticky tape' was in fact a nail. Pulled it out gently and was even more shocked that the tyre didn't puncture!! Just goes to show how much abuse they can take.

Saying that, I have had a couple of unexplained punctures but I think you'd have to be pretty unlucky to get loads of punctures with these tyres.

 

[Auntie Helen]

Thanks for all the comments!

I have ordered myself a pair of these, we'll see if I can get them on the wheels first (I gather putting them in the airing cupboard for a bit first might help) and whether they can cope with the hedgecutting that goes on along these country lanes!

 

[MacB]

about 550 miles on mine and ok so far, didn't find them that hard to fit either, but then was first tyre I'd fitted so nothing to compare to

 

[dataretriever]

You can get some schwalbe tyre lube, although it is rare, which will ease the tyres on. Vaseline on the rim might help I guess. I snapped a plastic tyre lever getting mine on my hybrid, but after lots of miles still no holes...

 

[summerdays]

I've got Marathon's rather than the plus's and I've had 1 puncture each year for the last 3 years (and at least one might of been when the tyres weren't inflated properly). The first time had to get hubby to put tyre on and off, 2nd time I got it off myself and he put it on, and the last time I did it all myself. So either I'm getting better at doing it or they do get easier. Picked glass out of the tyres yesterday.

I have used talc and a variety of tyre levers to help - I use the soma steel core ones together with a var lever. I don't think I'm using it correctly - someone lent me a ctc mag to see magnatom and there was a small picture of the lever in there where someone was commenting on a previous issue. It looked as if I was supposed to put it either side of the tyre - anyone comment on that?)

 

[rickangus]

I fitted a pair of these to my hybrid probably 4 or 5 years ago and had, IIRC, 3 punctures in the first mile!

However these were down to a movement in the rim tape, allowing the inner tube to press on the spoke seat/thingy so can't blame the tyres for that! Blame me instead.

Since then, no punctures in those tyres. Don't know how many miles - may be 2k - and little sign of wear

I also have some Marathon Racers which I like - think they're more comfortable, a bit faster, a bit lighter but an awful lot less puncture resistant. Which makes me wonder whether the extra speed - if that is measureable - of the Racers outweighs the time spent repairing punctures?

 

[marinyork]

I've had even more miles than FFFF I think. I would agree with User3143s comments. They are horrid to get off and even more horrid to get back on.

People who seem to say oh they aren't that bad really seem to have much narrower M+s or ones with a narrower tyre to inside rim ratio. I can imagine something with a 1.4 being marginally less insane to deal with.

Supposedly the M+s have a good rolling resistance for the type of tyre. This I also think is complete and utter drivel when you're being pulled away at 10mph downhill by someone freewheeling and you're peddalling like crazy in the top gear.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

O.T I know but.... What did you think of the Big Apples? How did they handle? - I find the idea of a wide near slick tyre most intriguing and am thinking of getting a set before a charity ride in June.

Dave

I'm thinking of going for some faster tyres than my wonderfully-comfortable-but-pretty-fat Big Apples.

 

[Auntie Helen]

Well my Big Apples weren't slick really (until the point when i took them off) but overall I liked them. I had some difficulties getting the right mudguard clearance but the ride was definitely smoother than it is with the new M+ tyres.

It also feels a little harder work with the M+ which is a slight surprise as the Big Apples were larger so I would have thought gives more rolling resistance. Overall, though, I liked the Big Apples and still have one on the rear tyre. So far the M+ tyres are OK but they do seem to make it seem a little harder work when riding.

As for Big Apple handling, it's so different on a trike it's hard to guess how they'd work on a normal bike, but I think the softness of the ride would be a good thing. I did 3 miles on a DF yesterday and my lady parts are definitely feeling it!

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Thanks very much Auntie Helen. I'd 'forgotten' you rode a recumbent hen I asked the question. Mudguards a re not a problem for me so they sound like a good purchase proposition.

Cheers, Dave

Well my Big Apples weren't slick really (until the point when i took them off) but overall I liked them. I had some difficulties getting the right mudguard clearance but the ride was definitely smoother than it is with the new M+ tyres.

It also feels a little harder work with the M+ which is a slight surprise as the Big Apples were larger so I would have thought gives more rolling resistance. Overall, though, I liked the Big Apples and still have one on the rear tyre. So far the M+ tyres are OK but they do seem to make it seem a little harder work when riding.

As for Big Apple handling, it's so different on a trike it's hard to guess how they'd work on a normal bike, but I think the softness of the ride would be a good thing. I did 3 miles on a DF yesterday and my lady parts are definitely feeling it!