Roadhump
Time you enjoyed wasting was not wasted
- Location
- The flatlands of South West Lancs
So many people swear by Schwalbe Marathon Plus, but I use them on my bike and today I had my third puncture this year. After he first one in January, caused by a piece of glass in the front wheel, I fitted a brand new M+ but 6 weeks later I had another puncture, caused again by a piece of glass in the front wheel. The photo shows the damage caused to that 6 week old tyre. Since then I have enjoyed 9 months and just over 3,000 miles of puncture free cycling, but today suffered another puncture, this time to my rear wheel. Whilst changing the tube I found the offending item, which seemed like a small metal shard - I could feel the sharp point but because of the thickness of the tread the item was embedded in the rubber and I couldn't get it out from the outside, neither could I pull it through to the inside. Eventually I had to use the flat screwdriver blade of my multi tool to gouge it out which caused a bigger hole and also resulted in me losing whatever caused the puncture.
I know nothing is absolutely fail safe, and even with the toughest tyres you can expect the occasional puncture, but looking at other threads in here, some people laud the M+ as indestructible, they aren't and in my case, I feel it is fair to say that they have failed to live up to their reputation, and indeed have failed to live up to Schwalbe's claims about their toughness. Perhaps I would have had more punctures if I had used another make but I am a bit cheesed off with Schwalbe M+ tyres at present and might try some other brand.
I know nothing is absolutely fail safe, and even with the toughest tyres you can expect the occasional puncture, but looking at other threads in here, some people laud the M+ as indestructible, they aren't and in my case, I feel it is fair to say that they have failed to live up to their reputation, and indeed have failed to live up to Schwalbe's claims about their toughness. Perhaps I would have had more punctures if I had used another make but I am a bit cheesed off with Schwalbe M+ tyres at present and might try some other brand.