Best "compromise" mtb tyre

m-k-lewis@msn.com · Post by **m-k-lewis@msn.com** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 2:02 pm

I would appreciate your thoughts:

What is the best (fastest rolling, most durable, puncture proof etc etc) tyre for a mtb to be used on road and fire-tracks, that will handle a bit of light off-road?

Mark

SimonW · Post by **SimonW** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 2:56 pm

My choice would be a Kenda Small block 8

Nothing is puncture proof but running tubeless can help.

Simon

Tullio · Post by **Tullio** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 9:06 pm

Schwalbe do a tyre called Marathon Plus.

Heavy Puncture resistance, robust enough for the odd venture Off Road but fast rolling On Road. I used them to do the Scotton 100 a couple of years ago which was a 100K event with a mixture of off and on road in heavy rain and they were great. The only thing they struggled with was deep mud and clay.

http://www.schwalbe.co.uk/c2-1071-schwa ... -plus.html

SimonW · Post by **SimonW** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 7:42 am

Schwalbe Marathon is also standard issue on all Postie bikes!

You can only use them if you have a red bike though!

Simon

Debs · Post by **Debs** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 3:23 pm

Ordinarily I'd have taken Simon's advice on all things rubber-related

but Kenda have a new tyre - the short tracker I think it was which I tested last weekend in the rat race. Absolutely perfect tyre for hard-packed trail, fire road, loose stones (small) and a bit of slack mud. It was truly rubbish in deep mud though is definitely not on my list of winter tyres.

barberj · Post by **barberj** » Thu Aug 06, 2009 7:44 pm

I would go with the Schwalbe Marathon Extreme (launched this year) if you have the money (£40). Its about as puncture proof as you get, whilst being light and reasonably fast rolling (it a treking tyre). The Marathon plus is better for puncture resistence to glass, but nearly double the weight (£25). Schwalbe also do the Marathon XR which is similar to the Extreme but has tougher sidewalls for heavy touring (and is therefore heavier) and has extemely hardwearing rubber (expect to get over 10,000 miles out of one). I have run both the XR and the plus for 4 years and have only had one puncture. That was due we think to vandalism and someone putting a tack in my wife's tyre.

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... tyre-33781

Suggest you download the catalogue to compare the three:

http://www.schwalbe.co.uk/c-downloads-s ... logue.html