There really are not that many

RobF

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 22, 2012
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I refer to 27.5" tyres.

My comment a couple of weeks ago about a mate who was struggling for choice in this size was countered by Eddie and ebike Martin.

Not so, I was told, there are plenty.

A play with Schwalbe's tyre finder suggests otherwise.

There are more than 20 tyres at 26"X2.0, about 20 more at 2.1" and 20 again at 2.25".

A similar search for 27.5" gives a total of no more than 20 tyres.

There are a few more 27.5" the wider you go, but nothing like the number of 26".

The difference is even more marked on narrower tyres.

Looking at 1.75", there's just one 27.5" tyre compared to, yes, another 20 or so in 26".

One could argue there's enough 27.5" for most purposes, and they are more aimed at wider, mountain bike sizes.

But the fact remains that from the most popular tyre maker the rider of a 26" bike has a much wider choice.

http://www.schwalbe.com/gb/reifensuche.html
 

EddiePJ

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jul 7, 2013
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Rob, there are other makes of tyres out there besides Schwalbe. :)

Given that 650b hasn't been mainstream very long, it can't be of any surprise that there are more offerings in the 26" category, but you are incorrect to say that there isn't much choice, as there is already significant choice.
 
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RobF

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 22, 2012
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Rob, there are other makes of tyres out there besides Schwalbe. :)

Given that 650b hasn't been mainstream very long, it can't be of any surprise that there are more offerings in the 26" category, but you are incorrect to say that there isn't much choice, as there is already significant choice.

Twenty plus tyres against one or two is poor choice.

Unless you can demonstrate Schwalbe is unrepresentative and the other makers are producing dozens of 27.5" in different widths and tread types.

Sure, things may improve, and the lack of choice will be unimportant to a lot of riders.

But for keener riders who like to change tyres for seasons, conditions, different rides, and so on, the possibilities are limited.

Marathon Plus are recommended everywhere, just one width available in 27.5", and nothing at all in Marathon Plus MTB.
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
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Schwalbe are unrepresentative in the sense that they are a small player in the bicycle market, very much at the expensive end. The fact that they are American also influences the size range they offer.

Try such as Continental, who make a Marathon Plus equivalent, and other European companies to see a far greater balance towards the larger tyre diameters for their much larger markets for bicycle tyres.
.
 
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JohnCade

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 16, 2014
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Schwalbe are unrepresentative in the sense that they are a small player in the bicycle market, very much at the expensive end. The fact that they are American also influences the size range they offer.

Try such as Continental, who make a Marathon Plus equivalent, and other European companies to see a far greater balance towards the larger tyre diameters for their much larger markets for bicycle tyres.
.
I put Continental kevlar belted tyres on my last road bike over a decade ago after a bad run of punctures and never had any after.
 

RobF

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 22, 2012
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Schwalbe are unrepresentative in the sense that they are a small player in the bicycle market, very much at the expensive end. The fact that they are American also influences the size range they offer.

Try such as Continental, who make a Marathon Plus equivalent, and other European companies to see a far greater balance towards the larger tyre diameters for their much larger markets for bicycle tyres.
.
I always had Schwalbe down as making lots of tyres because I see them on a lot of new bikes.

Perhaps I'm only looking at £2K+ dream machines.
 
Schwalbe are unrepresentative in the sense that they are a small player in the bicycle market, very much at the expensive end. The fact that they are American also influences the size range they offer.
Schwable are very much a German company ;) they are probably the second biggest aftermarket and quality OEM tyre brand, but they are smaller than Conti, because Conti does so much more than just bike / wheelchair tyres.