Marathon Plus tyres

The complaining tadpole

After yet another visit from the p***ture fairy on the way home last night I have finally lost patience with my Schwalbe Marathons. I've read all the marketing speil on the Marathon Plus but I just wondered if anybody has experience of these tyres compared to the standard Marathons?
Thanks in advance, TCT.

virtuoso

I've been using them for about 8 months now and contrary to popular belief they can puncture, I've been visited by the fairy 3 times in that period.

However you should bear in mind that I cycle 120 miles a week every week, and travel along possibly the most glass-strewn cycle-track on the planet. I tried three or four other tyres before M+'s and would ALWAYS puncture at least once a week, and with some cheapo Halford tyres it was more like every other journey.

Kevlar_Commuter

yes I concur - I don't think there is anything better than the marathon plus - I do 36 miles a day 2-3 times a week and I probably have one puncture a month ..... if that helps you?!
thanks

roger_merriman

looking at the M+ on big green i can see a number of cuts that have sliced though the rubber, but stopped by the smart guard.

rolandsutton

I can't compare to the Marathon but I replaced the tyres on my Singlecross with Marathon Plus and have been puncture free for the last 400 commuting miles or so on cycle paths and country lanes when I had previously had about 4 punctures in a week. The one thing i have had issues with though are blow outs - which I've had two (not while I've been on the bike) on my rims, the Marathon plus tyres are quite loose and due to the stiffness of the smartgaurd reinforcement they take quite a bit of time to get the beads to seat securely on the rim - once on they seem to be excellent but its worth considering - can't remember what rims are on my SingleCross but its a 2008 model - think that they're Alex ones.

Hope that helps

Roland

iain_j

I've done about 2000 miles on mine and only punctured once - on their very first ride, which had me cursing the "puncture proof" bumph - but they've been fine since. I've accidentally ridden over broken glass a few times without incident.

(i hope the puncture fairy doesn't read bikeradar )

dombat

I've never had a puncture with M+ and done 4000 miles in 2 or so years.

When I replaced the rear I tried to cut it with a knife and scissors. No good, had to get out a hack saw. They are tough!

They can be very hard to fit. The first time I fitted themI had to use cable ties all round the wheel to hold it in place, otherwise it just kept popping off the wheel.

vorsprung

I have the same experience as dombat, 4000 miles and no punctures

I did have problems with fitting them though. When I broke a spoke I had to take the tyres off to fit the new one. Then when I returned the tyre to the rim it would not go on without using levers. Unfortunately I pinch flatted 4 or 5 inner tubes in the process and refitting the tyre took 2 hours instead of 2 minutes

They are very heavy tyres though. You will notice the difference in trying to get them up to speed

iain_j

The one time i've had the tyre off, i had no trouble getting it back on, but that's compared to the wheel/tyre combo on my Giant, now THEY'RE hard work :shock:

I had wondered on the weight issue though of the M+. They're on my Dalesman which is heavy anyway compared to the Giant, and it has 700x35 tyres, i'd wondered if fitting smaller M+'s (say, 32 or 27) would make a whole lot of difference.

The Chingford Skinhead

I've had a recurring puncture - world's tiniest hole but can't find the source and it is driving me mad to I'm going to get the LBS to check the wheel but will be buying some M+ tyres (but maybe a bit narrower than my current 700c x 35 (32 or 28 depending upon how cocky I'm feeling). Doubt they'll be from the LBS though - couple of bike shops on e-bay do them for about £32 a pari rather than £25 per tyre on wiggle, or £28 on cycle surgery or Evans...

jjojjas

I use Marathon plus on the rear and a marathon on the front.
Never had a puncture since i put them on a year or so ago. Ride most days, mixed roads plenty thorns,twigs glass.

The complaining tadpole

Think the + on the rear is the way I will be going when my LBS can get some in!

Not looking forward to fitting it though, my thumbs have only just recovered from the last fitting of the Marathon & by all accounts the + is even more of a pig to fit.

blackworx

Put these on my gf's bike as I was sick of fixing her frequent punctures but I have to say for the amount they cost I'm not impressed. 3 pf visits in as many months.

RufusA

The Marathon Plusses are a b*gger to fit, doubly so if you forget that your bike is upside down so the orientation is reversed when checking before fitting the rear - doh!

I've had one p*ncture in my M+ over the last couple of months so a similar p*ncture rate to the Spesh Armadillo All Conditions they replaced. However the ride is VERY different!

One thing I have noticed is they do tend to pick up and absort sharp flints / glass in the rubber belt which over time burrow their way down to your innertube. Worth checking for anything unpleasant and removing on a weekly basis to keep the p fairy at bay!

Rufus.