Touring tires

[MKauffman]

I first did a cross country tour 4 years ago and love my Continental Tour Touring 2000 tires.  3100 miles later, they were pretty well worn.  I knew I wasn't touring again for a while, so I threw on some skinnies.  Now it looks like Im doing another pan American tour and need to find some new tires.  What does everyone prefer as a long distance, loaded touring tire?

[cyclesafe]

Marathon XR or if you can get them Marathon Supreme

http://schwalbetires.com/marathon_supreme_home

[MKauffman]

What about a spare tire?  Would you get another one of those with a kevlar bead or have a more inexpensive spare?

This message was edited by MKauffman on 2-26-07 @ 1:30 PM

[cyclesafe]

The new XR's and Supreme are foldable.  Why haul around a crummy spare tire?  Schwalbe estimates XR mileage to be 5000+ miles.

 http://schwalbetires.com/tech_info/tire_wear#mileage

[biker_james]

Just my experience, but my bike came with Conti Top Touring 2000's. They lasted great, but were hard to find. A bike shop convinced me to try the Schwalbe Marathons, as they were quite popular. I hated them- I put a few hundred km's on them and then gave them away. I really disliked the ride and handling with them, and while everyone says they'll never flat, in th3e short time I used them I had a flat on the rear. I gather they have discontinued the TT 2000, so when I'm unable to find replacements I'll switch to the new version (COntact? Travel Contact?)
I think that most quality tires are available in a folding version.

[cyclesafe]

Hi James,

Schwalbe, foolishly IMHO, has many technically unrelated Marathon models.  The "Marathon Plus" rides like a tank because it is extremely heavy and  the "Marathon" is only slightly better than a non-touring tire.  What we need for touring is either the "Marathon XR" or "Marathon Supreme".  Finally, road hazards are varied such that we shouldn't condemn (or endorse) the puncture resistance of a tire based on limited experience.  One can't maintain that another tire wouldn't have also gone flat under your conditions.

I've been 4000 miles on my XR's with one flat.  I will use these tires on a 2000 mile trip this spring and I am thinking of leaving my spare at home.  Humm...  Not!

BTW, I have two brand new 32mm Conti TT's that came with my bike which I would be happy to sell to you.  PM me!

This message was edited by cyclesafe on 2-28-07 @ 7:56 AM

[don quixote]

nashbar.com has Panaracer Pasela TG Road Tire on sale for 1/2 price.
700x35, folding bead, Kevlat belt-$12.45.
Harris Cyclery (Sheldon Brown) carries these, so they must be good. I am considering a set of Continental Top Contact for a long tour, but they are very pricy (59 on-line, 65 at LBS)

George
San Diego

[litespeed]

I use Continental Top Touring 2000 tires, size 37 x 700 with Mr. Tuffy tire liners. I have custom wheels - Rhynolite Sunrims with Ultegra hubs and 36 spokes - on my beloved Blue Ridge. My total load (Me, bike, everything on it) when touring is about 280 lbs.
I replace the tires every 2000 miles and rotate them at the halfway point - 1000 miles out. On my last tour I went 4700+ miles without a flat. This was unusual but I've had few flats over the years.
The secret to avoiding flats is simply to not let your tires get worn.
My local bicycle shop has no trouble getting these tires for me. They are delighted with my business as I have bought a lot of Conti Top Touring tires from them over the years. I wouldn't put anything else on my touring bike. "If it ain't broke don't fix it".

This message was edited by litespeed on 2-28-07 @ 4:26 PM

[MKauffman]

I had a set of Conti Top Tourings originally on my bike, and would love another pair but they discontinued them.  How are the Paselas?  Right now I'm leaning towards the Marathon Xr's, but if the Pasela's are nice, that would save me a hundred bucks...

[biker_james]

I never meant to imply that others tires wouldn't have gone flat where the Schwalbe did-just that they aren't invincible.
My wife and I run the same setup as litespeed 700/37 with Mr Tuffy's. When touring my bike/load and I come in pretty close to his 280 also-I weigh about 175-85, and the fully loaded bike (less water ) was 100 pounds. But I have to say that we get a lot more than 2000 miles out of them-more like 2 or 3 times as many miles. WE do rotate the fronts to the rear when the rear wears out. WE did this before our holiday this past fall, and they all look like new after nearly 2000 km. I did have a flat-the valve stem started leaking when we were about 10 km from our return home.
My wife had gone 6+ years without a flat before her first one last summer.

[litespeed]

6+ years without a flat. I am in awe. 6+ years without cutting a tire on a piece of glass, picking up a piece of wire, catching a spiky little burr out west, getting a pinch flat hitting a RR rail, picking up a Florida sand spur, etc. Amazing.

[biker_james]

Yeah, I wish my record was as good-I average about 1 a year overall. She's pretty good at avoiding road debris. Although, I must say that the flats I get are almost all from small pieces of stell wire out of shredded truck tires.

[miles2go]

Panaracer Pasela:  Everyone I personally know that's had them (3 people), had a sidewall blow out early in the tire's life. Three years ago I got to witness this when the front Pasela TourGuard blew on a friend's new *unloaded* Surly LHT. The tire had less than 100 miles on it and was properly inflated.

A couple of months ago I wasn't shocked to see something similar at the beginning of the tour for these two: "Only 30kms into the trip and Sarahs tire was already trashed!"  http://blog.erck.org/?p=103#comments   The failed tire in the photo looks exactly like the failure I saw first hand.

Personally, I wouldn't use them if they were free.

We tour 30 days a year each summer and never had issues with either Continental or Schwalbe touring tires.  Not one flat on tour thus far.  This includes extensive touring in Utah, Colorado, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Switzerland with heavy loads.  That said, I always expect having a flat and I won't be surprised if our 30 days in Alaska this year ends the no-flat streak.  

Cheers,

Ron
www.fullyloadedtouring.com

[Quahog03]

I just replaced a Conti TT tire with a Michelin Dynamic 700X32C. Any
thoughts on this Michelin tire ? Also I'm looking to bring a spare with me
on a trip I'm starting from St. Francisville La. to Fl. sarting on 3/15/07.
Any thoughts on Avocet Kevlar bead tire for my spare?
Thanks Ed

[cara2u]

I have tried the helmet, sunglass, & bar end mirrors. Never had much luck
keeping them from moving all over or completely falling off. Out of
desperation I tried a simple 3 1/2 inch motorcycle mirror from
J.C.Whitney with good quality glass. Problem solved, doesn't vibrate all
over and I have a very clear view.
   With a clear distant enough of a view you can see 18 wheelers coming
and take evasive action if necessary, but when it comes time to change
lanes etc. I always turn my head to view behind, just in case.
James2u