Easy to fit, puncture resistant, 32c - 40c wet road/gravel tyres?

[moo]

I've currently got a pair of Schwalbe Marathon Plus 35c tyres and can't fault them for puncture reisistance - 1,000 miles of gravel, stones and the crap thrown onto London roads. However they are a nightmare to change, and with every passing mile the probability of a puncture increases. When the inevitable happens I can just see myself turning into the Hulk by the road side wrestling with the tyre

I'd prefer tyres that can be changed quickly, even if the chance of a puncture is marginally worse. Rolling resistance is unimportant - reliability and a smooth ride trumps speed for me.

Any recommendations?

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

Tyres with Panaracer puncture resistant linings are ok to fit ime. Coupled with the slime filled Michelin tubes makes for very good puncture free living.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

How about the standard Marathons? I have them in 700x35c and have got on with them really well; none of the fitting issues people report with the M+ and I haven't been able to fault their puncture resistance over the last 3500 miles or so of on and off road riding.

The grip is decent and they don't roll too badly either for a touring tyre.

 

[yoffy]

Marathon plus honestly aren't difficult to fit, particularly when they've been on a while. The secret is to ensure it's seated as you move round the rim. No need for tools IME. Here's a good video explaining what I mean...


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XUFVrl0UT4

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

That video has been around a while and whist it's a good demo for a perfectly dry garage, who carries belts around whilst riding and who wants to take ages fighting at tyre in the depths of winter far from a dry garage?

Not everybody has the hand strength to fight with the monster that is the M+ when it decides to play unfairly. I'm quite a strong fella and have had to fight with a M+ on my Bromptons once or twice, as unbelievable as it is, they do sometimes puncture - and I tell you it's a different experience on the road side in the dark after a twelve hour shift in winter than it is at home.

 

[moo]

I might give the standard Marathons a go if they're easy to fit. So far the M+ have been great for me on the road/gravel surfaces used, so it might be wise to stick with a similar built tyre. I was hoping for better grip tho as the M+ do slide somewhat when cornering in the wet.

If I did have a puncture it would likely be as above - late at night in the dark on the way home from work in heavy wind and rain.

 

[yoffy]

That video has been around a while and whist it's a good demo for a perfectly dry garage, who carries belts around whilst riding and who wants to take ages fighting at tyre in the depths of winter far from a dry garage?

Not everybody has the hand strength to fight with the monster that is the M+ when it decides to play unfairly. I'm quite a strong fella and have had to fight with a M+ on my Bromptons once or twice, as unbelievable as it is, they do sometimes puncture - and I tell you it's a different experience on the road side in the dark after a twelve hour shift in winter than it is at home.

If that's your experience, fair enough. I cycle commute on M+ and have done for several years and yes I've had the occasional puncture (2 to be precise in over 5 years). I've managed quite comfortably to fix them at the side of the road and I don't carry or have the need for straps. M+ may be more difficult to fit than the average tyre but that has to be traded off against the reduced number of times you'll need to do just that.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

If that's your experience, fair enough. I cycle commute on M+ and have done for several years and yes I've had the occasional puncture (2 to be precise in over 5 years). I've managed quite comfortably to fix them at the side of the road and I don't carry or have the need for straps. M+ may be more difficult to fit than the average tyre but that has to be traded off against the reduced number of times you'll need to do just that.

I didn't say I didn't manage, I did quite well - not as easily as a folding bead tyre but for me not so bad. I was making the point that not everybody can.

 

[andrew_s]

The problem with the Marathon Plus is that they are quite springy width-ways, and when you pinch the beads together and move them down into the well of the rim, they don't stay there, but pop back up onto the bead seats. That stops you getting the slack that is required to lift a bead over the rim wall. There's a technique to keeping enough tension on the beads to stop them lifting out of the rim well, but because they puncture so rarely, most people don't develop the technique.

I don't use the things myself - I view the occasional puncture as a minor irritation rather than as a problem, and I'd sooner do without the extra weight.
I use Marathon Racer currently

 

[Andrew Br]

I've got 35mm Marathon Supremes on one of my bikes.
From memory they've done ~5000 miles with one puncture.
My GF has the same on her cross bike and they've done about the same mileage also with only one puncture.
IME they grip extremely well in the wet and on cobbles and they're OK on gravel (less so on mud and wet grass).
They also seem to roll well and are relatively light.
They're a doddle to fit and remove.
The main downside is that they're expensive but, considering that mine are still far from being worn, they're good value.

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