Schwalbe Marathon Plus 700c

I've been using this tire on my fixed gear rain bike for the last 4 years. I'm on my second set and have had one flat. Yeah the tire is heavy and hard to mount the first time but the puncture resistance and traction is worth it. I even put a set on my cargo bike because I definitively don't want a flat while carrying a load. Do yourself a favor and get a set of these tires if you ride where road debris is killing your current tires.

I am using these on my 6-mile commute to work, which involves crossing through a dark railroad underpass, which is frequently littered with broken glass. It's so dark in there that it is very hard to avoid the glass. With my previous tires I was having about 1 flat a week and sometimes more. I switched to these about a month ago, and not one flat so far! Very happy.

BTD shipped the tires promptly, good service.

I really love this tire, I have had them for several months now and so far they fit the bill for what I was looking for.

Pros: puncture resistant; great tread - very grippy; handles well; side wall reflector stripe

Cons: One of the toughest tires to mount, be prepared for a serious wrestling match!; Little heavier than most tires; Little noisy on smooth roads not sure if this one really matters

One note worth mentioning - I must of gotten some of the tube pinched between the tire bead and rim, it basically shredded my tube - double check after mounting, mounting this tire really demands patience and tire-mounting know how.

Burned through a set in about 3500 miles of year round riding. I like the versatility of the tire and road mainly on pavement with occasional side trips onto the gravel. Provided a decent amount of traction although I don't know if it was worth the sacrifice in rolling resistance. They were also a fair amount heavier than the Hardcase tires they replaced.

I did get a large number of flats, although probably less than other tires. Seemed like, once I got a small hole in the tire, small pieces of grit would work their way into the same small hole. They seemed kind of expensive for such a heavy tire.

In conclusion, I'll probably try a different tire for the next time. Maybe Specialized Armadillo.

I heard lots of good things about this tire, so bought a set a few years ago. The initial cost is higher, but the savings in tubes andor time repairing flats is well worth it. Have had one flat in 30,000 km of commuting... and that was when the tire was close to needing replacement.

Initially I was skeptical of the reviews, can any tire be that good? Then, after a flat in the rain on a busy road at dusk, I told myself "I am not doing this again". So I ordered the Marathon Plus, it is easier to mount with a spring clamp to hold tire in rim, but not that bad for what you gain. Now after an accumulation of 6000 miles on three different bikes with them on I have had no flats. I love the confidence of riding on rough roads with blackberrys or star thistle thorns around and not worrying about a puncture. I put them on our tandem trike and we ride a gravel road surrounded by berry bushes with no flats. They roll well, have good traction, I am very pleased with these tires.

These tires are absolutely puncture resistant. I have ridden them for six months 50 miles per week with no flats. Virtually bombproof. That's the good news.

The bad news is that to me, they feel VERY slow. When I first put them on my bike I felt like I was pushing through molasses. I've gotten used to them, and as a NW commuter I will take the sluggishness due to the great durability of these tires. For a basic commuter tire they seem a little pricey, but time is money, so not having to change flats is worth something.

These are great tires and very durable. I ride about 5k mikes per year, with a pretty heavy commuter load, and the marathon plus last about 6 months on the rear wheel. I have not had a single flat with this tire event though I ride in pretty gritty conditions ... in rain, after snow melt. Tires are sturdy and grip the road well.

The first time putting them on, the tires are stiff because the rubber is so heavy. I use 700x25s, which actually size out closer to a normal 700 x 28. I use a pair of heavy spring clamps to squeeze the tire down as I work it onto the rim.

I would not ride anything else ... you won't either once you have tried them.

I have a set of these tires on my commuting bike, my touring bike, my dad's hybrid, and even a set of the narrow 25s on my road bike. I went cross-country on a set of these and still use that set on my commuter bike for at least 8,000 miles of flat free bliss. I talked 6 of my friends into buying these for their commuter bikes and we've had ZERO flats out of thousands and thousands of miles. One of my friends was in the Netherlands this past summer and saw a guy get a flat with some other tire. Some Dutch guy went up to fellow with a flat and told him he needed to buy some Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires-- the exact tires I had convinced my friend to buy over here.

I slapped the 25s on my road bike and put up a great time in a triathlon last summer-- yeah, they weigh a little bit but I don't care that much about a few grams. I haven't brought a tube or pump on a road ride in months-- that should make up for the few grams in extra tire weight.

They are definitely hard to get on the rim the first time, but in my experience that is the last time you need to put them on.

Great traction, great safety with the reflective sidewalls, the absolute best flat protection, and outstanding durability this tire is the best tire made. Buy 6, get the quantity discount, and put them on all your bikes. BikeTiresDirect has the best prices around.

I purchased these for my Trek 04 2300 road bike specifically for the winter season. Yeah they added weight compared to slicks but the traction was fantastic in heavy or even light snow. Ice conditions not so much but what do you expect? It's ICE. Anyway commuted five days a week 3miles to and 3miles back from work. The ride back was at night 7pm so visibility was limited but I just hauled ass right through the stuff. Sometimes 3-4 inches of snow. white knuckle sometimes but that's the fun of it. Only crashed 2times this year all on sheets of ice that froze as the temp dropped at night. Otherwise NO flats. No issues installing. Tight yes, but no need to bitch and moan about it.

I've had three punctures in 4000 miles riding around Los Angeles on these Schwalbes. The first flat shouldn't even count - it was a snakebite puncture of the rear tire when the wheel sank into a sewer grate at 10mph. The next was a tack that got through the sidewall of the front tire. The third happened last week. My rear tire was old, bald and nearing replacement (kinda like what my wife might say about me) when I ran over a 3 nail that penetrated the bottom and side of the Schwalbe. So it took 4000 miles for anything to get through that blue protective layer inside the tire. Amazing. I have spent so little time fixing flats over the past year that I almost forgot how miserable it used to be.

My secret to mounting the Marathon is hold the wheel horizontally, the far side against a workbench or wall and the near side up against the fronts of my thighs. I then get both beads inserted in a 6 length (lots of squeezing with the fingers) on the opposite edge and use my legs to keep the beads seated by pressing the wheel against the wallbench with my legs. Once you get a small area seated, it's fairly easy to chase the insertion around the rest of the wheel toward you. The thing you really have to be extra careful about is making sure the tube isn't caught between the tire and rim before inflation.

bought these for my Trek 2300 road bike great for winter riding. No problem with clearence. Dificulty getting on the first time but just takes technique and practice.

I found these tires by luck and there great. Only problem is that I don't know what size tube fits in a 700c x 28 tire. Cant someone help me with this?

It just doesnt get any better. The tires puncture resistance, and tread inspire riding confidence in all road conditions for thousands of miles. Not a single flat from Mexico to Peru... does it get any better? Look no further, this tire will go the distance touring, commuting, or just trying your best to ride hard on gravel or pavement. Im a believer.

After three hundred miles of riding since I last wrote, I have found these tires to be of excellent quality and durability. I have had no problems with these tires and they roll very well. They are slightly heavier and start a little slower but, these tires instill confidence on the road through their handling, grip, and load capacity. I ride a lot, with a heavy load most of the time, and these tires absorb the bumps well and I have had no pinch flats. The stiff rubber compound was noticeable when installing and I think this is what has contributed to the confidence in the tire under load. I travel at an average of 20mph and the handling at these speeds is quite good and cornering at these speeds is effortless. One note worth mentioning is that in loose gravel handling gets a bit precarious with a wider tire (700x32), but I think you would have this with any tire. This is an excellent tire at any price.

I commute 13 miles each day to work. These tires pretty much eliminated my worry about flats. I have had them for about 2 months and put on about 1250 miles during that time with no flats and no more worries about flats. With my previous tires I was averaging a flat a day on this route.

As for fitting the tires, watch the How to fit a Marathon Plus tyre on youtube. After you see the video, you discover that installing the Marathon Plus tire really isn't a difficult. I installed my tires without using any tools.

I bought a set of these last May for my daily 30 mile round-trip commute to work. I read a review that mentioned the difficulty of mounting, presumably because of the wire bead, but I actually found them easier to mount than the folding bead tires I originally had on my bike. Plus, I had Mr. Tuffy liners in my original tires and still got multiple flats. I haven't had a flat yet with the Marathon Plus tires and that's without the Mr. Tuffy liners. I would highly recommend these. Maybe you lose some speed but I'm not racing to work and the reliability of the tire is worth the tradeoff.

If you don't like flats this is the tire. I put a pair on my Specialized Tricross Sport that I use for long distance rides. After multiple flats on the 32 x 700c OEM tires that came with the bike the Marathon Plus has been a joy. Holds the road well in the wet and dry, as well as gravel paths in all sorts of weather. Completed a Granfondo a couple of weeks ago in mixed weather didn't have to worry about wet pavement. I paired a 28 x 700c with the Continental Tour 700 tube. This was a bit of a chore as there is not much tire to stuff a tube that is rated up to a 43 x 700, but by using a velcro strap as a 3rd hand, and applying some soap around the valve for lubrication I managed to fit the tube in the tire and the tire to the rim. Another hint - inflate the tube and let out the air, the residual will be just enough to fit the tube without pinching it between the tire bead and the rim.

I put the 700x35 tires on a single speed cycle cross bike it is a flat proff reliable monster.

I now have them on my Rivendell Redwood road bike, My Giant Cypress Deluxe Hybrid Bicycle, & my Cannondale 27 inch touring bicycle. On the 23 inch Cypress Deluxe bike, I use the Schwalbe schraeder nickel plated stem. Bullet proof.

On my road bike the largest tire I can use is the 7,00-25 to clear my brakes when removing the rim & tire. I put the 7.00-28's on my Cannondale and and the Rivendell Atlantis & Giant, I put on the 7.00-40 tires. They are a bit heaver than Conti's but I never have any flats. I think the sidewalls are also heaver. Pump up your tires and check them once a month as they

say. I like the reflective stripe on the tires. I think all the tires should have them.

We have hills here and the coast line for scenery

Bought 1 last year for my recumbent, 5000kms later and no flats. Bought 4 more, just last month for our regular touring bikes, not too hard to put on, but try to avoid installation in cold weather. Price was awesome, on the 4 with a discount, I saved about $100.That included shipping to Canada.

PROS Like a tank. Strong, durable, the answer to frequent flats from road debris. They'll last until cockroaches take over the earth.

CONS Heavy, hard to mount on some wheels (e.g. Bontrager Race Lite), a little stiff. Probably not worth it if you aren't having problems with frequent flats on your current tires.

REVIEW My 25-mile commute takes me on a road that has a lot of construction trucks, which means nails and junk litters the lane. After getting fortnightly flats on other tires rated as highly durable (Continental Gatorskin), Schwalbe Marathon Plus is like manna from the gods. Granted, you'll wrestle half an hour trying to put them on, but the glorious thing is that you rarely need to take them on & off.

They are markedly stiff, so you don't have as much swerving play, and you need to pay a little more attention to grooves in the road. Oh, and they're of course heavier and wider than most road tires out there (their 25c is, uh, unlike any other 25c I've seen).

Totally worth it, in my opinion. Over 2 years (75 milesweek), I've had one flat, which happened from an embedded sheet metal screw. I think the tires' stiffness works in their favor in generally deflecting pointy objects otherwise. Love these puppies.

With all the sorts of weather we get here, reliable tires have to be the single most crucial piece of kit. I have had a Marathon Plus as my front tire over the past winter and can fully attest that they are unbeatable for 25mm clinchers when it comes to to wet weather riding. Ice, snow, downpours, slick roads, flooded streets this tire has been unflappable. I cannot say for certain, but, the tread pattern does seem to hold the road really well in adverse conditions this was something I was concerned about when comparing with the smoother tread on Specialized Armadilos. I use the bike for my daily commute the extra weight, higher rolling resistance and lower comfort have not been an issue. I did feel the extra drag initially when I swapped out summer racing tires but the improved conditioning from using this tire has been well worth it. I have had the Panaracer T-serv on my rear wheel for a year longer, that's still going strong but is not in the same class as Marathon plus for wet weather grip. An all around performer and a well-made product.

I have used Continental Gatorskins and Armadillos in the past. They did provide some puncture protection but I still would have a flat every month or so on my commute to work. So far so good on 400km. The tires were not to difficult to put on the bike and the level of puncture protection built in the tire is quite noticeable upon inspection.

I almost didn't buy these tires because of the repeated comments on how hard they are to mount. This was not the case, they actually mounted easier than my Kenda's.

I think that mounting a tire has a science involved that we don't take into concederation when mounting. Each tire is designed to fit a particular rim - likely a mold designed for that rim - with tolerances that accomidate mounting. However, when we go to mount the tire we get anxious to get back in the saddle and forget the basics. When mounting the tire the process should be get one bead started around the rim, then the tube should be lightly inflated - only enough for it to hold its shape - and insert the valve in the rim perpendicular to the rim, carefully insert the tube into the tire cavity, then starting on the valve side, work the tire's second bead over the rim until you get to the other side. What I think happens is, many forget to work the tire beads into the inner groove of the rim as you go around, which gives you more room at the other end - where it gets tight. This is likely the cause of the problems mentioned above -- failing to work the tire beads deep into the rim as you go around -- I've done it too in my excitement to get rolling.

Verdict still out on the tire's performance - more to follow.

I purchased two new Schwalbe Marathon plus 700c X 35 for my Trek 7700 running mach 1 240 rims. The only complaint I had and it was a big one was how difficult it was to mount these tires. I've had two other sets of tires on the same rims I have and none were as difficult to mount as these. Very tight fit. My rear tire blew out the side-wall as a result of damage during mounting within 3 miles. Bike tires direct customer service took it back without question and sent me a knew one very fast. I apparently didn't damage this one during installation and it didn't exhibit any side wall bulges prior to me replacing them. The front tire did also eventually develop a sidewall bulge that would have eventually blown had I not removed them both and went to some Michelin Pilot sports front and rear. They mounted easily and I've had no issues with the Michelins.

Quality tire,reasonably priced.great feel on and off the bike.The added reflective band on the tires has made me that much more visible at night.You can't put a price on safety.I have ridden in the rain,snow and patchy spots of black ice,These tires are the best that I've owned yet.I would recommend them to anyone that lives in the northeast or that plans on putting in a lot of miles.Awesome tire!!

This tire is rolling smoother that the factory tires that came on my REI Safari. No more punctures either! Installation was easy, there is a u tube video showing how to do it without levers! Again well worth the money. The tire does have a directional arrow for mounting so pay attention to that. They ride great in the gravel roads we have up here and also on top of all that traction gravel leftover from this winter that's accumulating on the sides of the road. Just as steady as my 29er on top of the loose stuff.

I will certainly buy these again. I added the slime tubes and they have really good review's. My goal is no flats on my commute! lol

I installed this tire on my 29er. 700x38. I had no problems mounting them by hand. I use the bike to ride around the chicagoland area. These tires take alot of punishment. They feel smoother but just as quick as the Schwalbe Kojaks they replaced.

I just finished a 1,100 mile tour, and had no flats. Which is absolutely amazing. I personally will always use these tires, because a flat in any situation is always a bummer.

I purchased two of these early last year preparing for a Northern New Mexico tour. We rode 350 miles with about 25K feet of climbing. I also commute to work about 4 days a week 60 miles round trip. Because of the excellent puncture resistance of these tires, I can ride to the far right of the bike lane where the gravel and sometimes glass lies. These tires not only are a fantastic tire, but a great deal at BTD especially on sale. I bought an extra tire for the rear, but I should get about 3,000-3,500 miles before I change it. I can see the front going 5,000 miles plus. I highly recommend these tires. They save you a lot of money on tubes, too! I have had one rear flat. It must have been a nail of some sort. I guess one flat in 2,500 miles isn't bad. Buy them!

I literally rode the tread off of a set of Armadillos - the tread separated from the body of the tire. I've got THOUSANDS of flat-free miles on my Marathons. If you're not a weight weinie get 'em!

I commute to work 12km each way 8 months of the year.

I have tried Gatorskins and Armadillo tires on the commute. However I still had a flat tire a month. I switched to the Marathon plus for the rear tire last year in April 2010. I had one flat in the 1st month from a roofing nail. Not one flat since! I highly recommend these tires if you worry about flats.

I KNEW something was wrong when I ordered the tire according to the specs on my existing tire with a great price and quick shipping. When I finally got around to mounting, I called my local mobile bike shop to do so because ALL the reviews talk about how difficult it was. My FIRST set was simply too big and rubbed the frame even though the specs were correct. BTD was very good about taking them back for 25s instead of 28s, but of course time was lost and the shipping offset my savings. So again, I had them mounted. Clearance was fine, but within ONE mile they blew off one of my rims, so with no choice, I had to re-mount them on the road. Difficult? Absolutely, but since that time, I have come to really respect them for my daily commute, as I live in glasstown. So, a bit heavy, but as they say, bulletproof.

I have owned three sets on three bikes. The touring set went over 3000 miles fully loaded with solo self-contained camping tour. I swapped front for back a little over half way. Can't beat that.

2nd set was for a carbon fiber bike with dura ace components. I used the 25's. They just barely fit in the frame and rubed a little on the first 150 miles or so. Now they clear just fine. Some will want to scold me for putting on a heavy and slower tire but I much prefer going to changing tires. I weigh 200 lbs. So who cares if I put another one in the tires? No flats.

3rd set was another carbon fiber bike with ultegra components and a slightly less aggressive stance. These 25's fit great and roll great. This bike is used in the streets of Phoenix and to go up South Mountain on my fitness rides. Lots of Glass and stickers. I did have one problem with a rear tire when I hit curb while riding pretty aggressively. I thought I broke a rim but I didn't. The tire tore at the metal bead. I didn't get a flat though. Rode home and replaced the tire.

These are not tires to go 50 miles an hour down hill. But 30-40 will be ok. They are designed to be tough and last. They wear for thousands of miles with no flats. If you get them on sale they are a steal. If you get them on sale use the savings to put in good tubes and have the bike shop install them. Then go do thousands of miles. I am loving bike tires direct these days. Great pricing and customer service. May you find peace on the road.

I get about 4000 miles on the rear tire before I need to change it. The roads are coarse and hot here in south Florida promoting excessive tire wear. You could use cheaper tires but you'd be changing tires two or three times and still not achieve the mileage these Marathons will give you. The puncture protection is also excellent.

If you're doing your homework and reading all the reviews, try a pair. I do about six hundred miles a month and I wouldn't mount any other tire on my rims. I hate doing tire changes.

I bike commute 100 miles a week 12 months a year in Maine. This is probably the best tire ever for my 4000 miles of snow free summer commuting. They have a slightly higher rolling resistance than a true road tire, but the toughness and flat free worry free ride is worth it. My only caution is that they are VERY difficult to mount. Someone posted a great mounting tutorial....read it and use the wall over your bench in front of you as they suggest. I no longer worry about flats and enjoy the ride!

I just finished a 600 mile bicycle tour across the state of Washington and did not experience a single tire puncture. The ride was challenge enough withiout having to worry about my tires. The Schwalbe tires performed beyond expectations on a variety of surfaces. Although a bit on the expensive side, they were worth every cent.

I have been using Gatorskins for years. They are fast and light. In Brooklyn, they seems to hold up for about a year of commuting. But at the end of 2011 my office moved, and I started biking through the industrial section of Brooklyn. After 6 months of dodging inordinate amounts of broken glass and all sorts of little spikey metal thingys, and 3 flats in 5 weeks, I decided I needed extra protection.

So I switched to the Marathon Plus. At first, I was unhappy with the increase in tire weight. I have a light steel frame bike. And I really enjoy the light ride. I've owned the bike for almost 10 years and have avoided putting anything on the bike to add weight.

But soon enough the Marathons proved themselves. One morning about 12 way through my ride to work, I heard a sudden ching-ching-ching. I stopped my bike to investigate and found a flat head screw sticking out of the tire. I quickly yanked out the little bastard. And a quick ffffffffssst followed. And then I was very suprised to find that my tire wasn't flat. It had only lost a little bit of pressure. So I got back on the bike and rode the remaining 4 miles to work(!). By noon the tube was flat. But being able to make it to work without having to stop was a livesaver that day. Really. If I was late that day, it would have changed the course of my life because of office politics.....But that's another story.

I tour on paved roads almost exclusively this summer I will ride the Erie Canal and the C&O Canal and will use the 700X35.

I began using Schwalbe Marathon's (700X32) last year after wearing out another name brand of touring tires in under 500 miles. I also had five or six flats with the other set of tires in that 500 miles. I'm not your typical rider, I weigh in at 225 pounds. Add a touring bike 30 pounds, another 30-40 pounds of gear, food and water and I'm pushing 300 pounds.

I have approximately 1500 miles on my current set of Schwalbes. The rear tire is showing some wear, but I'm comfortable with getting another 500-1000 miles out of it. The true bonus is not having had another flat (knock on wood). This years journey will cover 5000 miles and I know of all the things that can and will go wrong, you can not go wrong in Schwalbe Tires.

I mounted these to my Surley LHT in 700X35. I used them exclusively on that bike for the entire time I owned it. Most importantly, I put 1,000 miles of loaded touring on the bike and had zero flats. Between my weight and the weight of the bikebags, the tires were supporting close to 300 lbs. Not once did I have an issue. I mounted them without tire levers. If you have issues, look on youtube and watch a video on mounting these tires. If you are considering a touring tire, you are probably more concerned with durability and resistance to flatting more so than weight and rolling resistance. When pushing 300 lbs of gear and body, the weight and rolling resistance of my tires is the least of my concerns.

These tires are amazing I have a 20mile round trip commute through a pothole,glass and debris ridden city and was getting a average of 1 or 2 flats a week, and it was seriously killing my drive to even ride my bike.

with these tires ZERO flats since I installed them, yes they are heavy but that is something I care little about since I get ZERO flat, I pretty much ride over anything and can even hop curbs without worrying about flats.

These tire work great for touring. Good resistance to flats. The 700x35 work good on gravel roads.

I ride roughly 10 miles to work and 10 miles home from work each day. Since I have been using the Marathon Plus tires I have put on about 8000 miles on my first pair with no flats. The reflective sidewall is extremely visible at night. I really love these tires.

The one negative of the tires is installation. Because the sidewall is so strong its tough to just use a force fit. But there is a video on you tube that pretty much explains the trick for installing the marathon plus tires.

As for Bike Tires Direct, the customer service was excellent. They correctly fulfilled the order and it was delivered on the day they said it would arrive. About the only thing I would change about Bike Tires direct is that I would like them to expand their inventory and start selling the Schawlbe Frank Fat tires for another bike I own.

Purchased a set for my commuter in October of 2008. Had my first flat today 12111 as the tire died of natural causes. my commute distance x average amount of days worked a year pencils out to a little over 15,000 miles on these tires through all sorts of conditions and road hazzards. First tire I've ever worn through to the threads! About to purchase 2 more!

I use this too commute to work as the streets are full of glass and other debris.

I love the fact that my flats went down about 90% over any other tire

the cons are the tires are heavy, occasionally they will develop a bubble and if they are not pumped up fully they feel like you are riding in sand

I have allways had good sevice out of these tires.

I commute 26 miles per day. I have had four flats due to punctures with this tire since I installed them last October. Most have been nail punctures in the center area and one has been a small glass shard. All flats have been in the rear. How many flats would I have had with standard tires? Who knows. I'd say they are better than the standard tire but not the ultimate solution to flats.

Goat head stickers are a serious issue where i live, even if you stay in paved paths. I tried gatorskins first, had multiple flats on both tires. Total waste of money for me. The marathons are noticeably heavier and more difficult to mount, although i was able to put them on with regular tire levers. It's been a month now, no flats. I ride every day through stickers, glass.. there's no avoiding it. Today i picked about 10 of those stickers out if these tires. The rubber does not let them through. I don't even carry emergency flat stuff with me anymore. Great grip in wet conditions. I highly recommend, these tires are awesome!

I love this tire. I commute about 30 miles round trip to work on a regular basis. This tire has significantly reduced the number of flats I have had. The biggest cause of flats here in NM are these sun-hardened goat heads. I have tired slime, tire liners, and thick tubes but these tires are by far the best. They still are susceptible to side wall tears but they are more of the exception than the rule. Also, they last a very long time. I think I have put 2000 miles on my 1st tire and even though it is worn it is still serviceable.

I use Schwalbe tires for my touring bicycle and generally get over 10,000 miles before replacement. I use the Marathon plus because it's almost bullet proof and flats are almost eliminated. This tire works well with touring bikes but is much too heavy for racing enthusiasts.

The marathon plus is my choice for touring. I have used the tire on four trans continental rides, the longest from Anchorage,Alaska to Naples, Florida with one flat. In that case a piece of metal flashing bristling with nails jammed between the rear fender and tire driving a nail into the sidewall. That would have stopped a truck tire so you have 8000 miles without one conventional flat. On average I anticipate one flat in a 4000 mile loaded trip, two at the outside, down from four with conti contacts or gatorskins. Initial mounting of the wire bead model is very difficult but once seated for a time they change out like any other tire. I rotate once in a trip and finish with plenty of tread left even after the 6000 mile trip just completed.(2 flats)- Bad luck with nails through hurricane debris along the gulf coast.

I use these tires (700c x 28)on my 80's vintage, steel-frame Miyata. They are very heavy, which drastically increases rolling resistance. However, for me, I am a C rider (Clydesdale 215) leading a weekly D group so I still get a good workout.

It was very hard to get the tires on the rims but the you-tube video was helpful. It's a good thing these tires don't flat as I would hate to have to re-install them on the road. I bring two toe straps on rides just in case (See you-tube video).

I especially like not having to hold my breath during those inevitable times when I have to drive over to the right where all the broken glass usually collects. With these Marathon Pluses, I don't even have to give it a second thought. As well, I can traverse the worst dirt roads I come across without fear.

Handling is superb with excellent grip. I've ridden them on muddy dirt roads as well as dry pavement. Even pump all the way up, they yield a firm yet supple ride.

Another big plus is the reflective strip on the sidewalls. It is very effective and can be seen from any angle, not just from the side. I complement this with some added reflective tape on the rims (placed between 7 consecutive spokes), a reflective crossing guard vest, reflective tape on the back of my helmet and back of my shoes. For actual lighting, I use two blinkies on the back (one on steady mode and the other on blink) and a small front light. I ride a lot by myself at night and find the motorists are more respectful when I am lit up.

Above all, even though I can't go very fast due to their heavy mass, I fear nothing while riding with them and that, alone, allows me to qualify myself as a Bad Ass.

The Schwalbe Marathon 700c has little rolling resistance, handles well at high speeds down steep curving grades, and it's puncture resistance is second to none. I'll never use another tire on my Trek 520. Having these tires on my bike is sheer heaven...no more flats and that's a wonderful thing!

I have bought the Marathon plus tires for about 3 years now...and they are the only tire i ever use, because of their flat protection ,,, I would rather be riding then fixing flats,,, they are a little heavy but are a very good solid tire,,,I'm Happy...

I commute daily to work in all weather, about 30 miles roundtrip. I also do loaded touring. For a long time I have been reluctant to try these tires because of the horror stories I have heard about difficulty in mounting them. I finally broke down and gave them a try and have been extremely satisfied. They were rather stiff when I first mounted them, but so are all tires. I used fingers on the first one, finishing the last four inches with levers. The second one I mounted using fingers only (the secret is to go very slowly and not force it). I have Velocity Dyad rims (another reviewer also uses these rims and experienced no difficulty mounting them). I have ridden 4,900 plus miles without a single flat. Not much tread wear. Looks like I will get another 2,000 miles or better on them. Another common criticism is weight. They are somewhat heavier than comparable size road tires, but when doing loaded touring or commuting in the dark in bad weather, weight becomes insignificant to me. After a day of riding I no longer noticed it. On the other hand, I seem to gather more speed on descents. I am very satisfied with these tires, and will replace them with the same when the time comes.

I recently purchased these Marathon Plus tires in 700x28. Installation went smooth following the steps in the YouTube video. These tires replaced my Michelin Pro 2's (700x25), which I am saving for the spring group rides.

My first impression after taking the Marathon Plus's out on the first ride. Much slower than the Michelins. No surprise here. There is no way more than a 2 lb. jump in rotational weight isn't gonna slow you down big time. It started to rain and the tires had plenty of reassuring grip. Moving onto dirt from tarmac, the treads offered plenty of grip on muddy dirt road going uphill. Wouldn't even have tried this on the Michelins.

On the road, the Marathon Plus is stiff, yet supple. I didn't detect any sqirming. I had the rear pumped up to its max of 100 lbs. and the front at 80 lbs. I weigh 215 lbs. Going downhill in the cold rain (fingers numb), I detected no slipping under cornering or braking.

Day turned to night for the return leg. One nice surprise was that I got more respect from autos, which I attribute to the reflective sidewalls. They can actually be seen from behind, not just from the side. I also use two blinkies, one blinking, one steady, and a small front light.

I gave these tires a high rating because they are everything I want in a winter non studded tire. The beauty of their heaviness, is that I can get the same workout going slower, which means I'm not gonna freeze from wind. Knowing I am not going to have to change a flat in the cold is comforting. Of course, I have an extra tube and a pump, just in case. In fact, I am stowing two extra toe straps (see You tube video). The reflective stripes on the side is a beautiful thing.

I also have a set of Schwalbe Marathon Winter Studded tires on my other bike, which I take if it is gonna be below freezing on my ride. Just one patch of ice could cause a broken hip at my age and I'm not taking any chances. The Winter studded tires ad another rotational lb. to the bike over the Marathon Plus's. Since it is even colder when I use the studded tires, the added weight forces me to ride even slower for the same workout. I like riding slow in the cold to avoid wind chill.

I have been riding hybrids now for 10 years and schwalbe marathon plus tires are the without a doubt the best tires available. They are so well made and their roundness is amazing. The 35c to the 38c are just perfectly smooth and low friction. I will never own anything but a Schwalbe marathon tire

This is the best flat resistant tire on the market. When it's foggy, raining, or freezing outside, I have confidence that I won't get a flat on my 40 mile round-trip commute. I've also done two tours with significant weight with these tires on my touring bike. These are the best!

Great touring tire (35). I got over 6,000 miles on my rear tire that I replaced. Even works well on gravel.

I've been thru Armadillos, Continentals, and none of them can hold up to the durability and secure tracking that I feel with this tire. It's a little heavy, but hey why did I buy this tire.....no punctures, no delay trying to get to work, and I get a little better workout.

Even though these tires are a little heavy...I would Rather keep riding instead of fixing Flats... I Love these tires...been riding with nothing else for a couple of years and am extremely happy with them..

I put a set of the 25's on my bike for winter commuting, which in California means rainy season. My commute includes a gravel stretch that eats up expensive race tires. These tires can deal with. They also give me the peace of mind I seek when riding home on a cold dark night, knowing I'm not going to have repair a flat with numb fingers.

The only drawback is that they certainly are heavy. You'll really feel the extra rotational weight when going uphill. What doesn't kill you though, makes you stronger.

I've never had the mounting issues that some have had, but not all rims are created equal. I've found Mavic rims are by far the easiest to mount tires on.

I own a 29er mountain bike, but use it to commute. I have put around 1,000 miles on a pair of these tires and they still look new. Best of all no flats.

We have goat heads (puncture vine) in Albuquerque and it's not unusual to see a half dozen people doing repairs on a 25 mile scrape. I had over 8000 miles on my front tire and had worn out 3 on the rear. For those 16000 tire miles, I had about 4 flats...all due to the goat heads. With no tire protection one would be lucky to get 10 miles esp. at this time of year. Great tire to be sure.

Just completed a 350 mile ride through the Alps. 100 miles was with a heavily loaded Americano solo. The rest was with a group of 8 German riders, all using Schwalbe tires. A LOT of riding was on Schotterstrassen or rough gravel roads. No one had a flat. These tires are truly bulletproof. A bit heavy and a bit slow, but the puncture resistance alone makes these tires a first choice

I travel long distences from my vechical on the Rails To Trails network so its importantn that I have a tire that I can trust not to puncher.

Excellent wearing, flatproof tire. I use it on both my city bike and on my touring bike along with slime tubes. In three years I've only had one flat. Living in California's northern central valley where goats heads are a dime a dozen, they are priceless .

Several years ago I used the 26x1.75 size on a Fuji mountain bike set up for daily street use for over two years without even one puncture. Lately I've been using the 700x38 on a Motobecane flat-bar road bike for the same type of daily use for over two years now, again, without even one puncture. Prior to finding these Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires, I suffered anywhere from a puncture a month to one every hour (as many as 8 in a day). Don't tell me about tire liners, tire sealants, Kevlar belts - 35 years of experience tells me they don't reliably prevent punctures (heavy-duty tubes work, but the jackhammer ride will make you want to take the bus instead). Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires are totally effective, even against glass-covered streets and goatheads (thorns) so large they look like nuclear mutations (sharp as daggars, too), in addition to still providing a lively, comfortable ride. I'm not seeing a downside here!

I just finished a self supported tour from San Diego California to Saint Augestine Florida (3100 miles). I rotated my tires at the half way point. I experienced only two flats during the entire trip, but was rolling over glass and thorns the whole time (not on purpose).

I would recommend these tires to anybody who is looking to make problems with flats dissapear. I was delighted by the way the 35mm tires felt while riding. This is my third cross country tour. These tires are a game changer!

Put these on our tandem bike in preparation for a multi-state tour. Had read largely positive reviews for these tires and wanted something durable for primarily paved roads and possible some crushed limestone trail riding. A number of reviewers has indicated significant difficulty mounting the tires which concerned me. Evidently this must be dependant upon the wheels you are usings as the tires went on very easily (without tire levers) for me. They are thicker rubber than many tires and therefore a little stiffer to work with but this did not cause me any problems. The size does seem to run a bit larger than some other tires so you may want to drop back a size. I had to tweak my fenders to get them to fit. I put on 700 x 35C and noticed they seem as bigbulky as the Continental Contact 700 x 38C's that I have on my single bike. Have only ridden them a couple of hundred miles at this point but they ride well and you really feel the confidence with them to not need to dodge every little bit of debree on the road. They do absorb much more road vibration and bumps well, especially if you don't run them quite at max pressure. I would say the bike feels a tad more sluggish versus the Gatorskin 700 x 28C's that I had been running but that would be expected. If I was not going to tour and was just ridding in club rides etc. where top speed was the goal I would probably swap back to the Gatorskins. Overall I am quite satisfied with the tires and just judging from the construction they seem as though they will hold up well. So a thumbs up from this reviewer! By the way, the tires were on sale and an excellent deal when I bought them, so do compare prices. Have bought tires through Tires Direct a couple of times and have had an excellent experience.

I run these tires on a twenty mile-a-day commute in Juneau, Alaska (when I'm not running my Nokian studs) and I love them. I've tried other flat-resistant tires (I'm looking at you Continental!) and they always let me down. Not the Marathon Plus. Sometimes I feel like I could ride a should full of glass the whole way home and not get a nick. I have a set of these in 700x32 for my cyclocross bike (what I ride most) and 26x2 for my mountain bike. After hundreds (really, thousands) of miles I've never had a flat on either. Some comments talk about trouble mounting these - take your time! Once you get the tube in, move around the tire pushing the bead into the rim as you air it up. If you just keep an eye on it as you pump it will seat fine. Ride!!!

Put a new set of 700x32s on in Maryland and rode them 4200 miles to Oregon with one flat. The one flat was an industrial staple that would have taken out any tire made. Yes, they are a pain to put on, but once they're on, no worries. They work very well on dirt, as the C&O Canal and the Katy Trail were part of the route.

I replaced one tire of another brand with a Schwalbe and liked it so much that I bought a second. When inflated to 90 psi the ride is fast, smooth, quiet and secure. I mostly ride city streets with the usual hazards and I go through some neighborhoods where I'd rather not stop and fix a flat. The Schwalbe gives me a combination of great performance and peace of mind. Well worth the extra dough.

I have had no flats with the Marathon Plus tires from Schwalbe and no delamination that I used to get with the Armadillo tires. These are perfect for bicycle touring but are rather heavy for racing. I still carry a repair kit but I haven't used it for a long time. I'm getting about 6,000 miles out of a tire.

Used for commuting to work. I have had no flats with these tires and the last pair i got thousands of miles out of with only a couple flats every.

This are definitely not light tires by any means, I haven't had the chance to ride it much yet, but so far i like it. I have been using a set of specialized armadillos. I liked them but wanted something a little fatter on my touringcommuter bike.

I rode about 3000 without a flat on my last pair Great tire.

Don't have a lot of miles but with the lower pressure requirements they have improved the ride on our tandem.

This is my first road bike, don't want to ruin my experience by getting flats, did my homework and I bought the marathon plus, I rode over one hundred miles already and no flats, just make sure you put in your inner tubes correctly (pinch flats) and inflate correctly and you won't be like those I pass (fixing flats) each time I'm ridingexercising.

Where the rubber meets the road

Relatively expensive replacement tire for a commutertrekking bike. Sidewalls are VERY stiff which makes mounting challenging, but not overly so (folks with weak hands may have problems). Rolling resistance seems pretty low for a tire with deeper sipes, but the tread and overall stiffness inspires some courage to ride through less than optimal conditions. So far, I'm pretty happy with this purchase.

Ok tires but one has a bump in the tread. It feels like an overlap of the belt or something like that. They do have great traction! My old tires would slip all over the place on damp surfaces but not these. I keep thinking the bump will go away but so far it has not.

Got these on the recommendation of the bike dept at ***** for my daughter who was doing a loaded tour-about 450 miles. She had two flats while on the tour and another after arriving home. She's riding on clean, smooth San Diego roads here. In all fairness, the flats were likely caused by the tubes, not the tires being punctured. I wrestled with these tires for 3 hours trying to get them on before taking them to our local bike shop. (Judging by online reviews, I'm not the first person to wrestle with these...) The bike shop replaced the tubes I had with another kind that were smaller and lighter. The tube she brought home and the one from the flat she got here seemed to have developed leaks along seam lines in the rubber. When I changed the last flat, the tubes I'd tried to use initially fit fine. I'd recommend getting tubes, along with the tires from bike tires direct. My daughter, whose bike it is, likes the tires in terms of the ride-good grip in some very rainy weather (she was touring SeattleVancouver) and fast enough for a fun ride. She hasn't mentioned changing back to the slicks that we'd replaced for the tour.

This tire was very hard to put on and not easy to work with. I had to change it a few times to get it on. Probably will not get it again.

I have these on a road bike and have always felt very shaky, on corners and quite slow. This morning turning right on a mini roundabout, leaning with the bike then suddenly the tyres loose their grip and the bike disappears under me, I slid a good 10 feet so I have 2 great deep grazes - thanks Schwalbe. Horrible things, I will put Gators on tomorrow. I should have know these were iffy as when I ride no hands the bike is very twitchy.

i fought for an hour to put this tire on my wheel, but failed. took the wheel and tire to my LBS and not even they could get the tire to work. all that money, down the drain....

While mounting these tires (700 x 32) I had them blow off the rim 3 times. I mounted the front tire and it went on very easily. When I was pumping up the rear everything looked good at 40 psi but when I got to 70 psi it blew off the rim and popped the tube. I found a used tube and installed that and was very careful about making sure it was seated. I was able to pump it to 80 psi. Overnight the front tire had blown off the rim and destroying the tube. I replaced the front tube with a new one. I wiped the bead of the tire down with alcohol to clean it and did the same to the inside of the rim. I picked up a new tube for the rear tire to replace the used one. I cleaned the tire bead and rim also. When the rear tire got to 40 psi it blew off the rim and destroyed another tube. I replaced the tube with a new one and again was very careful and made sure every thing was good. I am running these tires at 70 psi because I do not want to have them blow off the rim again. I have never in my life had a tire blow off rim.

I,USE THE GREAT TIRE FOR ALL ROADS, DRIT,TOURIND,AND CITY.I LIKE EVERYTHANG ABOUT THE TIRE BUT ,YOU MUST BRAKE IT IN ABOUT 31.25 K,THEN SHE ROOLS LIKE WILD FIRE ESPECIALLY IN WARM WEATHER,DOWNGRADE 50 MILEH,UPHILL 16 MILEH... HAVE A STORY TOO TELL,I WAS GOING DOWNHILL ON THE INERSTATE THEN I HERE GLUMP CLUMP AND SO AND SO ON,I PULL OVER TO THE GRAVAL AND STOP AND LOOK AT MY FORNT TIRE ITS OK ,THEN YOU KNOW I LOOK AT THE BACK TIRE TO MY DISMAY OR SHOCK THEIRS A TWO INCH STAPLE LOUNGE IN MY SCHWALBE TIRE ITS HOT TOO NINTY, SO THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS THE SCHWALBE TIRE STOP THE STAPLE FROM GIVING MY TIRE A FLAT!!! SO BUY THEM THEIR FOR LIFE...

WANT BETER SPEED 15MPH MOREDO AS I SAY BUY 25S THEN BUY BLIZZARD 23SIT WILL IMPRESS AND BOGGLE YOUR MIND... BLIZZARDS HAVE GOOD FLAT PORTECTION...