38c tyres on road bike

[Maherees]

Hello,
I've got a Boardman ADV which came with 32mm Vittoria Corsa N.EXT tyres and over the past week I've had 3 punctures on normal sometimes potholed roads. My local Halfords has in stock now a pair of Schwalbe Marathon Plus Bike Tyre 700x38c which I could fit so I could carry on cycling. But will this turn my bike into a steam roller?
Thanks.

 

[fossyant]

Marathons aren't fast and they are heavy.

 

[vickster]

Marathons aren't fast and they are heavy.

Not sure what a steam is? Marathon plus, they're horrible things! Look at Schwalbe G ones maybe

 

[StuAff]

G-one Allround are a good balance between speed and fairy resistance. Lots of fast/faster tyres now available in 35mm or wider widths…

 

[Ian H]

I don't have any more punctures on 25mm than I do on 38mm.

 

[Alex321]

Personally, I would go for them. I ride with marathon+ on my Cube road bike (though only in a 28c - my bike would not take a 38c).

If you are not a racer, nor particularly wanting to ride as fast as possible, then they are not "horrible" as some on here would have you believe. And they are VERY puncture resistant.

 

[DCLane]

Like others have put Schwalbe Marathon is NOT a road bike tyre.

At 38mm or similar have a look at Pirelli Cinturato - they do various fast hard wearing road tyres - https://www.pirelli.com/tyres/en-gb/bike/tyres/catalogue/cinturato-velo plus a wider range of more gravel tyre but fast - https://www.pirelli.com/tyres/en-gb/bike/tyres/type

Schwalbe G-One, as mentioned above, are also decent.

 

[Alex321]

Like others have put Schwalbe Marathon is NOT a road bike tyre.

Anybody saying that is wrong.

Though at 38c it is questionable. The Boardman ADV are mostly advertised as Gravel/Adventure bikes, though the ADV9.0 is advertised as the road version, and can still take up to 42c tyres.

But marathon+ are available in as low as 25c, and I am running them in 28c, which is definitely road bike.

 

[PaulSB]

Schwalbe Marathon will do the Job for you very effectively and is definitely a road tyre. This thread is the first time I've heard it not described as a road tyre. I don't like the Marathon but many people do. I have had two sets Schwalbe G-One Allround on my gravel/winter bike. They're a very good tyre.

I've recently started riding Pirelli Cinturato on my winter bike. So far very pleased. I've also enjoyed Gatorskins and Continental 5000GP and GT versions.

As for 38mm? The biggest tyre I've ridden is 35mm. Over the years I've moved up from 25mm. Provided you choose the right tyre you won't find any significant difference between 25 and 35 other than comfort.

 

[Punkawallah]

You have to ask ‘why am I getting punctures?’.
Is the tyre pressure suitable for the weight of the rider?
Is the route the issue, with lots of debris?
Was the tyre cleared after the last puncture?
Is the current tyre not suitable for the ride?

If the answer to the last is ‘no’, then try Marathon tyres. They may be ‘slow’, but not as slow as stopping to replace a tube.
Good luck!

 

[PaulSB]

@Punkawallah is right you need to know the cause of the punctures. I presumed you do but if not that has to the first step. Once you've established the cause, and presuming you're using correct pressures, the tyres are in good condition, you can ask am I using the right tyres?

I rode a pair of new Marathons which punctured three times in the first ten days. After that they were OK. It was just bad luck.

 

[si_c]

Worth noting that Vittoria Corsas are lightweight race tyres, and the one you have is expected to be run tubeless - if you're not already doing so then worth considering doing that first.

Failing that moving to any commuter type tyre - Schwalbe One series, Vittoria Rubino/Zaffiro would be where I would be looking, not Marathon+ as they are the opposite end of the tyre spectrum, heavy, hard wearing, lots of protection and will feel horrible in comparison to the tyres you have now.

 

[Oldhippy]

It's a personal choice thing I guess, always had Marathon plus, only ever one puncture in years. They wear out I buy two more. I can reach 20 plus mph on a flat windless day or just potter around at 10 to 15 mph on my tourer. I don't think they are heavy or slow but then I don't have a racing bike.