SchwalbeMarathon Plus 700c Tire (HS 440)(Return to Product Page)

I had been looking for a tire like this for a while. It hardly rains where I live so none of the bike shops around here carry any road tires with tread. I have used the gatorskins and the armadillos (700x25) many times but I was not happy with the wearing out of the tires. Both of these tires have weak sidewalls and start getting flats when they start to wear out. I am at 5000 miles on this set of schwalbes and should get at least another 3000. I have not got any flats with these tires. I ride every day to work (27 miles) on some pretty bad roads. I bought a set for my son and will be getting a set for my back-up bike. Price is the same as the gator and armadillo. The tires are a lot heavier but not getting flats easily offset this.

I use these tires on my commuter bike. 1 flat in 6 months! I normally have 2-3 a month. I can't say enough about how effective these tires are. Relatively low rolling resistance.

I rode these tires on a tour in Canada this Summer. At first I was worried about the notion that being a flatless tire would mean that I'd feel like I was riding on big hard-to-push sponges or something. Not so. The first thing I noticed about these tires was how they ironed out the road any time I ran into less than ideal quality road surface . . . which is most of the time. I also use Schwalbe Marathon Racers on the same bike, and so I can speak directly to the issue of rolling resistance. The Racers are great on to be sure, but I'd say the Marathon Plus tires outshine them when it comes to rougher roads. If you've ever run on a coated running track, these tires feel just like that, they just take the edge of bumps and vibrations that tires with higher rated rolling resistance do, and I think this results in a slightly smoother and more efficient ride over the long haul.

However, even though the rolling resistance is pretty good on these tires, at the end of the day, there rolling resistance places an exceedingly small roll in the overall resistance a cyclists feels and it would be frankly absurd to even worry about this for anything less than competition . . . Schwalbe as a nice chart on their page that compares the percentages of the different kinds of resistance that someone experiences when riding.

Grip excellent. I have a few different bikes and run Conti 4000s, Schwalbe Marathon Racers, and these tires, and in all honesty, there's no discernible difference in any condition other than racing. However, no one buys these for racing, you buy them because you want a tough fast city tire, or a rugged touring tire.

Flatless I cannot comment on this feature as I've yet to have a flat tire. Reviews are meaningless when they rate a tire's vulnerability to puncture based on how soon after purchase someone received a puncture, or how they've ridden one set of tires for ages without a puncture, then bought a different set, road the same course and suddenly got a puncture. Tire punctures are caused mainly by random events, things falling off cars and trucks and some road construction, etc., and then, by some extremely high level of chance, turns out the offending object fell directly into the tiny piece of the road your tire covers, AND just happened to be positioned in such a way so as to jab through the rubber. It's frankly surprising anyone gets punctures. Still, they happen, to everyone, at random intervals. The Schwalbe tires simply put a whole lot of stuff between your tubes and the road, and at the end of the day, that's all anyone can do.

Great tire for protection against flats, a little heavy, and are pretty tight fit,,,, so if you do get a flat they are a struggle to get off and on, But I buy no other tire but these,,, I love them...

I had evaluated a variety of tires for my 2008 Surly Long Haul Trucker, which I have been building up for camping trips this summer. When the Schwalbe's went on sale, I grabbed them. I recently took the bike and a 45 pound load on a three night camping trip and was very pleased with the performance of the Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires. An aborted attempt on a steep gravel road over the mountains covered 20 bone-jarring miles, but the size 35x700c tires handled great and gave me confidence well beyond my expectations. They are likely heavier than the competition, but with a combined rider and load weight of about 250 pounds, I won't trust anything less. They roll fast and solid.

After puncturing monthly, weekly, even sometimes daily, for over 30 years of performance/utility riding, I read about these Marathon Plus tires in a British cycling magazine. I used a set in the 26 x 1.75 size for over 2 years - not one flat. Currently I've got over 3 years of hard daily use on a set of the 700 x 38's. Plenty of tread left . . . and not even one flat (hope I don't jinx myself, but I am positively evangelical about these tires). Your bike will wear out before these tires do - and punctures will be something you USED to have to hassle with!

I commute to work, 180 miles per week. This tire is strong & sticks to the road. Absorbs small stones & bumps. Never had a flat. A small downside, the puncture resistant material adds a little mush in the rear tire, although provides a very comfortable ride.

This tire provides tremendous puncture protection, grips well on wet surfaces, and allows for smooth rolling even when pulling heavy gear loads. It's the best road touring bike tire I've ever used. 4,000 miles without a flat has made me a believer!

Excellent puncture resistance and rolls nice and fast! The seem a little taller than standard size so I was able to go down a size and that worked great! Great wet weather traction and even running on some single track was able to keep me planted to the ground.

I use this tire on my recumbent which has 70% of my 210 lb weight on it as well as the 30 additional lbs. I carry on my rack, well, not my rack... the bikes.. Anyway, I have hit some major potholes on this tire and nothing seems to affect the tire. The one flat I got turned out to be a tube defect. The tire was not at fault.

I commute about 23 miles a day through some questionable neighborhoods.

Yes, a little pricey but for dependability, my ass is worth it. I ride a 700 x 32 on the back end by the way. I do have a Schwalbe 20 on the front which I'm sure no one cares about.

Excellent price compared to any LBS. Bought 25c tires to replace worn out conti contacts on my touring bike. Just ordered the 32?s for my commuter

In the last 2 years, I've replaced 8 chains, a set of SRAM Apex shiftbrake levers, 3 sets of derailleur pulleys, a pair of wheels, one front and one rear derailleur, two bottom brackets, a set of cranks, a rear cluster, casings and cables - welcome to commuting in the Northwest. Same set of tires all that time and there's tread left - minium of 40 miles per day at least 3 times a week.

In two years, only had a flat once - that was pretty scarey as it's practically impossible to remove these tires with plastic levers. Carry four nylon covered steel levers - you'll bend these, but only once every 2 years.

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.

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.

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...