Marathon Plus Tyres for Torq

[stevebee]

I've been browsing to find these at 47-622 (700 x 45C) but nowhere seems to stock at this size. Anyone had any luck in finding these ?

 

[Ian]

I've been casually looking at alternative tyres for my torq since i've had it but have yet to find a 700x45C other than those already on the bike, the local bikeshop kept saying "are you sure it's 45?", same story with tubes, my bike is now fitted with 700x38-43 tubes because they're the biggest I could get.
Don't know about Marathon plus but many hybrid type tyres are available up to 700x42C and its my understanding that all 700C tyres fit 622 rims.

You may find this link helpful.

Tire Sizing Systems

Ian.

 

[rsscott]

I've been browsing to find these at 47-622 (700 x 45C) but nowhere seems to stock at this size. Anyone had any luck in finding these ?

Hi Steve,

700 x 38 is the largest you'll find for the Torq wheel. Don't worry, this is good balance between speed and comfort.

Schwalbe - Professional Bike Tires

 

[ITSPETEINIT]

700 X 45 Tyres

I've been casually looking at alternative tyres for my torq since i've had it but have yet to find a 700x45C other than those already on the bike, the local bikeshop kept saying "are you sure it's 45?", same story with tubes, my bike is now fitted with 700x38-43 tubes because they're the biggest I could get.
Don't know about Marathon plus but many hybrid type tyres are available up to 700x42C and its my understanding that all 700C tyres fit 622 rims.

You may find this link helpful.

Tire Sizing Systems

Ian.

I have bought spare tubes for my Torq.
They are NUTRAK City Bikes - 700 x 35-45C Schraeder
Product Code Number (if I have intrepreted it right): T735NS
There even instructions on the back of the packet "Instructions for Use" - very useful where 'familiarity has bred contempt'.
Your tubes will only need to be a little more elastic than the ones I bought.
Peter

 

[Ian]

I have bought spare tubes for my Torq.
They are NUTRAK City Bikes - 700 x 35-45C Schraeder
Product Code Number (if I have intrepreted it right): T735NS
There even instructions on the back of the packet "Instructions for Use" - very useful where 'familiarity has bred contempt'.
Your tubes will only need to be a little more elastic than the ones I bought.
Peter

Thanks for that info Peter, I'll try to get some just in case mine don't like like being overstretched.

Ian.

 

[stevebee]

Thanks for the info - I'll try and get them in the largest size I can find

 

[ITSPETEINIT]

Tyres and Rims

I've been browsing to find these at 47-622 (700 x 45C) but nowhere seems to stock at this size. Anyone had any luck in finding these ?

Schwalbe say they make a Marathon tyre 47x622.
It was interesting to read Sheldon Brown's technical expose of Rims and Tyres.
below are the most significant points he makes (apart from the actual numbers):
Tire Sizing Systems

"A general guideline is that the tire width should be between 1.45/2.0 x the inner rim width.
If your tire is too narrow for the rim there's an increased risk of tire/rim damage from road hazards.
If its too wide for the rim, there's an increase risk of sidewall wear, and a greater risk of loss of control in the event of a sudden flat.
Although you can use practically any tire/rim combination that shares the same bead seat diameter, it is unwise to use widely disparate sizes.
If you use a very narrow tire on a wide rim, you risk pinch flats and rim damage from road hazards.
If you use a very wide tire on a narrow rim, you risk sidewall or rim failure. This combination causes very sloppy handling at low speeds. Unfortunately, current mountain-bike fashion pushes the edge of this. In the interest of weight saving, most current mountain bikes have excessively narrow rims. Such narrow rims work very poorly with wide tires, unless the tires are overinflated...but that defeats the purpose of wide tires, and puts undue stress on the rim sidewalls"

I did not measure the 'Inner Rim Width"'on my Torq rims but I guess it's the size that's printed on them: 700c x 28c/38c Etrto 622x20.
Sheldon Brown says that the ideal width........... (see above RED)
If the width is 20 (mm) then the tyre should be between 29 and 40mm.(Now that's the size (recommended) by the rim (see purple above).
Stricly speaking therefore and taking Mr. Brown at his word the Kenda tyres fitted to the Torq are too big ((see blue above)
So it seems the Marathon Tyres one can buy without too much trouble are the correct size. Then the Inner Tubes one can buy fall into line.
Of course this will not improve comfort for the hands on the bars of the Torq - it' a hard ride.
Peter

 

[flecc]

And your last sentence is undoubtedly the reason for the over wide standard Torq tyres Peter.

It's got to be that, or sprung forks, or putting the motor in the back wheel.
.

 

[nigel]

Nigel

BY rsscot
Hi Steve,

700 x 38 is the largest you'll find for the Torq wheel. Don't worry, this is good balance between speed and comfort. Hi folks i bought the tyre size above and they are fine i like the thin profile tyre but i did find they were a very tight fit i needed 2 pairs of hands on the back wheel. Plus they were delivered the next day cant be bad.nigel.

 

[Ian]

Nigel, did you notice any improvement in pedeling effort or battery consumption as a result of the thinner tyres?

The Sprint I restored came with a failed front rim, it was a reasonable quality double walled weinman rim with brake surfaces worn up to, but not beyond the safety line, yet one edge had cracked and sprung outwards in the area of the seam, the wheel was still true so it wasn't the result of a crash, I can only assume the oversize tyre was the culprit. 1.95"(50mm) on a 19mm rim.

 

[nigel]

Nigel

Nigel, did you notice any improvement in pedeling effort or battery consumption as a result of the thinner tyres?
Hi Ian
i changed over to marathon plus tyres as soon as i got the bike i dont like chunky tyres anyway i think the marathons give a smooth ride and almost takeway the fear of a punture which on my long journeys is what i need i dont think i have gained any extra miles with the marathons NIGEL

 

[Ian]

Nigel, did you notice any improvement in pedeling effort or battery consumption as a result of the thinner tyres?
Hi Ian
i changed over to marathon plus tyres as soon as i got the bike i dont like chunky tyres anyway i think the marathons give a smooth ride and almost takeway the fear of a punture which on my long journeys is what i need i dont think i have gained any extra miles with the marathons NIGEL

A bit more milage would have been nice but sounds like the marathon plus are well worth it to reduce the risk of punctures, of which I've had a few this winter despite putting "Slime" in the tubes. Thanks.

 

[coops]

I've also been "perusing" the tyre options (for future reference) and though I'd like to have the puncture resistance of the marathon plus, I don't really want to put that much weight on the wheel rims - around a kilo per tyre? - since weight on the tyre counts for twice the weight on the frame, so they say, so that would add to the rather hefty power drain on my Torq of my own weight, when accelerating...

I don't know the weight of the standard Kenda tyres, but I should think its at least a little less than 900-1000g so that may also be a factor in no noticeable range/efficiency benefits of the marathon pluses.

I see the benefit of slightly oversize tyres for the Torq now, for helping improve ride comfort a little. Interestingly, I've come across a reference to "balloonbikes" which use very fat tyres (50 or 60mm) at lower pressure (1.5-2.5 bar - about 25-35 PSI?) for simple pneumatic suspension & ride comfort. Its claimed that tyre rolling resistance is actually lower for such tyres than for narrower tyres at around twice the pressure??? (not sure at what speeds though - maybe below 25km/h?) Apparently tyres of these widths can be quite safely used on common 19mm rims (Torq is 20mm) so long as the tyre pressure is not too high - maybe thats what happened to the Sprint you repaired Ian? An over inflated fat tyre plus hub motor shouldn't be put in a 19mm rim!

Any thoughts then on trying the new Marathon Supreme when the time comes for new tyres? Probably pricey and I'm not sure it'd be as durable or versatile as the plus, but much lighter - around 600g tops I think? - and with very good puncture protection & 42mm and 50mm widths, you can choose your comfort level . I think if it fits it seems a good match for the Torq? What do you think?

 

[flecc]

Its claimed that tyre rolling resistance is actually lower for such tyres than for narrower tyres at around twice the pressure??? (not sure at what speeds though - maybe below 25km/h?) Apparently tyres of these widths can be quite safely used on common 19mm rims (Torq is 20mm) so long as the tyre pressure is not too high

For a given pressure a fat tyre has less rolling resistance since it's footprint, the flat section from front to rear, is shorter. It's the footprint that is the rolling resistance, in effect presenting a permanent hill to be climbed. When the pressure is proportionally increased on the narrower section tyre, it loses it's disadvantage. Therefore, the only benefit of fatter tyres in practical situations is the increase in comfort.

There's been an increasing trend towards using fatter tyres on narrow rims, but it's not really good practice. The risk of tyrewall failure is increased and lateral stability is compromised.
.

 

[Ian]

Ive been looking at the Continental range of tyres Continental Cycle Tyres UK
Their new "Top Contact" is 550g in 700 x 37 and is claimed to have excellent puncture protection. The manufacturers must have confidence as they offer to replace the tyre and tube in the event of a puncture during the first year. There are other tyres in the "Contact" range that have been around for a while, all with the same guarantee. Does anyone have any experience of these tyres?
And by the way, if you visit their website don't be intimidated by the 4 fraulines.

Ian

 

[flecc]

The manufacturers must have confidence as they offer to replace the tyre and tube in the event of a puncture during the first year. There are other tyres in the "Contact" range that have been around for a while, all with the same guarantee.

Ian

I'm a born cynic Ian. Manufacturers of many kinds of products make this sort of guarantee frequently, knowing full well that the numbers who will follow up on it and jump through the hoops to make a claim are minute and can easily be afforded.
.

 

[Ian]

I'm sure your'e quite justified in being cynical Flecc, and as you say making a claim probably involves jumping through hoops. I'm hoping someone will come forward saying they've done a high milage on these tyres without a puncture, thats worth more than manufacturers claims.

 

[flecc]

I can't find any individual user experiences Ian, but the following link has much of interest for you on the performance of the Continental anti puncture system:

Paris-Roubaix
.

 

[coops]

I looked at the conti tyres site and to me there are strong similarities with the schwalbe range: compare schwalbe marathon plus with conti contact security tyres, and the new schwalbe marathon supreme with the new conti top contact - in both weight and puncture protect method in both cases.

The marathon plus & contact security both use a thicker but heavier layer to keep out sharp points and so weigh more - both around 900-1000g each.

The conti top contact & marathon supreme both use a layer (or two?) of tough, strong & light "vectran" material to puncture protect, but the supreme claims around 100g lighter (460g 35mm; 525g 40mm) and seems to use a new rubber compound with good grip & low resistance - same claim by conti too!

So I suppose its down to design, build & materials quality, but not having used either make much, possibly more down to price, which I've no idea of but I'd guess Schwalbe will cost more?

Any ideas anyone if the "vectran" system will protect as well as the m-plus smartguard design? Or be as durable? Cos it sure is much lighter which is good!

Stuart.

 

[Ian]

Seems like the mid range contis may offer more protection than the standard Kendas, which are after all fairly cheap tyres, but the marathon plus or contact security are probably the ultimate, but at a price in weight. I do like the slick look of the city contacts and wiggle have them at £17 although I thought I saw them in Halfords at that price. (Its funny how wiggle quote a manufacturers list price of £23.98 but the manufactures site quotes rather less at £19.95)
Perhaps narrower tyres at high pressure have less chance of punctures, presumably a tyre half the width has half the chance of running over that waiting thorn!