January 4, 20188 yr Author A bike rack could cause that sort of problem too - on a car or where you parked your bike. Thank you, the most sensible possible explanation so far!! I have traveled all over the country on the train with my bike to cycle mainly coast to coast routes and the trains are not always bike friendly.
January 4, 20188 yr A bike rack could cause that sort of problem too - on a car or where you parked your bike. Thank you, the most sensible possible explanation so far!! I have traveled all over the country on the train with my bike to cycle mainly coast to coast routes and the trains are not always bike friendly. So it could be 'self inflicted' damage then?
January 4, 20188 yr Author So it could be 'self inflicted' damage then? 'COULD' being the operative word be self/train inflicted but that still doesn't explain why it hasn't happened to any other brand of the many tyres Iv'e had over the many years of cycling/train transporting Iv'e done
January 4, 20188 yr 'COULD' being the operative word be self/train inflicted but that still doesn't explain why it hasn't happened to any other brand of the many tyres Iv'e had over the many years of cycling/train transporting Iv'e done True. But it doesn't identify it as a Scwhalbe production issue either. Any tyre can suffer damage through fair wear and tear or accidental damage during it's lifetime. The explanation I suppose is that it's quite possible, as with the misfortune of experiencing a puncture, that you've just been unlucky. Otherwise there'd be more reports of this type of thing being reported I reckon. But not so unlucky that the tyre hasn't given you 1200 miles of good, safe use thus far.
January 4, 20188 yr I don't wish to flame this argument, but I don't know why people get so turned-on about Schwalbe tyres. The company may sound German (and thus impart an air of that German-made superiority), but their tyres are actually knocked out in a run-of-the-mill Indonesian factory, itself part-owned by some unknown (by most) Korean brand. I'm definitely with the OP on this one: Continental bicycle tyres are genuinely made in a German factory by Germans in Cologne, and I've still got the original Continental tyres on my (admittedly quite low mileage) 20-year old "normal" Marin bike... and still in perfect condition. Personally, if my tyres are going to be made in a far-east sweat-shop like Schwalbe tyres are, I'd prefer not to pay German-made prices. My Kenda Kourier tyres fitted as standard on my own e-bike don't pretend to be anything but what they are, and are holding up very well indeed.
January 4, 20188 yr I don't wish to flame this argument, but I don't know why people get so turned-on about Schwalbe tyres. The company may sound German (and thus impart an air of that German-made superiority), but their tyres are actually knocked out in a run-of-the-mill Indonesian factory, itself part-owned by some unknown (by most) Korean brand. I'm definitely with the OP on this one: Continental bicycle tyres are genuinely made in a German factory by Germans in Cologne, and I've still got the original Continental tyres on my (admittedly quite low mileage) 20-year old "normal" Marin bike... and still in perfect condition. Personally, if my tyres are going to be made in a far-east sweat-shop like Schwalbe tyres are, I'd prefer not to pay German-made prices. My Kenda Kourier tyres fitted as standard on my own e-bike don't pretend to be anything but what they are, and are holding up very well indeed. It's because they're puncture proof. Can you tell us another tyre that comes close?
January 4, 20188 yr Yeah... Kenda (among many others) make puncture proof bicycle tyres too. It's not an exclusive "Schwalbe" feature.
January 4, 20188 yr I don't wish to flame this argument, but I don't know why people get so turned-on about Schwalbe tyres. Because they make good quality, comfortable tyres in the sizes I need. I don't care much about the brand on the tyre as long as it does the job I ask it to. I am currently running 5 Big Bens in 3 different sizes and have nothing but good things to say about them. I wouldn't be seen dead with a Marathon Plus on my bike, there are much better tyres from Michelin that are puncture resistant and sticky. Does that answer your question?
January 4, 20188 yr Because they make good quality, comfortable tyres in the sizes I need. I don't care much about the brand on the tyre as long as it does the job I ask it to. I am currently running 5 Big Bens in 3 different sizes and have nothing but good things to say about them. I wouldn't be seen dead with a Marathon Plus on my bike, there are much better tyres from Michelin that are puncture resistant and sticky. Does that answer your question? I agree wholeheartedly. A lot of companies make tyres that are good quality and comfortable (and puncture proof). Schwalbe don't have exclusivity. The question was in part rhetorical.
January 4, 20188 yr Their force is they make the specialized types and sizes some of us need - they don't steer away from smaller niche markets. Find me a wide tyre in 24" and 20" size from a decent brand name company for example.
January 4, 20188 yr Their force is they make the specialized types and sizes some of us need - they don't steer away from smaller niche markets. Find me a wide tyre in 24" and 20" size from a decent brand name company for example. Yes, for sure... Schwalbe make some odd sizes... like Brompton tyres. But most e-bikes need normal and not "weird" sizes. Prompted by d8veh's retort about other tyres seemingly lacking puncture protection, and just checking Continental Tyres own website now, Continental actually make some 50 e-bike specific bicycle tyre types, and ALL feature normal or a high level of puncture protection. At least they're actually German! https://www.continental-tires.com/bicycle/tyres
January 4, 20188 yr Ahem... "Schwalbe is the brand. Bohle is the company. Owned by the family Bohle since its establishment in 1922, the company is now being managed by the third generation. Schwalbe international. Headquarters in Germany, subsidiaries in France, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands and USA/Canada. Distributors in over 40 countries. Production partnership with the Korean tyre manufacturer, Hung-A, production in Indonesia."
January 4, 20188 yr Author Yes, for sure... Schwalbe make some odd sizes... like Brompton tyres. But most e-bikes need normal and not "weird" sizes. Prompted by d8veh's retort about other tyres seemingly lacking puncture protection, and just checking Continental Tyres own website now, Continental actually make some 50 e-bike specific bicycle tyre types, and ALL feature normal or a high level of puncture protection. At least they're actually German! https://www.continental-tires.com/bicycle/tyres I totally agree cyclebuddy and NO tyre is puncture proof, resistant maybe but I had punctures with the Shwalbe tyres and in the end I fitted kevlar bands in them, give me Continental any day!
January 4, 20188 yr Ahem... "Schwalbe is the brand. Bohle is the company. Owned by the family Bohle since its establishment in 1922, the company is now being managed by the third generation. Schwalbe international. Headquarters in Germany, subsidiaries in France, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands and USA/Canada. Distributors in over 40 countries. Production partnership with the Korean tyre manufacturer, Hung-A, production in Indonesia." Ahem what exactly? What part of "manufacturing is carried out in its Indonesian factory, which is coowned, with its Korean joint-venture, production partner, PT Hung-A." don't you understand?
January 4, 20188 yr "As a global player, Continental also maintains high-tech production facilities outside of Germany, where Continental tyres are produced for you with an equal degree of care and dedication. One thing all Continental bicycle tyres have in common is that they are developed in the technology center in Korbach, Germany, where they also undergo strict inspection."
January 4, 20188 yr Author True. But it doesn't identify it as a Scwhalbe production issue either. Any tyre can suffer damage through fair wear and tear or accidental damage during it's lifetime. The explanation I suppose is that it's quite possible, as with the misfortune of experiencing a puncture, that you've just been unlucky. Otherwise there'd be more reports of this type of thing being reported I reckon. But not so unlucky that the tyre hasn't given you 1200 miles of good, safe use thus far. Wow 1200 miles! so I suppose if you went out and bought something that didn't come up to your expectations you would go out and buy the same again!!?
January 4, 20188 yr Yeah... Kenda (among many others) make puncture proof bicycle tyres too. It's not an exclusive "Schwalbe" feature. Can you show me some? I've never seen anything that comes close to Schwalbe.
January 4, 20188 yr "As a global player, Continental also maintains high-tech production facilities outside of Germany, where Continental tyres are produced for you with an equal degree of care and dedication. One thing all Continental bicycle tyres have in common is that they are developed in the technology center in Korbach, Germany, where they also undergo strict inspection." Your argument is what exactly? Continental make car tyres and vehicle instrumentation (ex-Siemens VDO) for Mercedes and BMW among many others... but bicycle tyres are (according to their own website - and my Mum, who really does live just down the road from the actual factory in Cologne) made in Germany.
January 4, 20188 yr Author Can you show me some? I've never seen anything that comes close to Schwalbe. Continental Top Contact... brilliant tyres
January 4, 20188 yr Can you show me some? I've never seen anything that comes close to Schwalbe. Yes - The Kenda Kourier fitted to my own e-bike come in a K-Shield puncture proof/resistant variant, which I considered. But my normal Kourier version hasn't yet had a puncture, so I await that possibility of maybe changing/upgrading them.
January 4, 20188 yr Your argument is what exactly? Continental make car tyres and vehicle instrumentation (ex-Siemens VDO) for Mercedes and BMW among many others... but bicycle tyres are (according to their own website - and my Mum, who really does live just down the road from the actual factory in Cologne) made in Germany. That snippet (above) came from the bike tyre page on their web site. I have had sets of Continental car tyres and had a couple of very nasty accidents (involving loss of grip) which probably makes me more inclined to buy Michelin now. And of course: "The passenger tire plant in Clairoix, France, will be shut down by the end of March 2010, affecting 1,120 employees. According to Continental, the Clairoix plant has the highest production costs of any passenger tire factory in Europe. Last year, the plant produced 8.7 millions tires, generating a €28 million profit." Edited January 4, 20188 yr by anotherkiwi
January 4, 20188 yr Author That snippet came from the bike tyre page on their web site. I have had sets of Continental car tyres and had a couple of very nasty accidents (involving loss of grip) which probably makes me more inclined to buy Michelin now. And of course: "The passenger tire plant in Clairoix, France, will be shut down by the end of March 2010, affecting 1,120 employees. According to Continental, the Clairoix plant has the highest production costs of any passenger tire factory in Europe. Last year, the plant produced 8.7 millions tires, generating a €28 million profit." If this was from the bike tyre page why is it talking about car tyres??
January 4, 20188 yr That snippet came from the bike tyre page on their web site. I have had sets of Continental car tyres and had a couple of very nasty accidents (involving loss of grip) which probably makes me more inclined to buy Michelin now. And of course: "The passenger tire plant in Clairoix, France, will be shut down by the end of March 2010, affecting 1,120 employees. According to Continental, the Clairoix plant has the highest production costs of any passenger tire factory in Europe. Last year, the plant produced 8.7 millions tires, generating a €28 million profit." You calling my Mum a liar? Right... jackets off, and around the back for a punch-up! Seriously, it says quite clearly on their website which of their bike tyres are made in Germany. Are you seriously suggesting that a bike tyre called "Der Kaiser" is made in France? No-one but a German would have the nerve after WWII.
January 4, 20188 yr Author You calling my Mum a liar? Right... jackets off, and around the back for a punch-up! Seriously, it says quite clearly on their website which of their bike tyres are made in Germany. Are you seriously suggesting that a bike tyre called "Der Kaiser" is made in France? No-one but a German would have the nerve after WWII. You calling my Mum a liar? Right... jackets off, and around the back for a punch-up! Seriously, it says quite clearly on their website which of their bike tyres are made in Germany. Are you seriously suggesting that a bike tyre called "Der Kaiser" is made in France? No-one but a German would have the nerve after WWII. I used to work for BMW and we had plants all over the world to meet demand and costs and still most people believe they are all made in Germany but quality control in some countries was impossible to meet BMW standards, my Continentals tyres are definately built in Germany http://conti-tyres.co.uk/commuting-touring/top-contact-ii
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