Schwalbe smart Sam good choice?

[anon4]

I need to get these studs off and run some normal tyres. I need some knobs to get me through the odd patch of mud, but fast rolling. Are these a good budget choice? The impac version "smartpac" also made by schwalbe can be had for less than 25 quid with a pair of tubes. I don't do any "serious* mountain biking so if they work on tarmac with the odd muddy puddle towpath I'm all in

 

[Nev]

I've done nearly 3000 miles on my Smart Sams, about 400 of those miles were tough off road ridding. I think they are decent tyres for the price but they don't provide much puncture protection from thorns. I do a lot of my ridding on little country roads with hedges containing thorn bushes on either side.

I had three punctures in the first 1500 miles, I then installed some tubes with sealant inside and touch wood that seems to have stopped them. My tired are quite worn down now but I don't think I will get another pair, I will probably look at something with more puncture protection such as Marathon Plus.

 

[anon4]

It's more glass I seem to encounter and schwalbes seem to hold up. Agree on the thorns though partner got a few through her city jets. As we ride more urban these should work for me, just need the knobs for the occasional brief sections of trail, grass etc

 

[sjpt]

I have been riding Marathon Plus for years. They are excellent for punctures, especially thorns. They take on broken glass as a matter of course, thorns are the harder challenge. They are also very long wearing; first one just giving up after 13 puncture free years, probably 12000 miles.

BUT: They give a somewhat hard, stodgy ride. They are not very good at forward traction on muddy paths, and poor at sideways traction (especially paths on the side of a hill that slopes down one side or the other). For me these were a price worth paying for puncture-free reliability, they may not be for you.

 

[anon4]

I have been riding Marathon Plus for years. They are excellent for punctures, especially thorns. They take on broken glass as a matter of course, thorns are the harder challenge. They are also very long wearing; first one just giving up after 13 puncture free years, probably 12000 miles.

BUT: They give a somewhat hard, stodgy ride. They are not very good at forward traction on muddy paths, and poor at sideways traction (especially paths on the side of a hill that slopes down one side or the other). For me these were a price worth paying for puncture-free reliability, they may not be for you.

I don't think they would work for me, their reputation is legendary but I just don't believe I'd enjoy the feel of them. I always carry patches and a tube, and always found the more heavy duty puncture proofing to feel like turd. My rear tyre is a homemade studded tyre with the tread of an old tyre inside to keep the studs off the tube. It feels like crap

 

[GLJoe]

I don't do any "serious* mountain biking so if they work on tarmac with the odd muddy puddle towpath I'm all in

Every tire is a compromise in some areas. Smart Sam seem to be the Jack of all trades (master of none). But that's not a bad thing for a general purpose tire.
They do work on tarmac ok because the centre tread diamonds create almost a continuous contact patch, and the side knobs do allow decent grip in a muddy puddle.
I'd give them a go if you don't fancy the much heavier, but stodgier Marathon plus MTBs (and note the MTB version is very different tread wise to conventional Marathon plus)

 

[anon4]

Every tire is a compromise in some areas. Smart Sam seem to be the Jack of all trades (master of none). But that's not a bad thing for a general purpose tire.
They do work on tarmac ok because the centre tread diamonds create almost a continuous contact patch, and the side knobs do allow decent grip in a muddy puddle.
I'd give them a go if you don't fancy the much heavier, but stodgier Marathon plus MTBs (and note the MTB version is very different tread wise to conventional Marathon plus)

A jack of all trades is exactly what I need, my mind is made, cheers!

 

[GLJoe]

A jack of all trades is exactly what I need, my mind is made, cheers!

Check on the exact model.
I know the Smart Sam Plus have better puncture protection and are e-bike approved. I don't know about the other (non Plus) variant.
Cheers.

 

[Laser Man]

Had the Smart Sams, but changed to Kenda Small Block 8s which give a much better ride - particularly in muddy conditions.
The only downside is a thrumming on tarmac because the blocks don't overlap.

 

[anon4]

Check on the exact model.
I know the Smart Sam Plus have better puncture protection and are e-bike approved. I don't know about the other (non Plus) variant.
Cheers.

I'm proficient with a patch kit so I will get the cheapest variant, not afraid of the odd flat. My sort of riding doesn't really justify anything other than bargain basement tyres, especially at the rate of wear on the rear with full pannier and grabby back brakes

 

[anon4]

Had the Smart Sams, but changed to Kenda Small Block 8s which give a much better ride - particularly in muddy conditions.
The only downside is a thrumming on tarmac because the blocks don't overlap.

That is exactly what I'm trying to avoid I hate the noise and drag of most knobbies

 

[Gringo]

Another vote for the Sam’s. I’m about 80% road and. have the Sam plus variety for a little bit of extra protection but there still not completely bulletproof. I’d had them before and swapped the oem tyres on my new cube to sams on day one.