Which Touring Tires?

[taptap]

I am about to leave on a 1500 mi ride. The Marathon Supremes I was hoping to ride on are on back order and not currently available. What would be the best second choice?  Thanks, Ed

[ptaylor]

Schwalbe Marathon Plus - a bit heavier, a lot more puncture resistant.

Paul

[FredHiltz]

Hi Ed,

This is a common topic, mostly addressed in the Gear forum. To see a number of opinions, use the search box at the top right of this screen. Search for tires and select the blank option for "In the past" to search the entire archive.

Fred

[litespeed]

Continental Top Touring.

[staehpj1]

Continental Top Touring are out of production and probably getting hard to find.  Right?

The tire I was told was their replacement for the "Top Touring" wore out very prematurely. I think it was labeled "Security" and "Contact".   It was completely unsatisfactory IMO.

A recent search shows a "Continental Top Contact".  Does anyone know how it compares with the "Top Touring" and the "Contact" or with the Schwalbe "Marathon Plus" for that matter?

According to the listing the "Continental Top Contacts" are a lot lighter than the "Marathon Plus".  Does that equate to higher performance, but less puncture resistance?

[bogiesan]

Specialized Armadillo. I get 1500-2500 miles out of mine.
A tire alone cannot protect against puncture flats.

david boise ID

go, ristretto, FCP/AE
"Read the manual."

[staehpj1]

> Specialized Armadillo. I get 1500-2500 miles out
> of mine.

I consider that to be awfully low mileage for a touring tire.  Even the Kenda Eurotrek tires that came on our Windsor Touring bikes did better than that and I am under the imression that they are a cheap tire.

Four of the six tires finished the transamerica with 4244 miles on them.  One of the remaining ones was completely worn out, one might have had another thousand miles in it if you were willing to ride it until bald, and the other two actually still looked pretty good.

The wear was proportion with the load carried.

I am not particularly recommending the Eurotreks as they were somewhat puncture prone.

[litespeed]

"Continental Top Touring are out of production and probably getting hard to find.  Right?"

Izzat so? I'll have to check that out. I know my shop still has two in stock. If they no longer make them I'll scarf them up and keep them aside for future use. I've never used anything else.  

[staehpj1]

>> "Continental Top Touring are out of production and probably getting hard to find.  Right?"

> Izzat so? I'll have to check that out. I know my shop still has two in stock. If they no longer make them I'll scarf them up and keep them aside for future use. I've never used anything else.  

That is what I was told at a couple bike shops and on one of the online forums or another.  It probably is a good idea to scarf up some if you can still get them unless my info is incorrect (someone please chime in if it is).

[ptaylor]

"Specialized Armadillo. I get 1500-2500 miles out of mine.": Gimme a break David. Even Bontrager beats that!

BTW, the story I heard on Continental, is that they changed their tire to make it lighter, and in doing so, shot themselves in them foot.

Paul

[jimbeard]

Yes from everything i have read and searched on net.
Continental Top Touring are no longer produced .
Everyone seems to be using Schwalbe Marathon.

Jim
There was a discussion about
Schwalbe Marathon tires at
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com
recently although this site is down for a couple of days as of today 9-10-07

This message was edited by jimbeard on 9-10-07 @ 7:15 PM

[Peaks]

Part of the answer on how many miles you get out of a tire depends on how much load you are putting on the wheel.  I know that my front tires last a lot longer than my rear tires, especially if I'm using a trailer.

[bbaker]

Not everyone uses Schwalbe tires.  I've used Panaracer Pasela TG for the past 3 years and am very happy with them.  They wear well and I've had only one flat with them, which was caused by a split in a valve stem.

[biker_james]

Definitely not using Schwalbe's here. Since the Conti Top Touring are dissappearing, I have got some of their replacements-the Travel Contact. I have about 2000 km on one now, and it seems great so far.
I'm not switching to Schwalbes, because I spent the money on a set a few years ago, and the bike did not handle well with them-for whatever reason I don't know- so I gave them away.

[staehpj1]

> I have got some of their replacements-the Travel Contact. I have about 2000 km on one now, and it seems great so far.

I had some labeled Security and Contact on the sidewall.  Are yours labeled Travel and Contact?  The ones I had were described as Conti's replacement for the Top Touring by the dealer.

FWIW: I was unhappy with the ones I had.  They were not prone to flats, but didn't wear well and the rear was getting bald at about 1000 miles or a bit more.