Help! Newbie: Replacement Tyres Query

[Navdeep Tiwana]

Hi

Am new to this forum, and was hoping to get a view on which replacement tyres should I be buying. I have a couple of Kalhoff Agattu's (2014 model) on Continental CityRide (42-622 / 28x1.6).

While i can do a like for like replacement, the current tyres aren't good on dirt tracks or tarmac. I want to replace these with an all-rounder which can do a bit of everything. We use our bikes for bicycle camping, with panniers etc., while pulling a child trailer and a bob trailer. The other thing I am interested in is having slightly fatter tyres (unsure whether i can go up to 45's or greater).

I am currently considering Schawalbe Marathon (e-plus) and G-One (all-round) ranges.

Grateful for any advise on the matter.

Regards
M

 

[StuartsProjects]

I use Marathon Plus Tour on my eBike, 1.75".

Nice on the rubbish roads that pass as tarmac these days. Just fine on dirt tracks, but not a lot of grip for real off road.

I did have the thinner Marathons on, but they were often getting caught in narrow gaps in the Tarmac. The rolling resistance of the fatter plus tours does not seem to be much greater.

 

[Raboa]

Here is a link to their page

https://www.schwalbe.com/en/city-tour

I find when putting on puncture tyres on my rims adjustable zip ties help. Put the bit the zip tie feeds through against the rim (where the spokes are), it's difficult to undo if it is against the tyre. Putting the zip tie on helps to compress the tyre, this makes getting the last bit on easier. I carry some of these zip ties with my puncture repair kit.

Marathon plus tyres are the perfect choice if puncture protection is your top priority. You can get lighter tyres but they offer less puncture protection but have advantages in other areas i.e. lighter, better rolling resistance.

 

[flecc]

I have a couple of Kalhoff Agattu's (2014 model) on Continental CityRide (42-622 / 28x1.6).

I am currently considering Schawalbe Marathon (e-plus)

Thes two are virtually the same thing, both having the same carcase construction with thick puncture resistsnt under-tread layer, the CityRide being Continental's copy of the Marathon Plus.

I don't think you'd notice any real difference.
.

 

[sjpt]

Nice on the rubbish roads that pass as tarmac these days. Just fine on dirt tracks, but not a lot of grip for real off road.

Exactly. We've been using Marathon Plus on different bikes (and tandems) for many years. Brilliant.
Not excellent forward grip on mud, but usually OK. The biggest downside is sideways slip in mud. If you are riding a muddy path around a contour (so sloping left to right) it is quite awkward to control.

 

[matthewslack]

My original tyres were WTB Riddler in a 45 width. Lovely to ride on all surfaces, but rather short lived given their price, and in a much lower bracket of puncture resistance than the Marathons.

There might not be a tyre that does all that you need well.

 

[guerney]

Exactly. We've been using Marathon Plus on different bikes (and tandems) for many years. Brilliant.
Not excellent forward grip on mud, but usually OK. The biggest downside is sideways slip in mud. If you are riding a muddy path around a contour (so sloping left to right) it is quite awkward to control.

They're also awful on gravel, but what isn't? I fell off a couple of times last week towing a heavy-ish trailer down steep gravelly paths. Ouch!

 

[Nealh]

Have a look at the specialized 2bliss pathfinder, a smooth center for roads and treaded sides for gravel, I have these on my gravel bike.
Specialized Pathfinder Sport Ready 700c Gravel Tyre - £20.25 | Tyres - Hybrid/Road/Gravel | Cyclestore

Panaracer gravel king SK a road and off road tyre happy on either surface.
I have these on my Roadrat in a fetching blue/green colour, no slips on a loose surface on the Worth way ex rail line and I tow a trailer with a front hub. No slips, no sliding.
I'm tempting fate here but no punctures yet with them on any surface.

If one enlarges the pic one can see the small block knobbly tread that allows for multi surface use and grip.

 

[guerney]

Have a look at the specialized 2bliss pathfinder, a smooth center for roads and treaded sides for gravel, I have these on my gravel bike.
Specialized Pathfinder Sport Ready 700c Gravel Tyre - £20.25 | Tyres - Hybrid/Road/Gravel | Cyclestore

I've taken to walking the bike and heavy trailer down gravelly steep slopes, although this can also cause falls. Got completely lost in the woods for over an hour, trying to find a clearer route two nights ago, tree roots and spiky weeds all over the place and I only had shorts on. Gravel and steep inclines and drops everywhere. Weirdly, Google Maps managed to navigate me out!

Thanks Nealh, those do look a good tyre but like so many useful looking tyres, they're not available in 20" - I'll keep walking heavy loads down the steeper inclines, until I can find a tyre which grips better on gravel and is as puncture restistant as Marathon Plus. Or should I grab the soldering iron and carve out some deep grooves?

 

[Nealh]

Another tyre brand I rate and use are WTB , look at the ventura again vary small block central tread for multi use surface and bigger knobs on the edges.

Specialised, Panaracer & WTB are my three go to tyre choices. I once used scwalbe but they are over rated imv.

 

[guerney]

Panaracer gravel king SK a road and off road tyre happy on either surface.
I have these on my Roadrat in a fetching blue/green colour, no slips on a loose surface on the Worth way ex rail line and I tow a trailer with a front hub. No slips, no sliding.
I'm tempting fate here but no punctures yet with them on any surface.

I'll look for those in 20". The Marathon Plus seem fine on gravel provided it's level, you're going slow and do not turn The moment you try the same trick on inclines and more notably steep drops, you're fscked. Wasn't such a big problem, without the added momentum of the heavy trailer.

 

[guerney]

Specialised, Panaracer & WTB are my three go to tyre choices. I once used scwalbe but they are over rated imv.

Thanks, I'll look for those in 20". I haven't had a single puncture for 3,238 km on those Marathon Plus tyres. On roads they're great. Just wish more manufacturers would make similarly long lasting puncture resistant tyres for gravel in 20". Ultimately, the best option may be transferring the BBS01B to a MTB for towing, and throw a hub kit onto the Dahon Helios P8, or get another BBS01B and convert a more suitable MTB donor bike for towing.

 

[Nealh]

Guerney have a look at bmx 20" tyres fore mor grip then the M+'s

 

[guerney]

Guerney have a look at bmx 20" tyres fore mor grip then the M+'s

I've got one (Kenda), which used to be on the rear. Thanks, I may well chuck a couple of new BMX type tyres on.

These are smoothish in the middle for road, never tried Fincci. I've read they're hard to get on, but the ziptie trick should take care of that.

Fincci Pair 20x1.75 Tyre 47-406 for BMX MTB Mountain Offroad Cycle or Kids Childs Bike Bicycle with 20 x 1.75 Inch Tyres (Pack of 2) : Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors

Shop Fincci Pair 20x1.75 Tyre 47-406 for BMX MTB Mountain Offroad Cycle or Kids Childs Bike Bicycle with 20 x 1.75 Inch Tyres (Pack of 2). Free delivery and returns on all eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

Maybe I'll use the @Andy-Mat trick of inserting a cut up old worn tyre in between the inner tube and the tyre, for puncture resistance... because a puncture would be highly inconvenient while towing a heavily laden trailer. I can always get a taxi with the folder, but the trailer would be a little more problematic. Taxis don't pick up from paths in deep woods, or the reputable ones don't.

I may go with Schwalbe Black Jack 20 x 1.90 - this is as wide as as I can fit, without upgrading the mudguards.

https://www.schwalbe.com/en/mtb-reader/black-jack

 

[guerney]

Guerney have a look at bmx 20" tyres fore mor grip then the M+'s

Wow, Black Jacks are just £7.65 from Halfrauds, about £18.95 from everywhere else Deffo worth a shot at that price.

 

[matthewslack]

Wow, Black Jacks are just £7.65 from Halfrauds, about £18.95 from everywhere else Deffo worth a shot at that price.

Thanks for that, I'll grab a pair for my fourth axle!

 

[sjpt]

tree roots and spiky weeds all over the place and I only had shorts on.

What with falling off in gravel and now this, I think you need some kevlar protected trousers.

 

[guerney]

Thanks for that, I'll grab a pair for my fourth axle!

FOURTH!?!!?!?

 

[matthewslack]

FOURTH!?!!?!?

It's a sixteen wheeler!

 

[guerney]

What with falling off in gravel and now this, I think you need some kevlar protected trousers.

I'm glad my shorts were brown... well... appropriately kakki. Slashed to bits below the knee, and yesterday blood suddenly started gushing out of two identically sized points, about an inch apart. They took ages to lose pressure and clot. I nonsensically mused about having been bitten by a snake or something, but realised I wasn't dead. Freaking green hell it was, anything could have been hiding in there...