Marathon Supremes...

[misterflask]

I just discovered Marathon Supremes (apparently they've been around most of forever).  I put a set on my gravel bike and am awed by their speediness.  Close your eyes and you'll forget you're not on your road bike, something that never happens with my Marathon Pluses.  I so want to put a set on the tourer, but wanted to hear how the gang weighed in.  A forum search found two posts at the extremes (never flat/flat every ten miles).  So, surely somebody has been put some hard miles on these...

[tablatom]

I just bought my first pair.
This shows just how fast they are.
https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/tour-reviews/schwalbe-marathon-supreme-2016

I've been running Vittoria Voyager Hyper's which are rated even faster.
https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/tour-reviews/vittoria-voyager-hyper-2016

Amazing for road/gravel/dry hardpack.
They are really cheap here in the UK. Watch out for the sizing, add 2 -3 mm to the width of all three 32 - 35 - 38. Thats with 19mm i.w. rims.

[RonK]

I've been using Supremes on my touring bikes for a decade. In that time I have had no more than a handful of punctures.

[John Nelson]

Every tire is one of a kind. My first Supreme developed a sidewall bulge after 4130 rear miles. I retired my other after 5553 miles. I use Mondial (folding, not wire) now. Probably not as fast as the Supremes, but tougher.

[Figaro]

Interesting discussion and something I have been thinking about lately. I bought my touring bike last September--a 2017 Trek 520--and it came with Bontranger AW1 700 x 32 tires. I've put a little over 1,700 miles on them to date. I'm planning on doing the TransAm this spring starting late May, so figure I'll need to replace them before I take off. I've had no problems with them thus far--no flats. If that continues between now and May, I'm considering just replacing them with the same tire. Good plan or should I consider a Marathon tire? I've read a lot about them, but have no experience with them. I'm just generally of the mind, if it isn't broke then don't fix it and since virtually everything on the bike is Bontranger, the tires have performed well thus far, then stick with them???

[misterflask]

<<Good plan or should I consider a Marathon tire?>>

I don't have any trips over a week planned, so the Supremes look good, assuming some further validation by the forum.  But the Marathon Pluses are just about bulletproof and I would probably use them if I did the TA again.  On my trip I replaced a rear tire for wear, prematurely, and in retrospect I can say the initial set of tires would have made the entire trip if I had rotated them.  I'm still riding the front tire and I think it probably has 6000 or so miles.  FYI I'm heavy and pack heavy, so they carried quite a load.

[John Nelson]

Interesting discussion and something I have been thinking about lately. I bought my touring bike last September--a 2017 Trek 520--and it came with Bontranger AW1 700 x 32 tires. I've put a little over 1,700 miles on them to date. I'm planning on doing the TransAm this spring starting late May, so figure I'll need to replace them before I take off. I've had no problems with them thus far--no flats. If that continues between now and May, I'm considering just replacing them with the same tire. Good plan or should I consider a Marathon tire? I've read a lot about them, but have no experience with them. I'm just generally of the mind, if it isn't broke then don't fix it and since virtually everything on the bike is Bontranger, the tires have performed well thus far, then stick with them???

Not apples-to-apples. Have you ridden the 1700 miles loaded with all your gear? Are you going to ride the TransAm loaded with all your gear?

[Inge]

I started out using Little Big Bens (40-622) but switched last year to Marathon Almotions (50-622) and I like these lots. If you stay mainly on the road with the occasional gravel road/ dirt track you will like these - I am sure. Cycled around 2000km on them now and 1st thought of replacing them for my 8 weeks tour coming summer but seeing how well they still look - hardly any wear on them - I am not going to do that.

So maybe another tyre to take into consideration.

[dkoloko]

I have been running Marathon Supremes for three years or so; no problems. I don't know if they are speedy, but they are faster than what I had been using. Flats have been virtually nil.

[jamawani]

My favorite is "Stop! In the Name of Love".

[misterflask]

<<but switched last year to Marathon Almotions (50-622) >>

Almotions it is; just ordered a pair.  Thanks Inge. 

Per www.bicyclerollingresistance.com, super-low rolling resistance for a touring tire and comparable puncture resistance to the Marathon Plus.  Gotta love the rollingresistance guys for quantifying what we usually trade as anecdote.

I expect riding these tires to be a delight compared to the Marathon Pluses, which always feel like you're riding through mud.

tnx agn all

[Inge]

You are very welcome!

Let us know in due time what you think.

[Figaro]

Interesting discussion and something I have been thinking about lately. I bought my touring bike last September--a 2017 Trek 520--and it came with Bontranger AW1 700 x 32 tires. I've put a little over 1,700 miles on them to date. I'm planning on doing the TransAm this spring starting late May, so figure I'll need to replace them before I take off. I've had no problems with them thus far--no flats. If that continues between now and May, I'm considering just replacing them with the same tire. Good plan or should I consider a Marathon tire? I've read a lot about them, but have no experience with them. I'm just generally of the mind, if it isn't broke then don't fix it and since virtually everything on the bike is Bontranger, the tires have performed well thus far, then stick with them???

Not apples-to-apples. Have you ridden the 1700 miles loaded with all your gear? Are you going to ride the TransAm loaded with all your gear?

No...I've been riding partially loaded (still collecting my equipment) since Jan--probably about 500 miles. Decided then to do all my training rides with panniers and handlebar bag like I'll be doing on tour.  I would say I have about 60% of the weight I will be carrying in my panniers.

[John Nelson]

No...I've been riding partially loaded (still collecting my equipment) since Jan--probably about 500 miles. Decided then to do all my training rides with panniers and handlebar bag like I'll be doing on tour.  I would say I have about 60% of the weight I will be carrying in my panniers.

Thanks for the update. Although conventional wisdom is that the Marathons are better, you can certainly go with what has worked well for you.

[crichman]

Zero flats with my 26x1.6 Supremes on my 2016 TransAm self-supported camping tour.  Just a couple in 4,000 miles or so of urban commuting.

They've got lousy traction in off-road mud, but that's not what they're really for. 

They're a delight and recommended without reservation.

Charlie