Schwalbe
I can remember there being some kind of drought in California since I was a young kid in the 80's. Things haven't changed. I've been trying not to flush my toilet as much. Maybe TMI. Constant drought means it's dry and often dusty out here in the Bay Area and nearby Sierras. For these conditions, the Thunder Burt is ideal as a rear tire. It rolls fast and has enough corner grip for all of my XC needs. Paired with a Racing Ray, I have no complaints. I replace them when the side knobs are shredded. My only complaint is that they cost a lot.
Great tires. I'm starting to really trust them. I can see no reason I'd need the Marathon+ version. 60 to 80 miles a week on Chicago's streets and not a single flat. Stock tires that came with bike got a flat at least once a month.
Love the reflective sidewall.
38s provide a good amount of cushion for those potholes and occasional curb hop.
On a forest bike path these are quiet tires. I can barely hear their interaction with the asphalt.
Rolling resistance feels low at 70 to 75 psi.
Already left a review. I would prefer to edit that one, but system won't let me. This is just an update and wanted to bump up from 4-stars to 5.
I've been using Specialized Armadillo tires on my commuter and it seems they had a supply chain issue, so I bought a set of these tires. So far I have put about 5000 miles on the set. I mounted them as tubeless with some Stans fluid. My commute road conditions are terrible. Going past a construction site I put a nail through the sidewall. I popped in.a tube in it and kept going. In direct comparison to the Armadillo, the Schwalbe's don't handle as well, but they make up for it by being really tough. Anyway, after 5000 miles, I can still see the parting line from the tire mold on the front tire. The rear is showing wear, but I think its got another 3000 before I'd consider replacing it. I'm fairly certain that if these were the Armadillo tires, I would be replacing them now. My normal routine has been to inspect and pickout glass shards every few days. The Armadillos would pick up more glass and leave little tears in the tire. That still happens with these tires but way less often.
I've withheld saying anything about this tire until I had enough miles (at least 3000) to be sure of the mixed results I have encountered. It is quite average except that at the end of the day, it is amazing. There are faster tires, there are a few that are more sure footed. there might even be some that are more puncture resistant. But it handles everything well enough that I no longer am looking for anything else because if I found something that excelled in one area, it would cost me in another. But these hold the magic middle for me.
It handles seams and ridges and mud and gravel and road hazards well. It will hold well on a reverse camber line and will track well, if not perfectly, at least predictably.
Some read that some complained about the pink latex puncture showing through around the nobs; true enough. The tread pattern is a clip rock magnet. It picks up and holds little sharp shards with great tenacity; but this way I don't have to worry about needing studs, as long as the rocks stay put. But while they are living rent free in my tire, they are cutting towards the puncture barrier and guess what happens? It stops there. Sure enough it cuts around the nobs but I can't see that it would ever cause the nobs to break free. I've watched them suspiciously as the miles accrue and there is no degradation to the integrity of the tire. I fully expect to see more that 8000 km from a set.
This morning I had an oncoming pickup pulling a trailer loaded with scrap concrete slabs turn across my bow. He totally underestimated my speed and his load and length. I had to panic stop to avoid t-boning the trailer. Between the hydraulic disk brakes and the Schwalbe 365s it became an anecdote instead of an accident. These tires hold like nothing I've seen before including my fat bike. Good job, Schwalbe!
