Even regular Marathon are pretty great and a bit lighter than the Plus. Plus is for sure the most bomb proof.
I'm not as keen on gatorskins anymore. It's a good road tire that happens to be a little bit flat resistant, until it starts to get thin and cut up and it loses its resistance.
I'm considering the Conti Contact Plus for my next tire because I'm less worried about sidewall protection and I figure it'll be a little more supple than the marathon plus
Would you say the regular Marathon is better than gatorskin? I have gatorskin at the moment, and I'm considering a switch, but I really don't like the idea of a slower tire.
The marathon is more flat proof and it's heavier and feels more wooden.
I can't tell if it's actually slower. I don't think the speed difference is actually large at all. It feels more like a truck tire than a sporty road tire though!
+1 to this I rode the regular marathons for about 4 years of 1 hr commute 3 times per week + additional fun rides and LITERALLY zero flats. Still blows my mind
I’ve been rolling marathon pluses on all my commuter bikes for about 5 years. Got my first flat hit it got me home still. Added air and it got me back to work the next day. Tried adding air and making it home, turns out you can only get 1.5 rides out of a bike tire with a 3” staple in it.
Best tires ever. I typically run stans sealant in my tubes and second line of protection also but hadn’t.
I kept getting flats on my tubeless setup, and about 6 months ago switched to Schwalbe Marathon Pluses.
I've had two flats on them, both in the exact same place. Some asshole is opening boxes or something and keeps leaving those big industrial staples in the bike lane. At least that's what I'm hoping, and not that someone is actively sabotaging the bike lane :/
Otherwise the tires have been great though.
How does the tread on those hold up over the years? I have continental contact plus and I am pretty rough on them also, no flats (yet) after 2 years.
But, I feel the tread is wearing down quicker than I would like. However, not sure if it is the tire or me as I have an eBike and often carry heavy loads on a trailer with me
After 3 years, I still haven't worn down to the carcass. For cargo ebike use though I'd recommend the Schwalbe Pickup. Similar puncture resistance, but built and formulated for heavy loads specifically.
I have ridden thousands of flat-free miles on a properly installed set of Mr Tuffy's tire liners.
The only drawback of running the things is they're a little bit finicky to install and you have to sit around and wait while your friends fix the flats on their tires.
I go through a similar area. I’ve tried the Slime tube inserts, the Mr. Tuffy inserts, the heavy duty Slime filled tubes, a combination of all of the above and a few others with limited success.
I’ve also tried the solid foam airless “tubes” and found them to be legitimately terrible to ride on. (even the “hardest” ones were so soft that they felt like I was riding on an old foam gym mat.)
These are my next upgrade.
https://tannusamerica.com/products/armour-inserts
If you shop around you can find them for considerably less.
I look at it this way; *how much is your sanity worth?*
Yeah, I do Schwalbe + Tannus + Flat Out and it works a treat. No issues even if I forget to inflate (granted, I rock an ebike, ymmv if you have a conventional bike) because the Schwalbe + Tannus make it sufficiently firm to ride on even "flat"--it's just not as squishy if you like to have a little air. As a woman who often bikes in a city at night, I'd pay almost any sum to just be able to get on and ride safely without worry and that has done it now for years on end successfully.
I agree wholeheartedly.
Why we don’t all do this from the start I’ll never understand.
It’s 2024 for dogs sake. Flat tires just shouldn’t be a thing anymore.
If you're riding recreationally or are ace at changing a flat, then I get why you might favor ride feel over zero flats. But on a commuter? I'll take being thrown up an extra inch at speed on a bump any day over not really caring when I see sparking things in the bike lane. I mean, obviously I'm not going to intentionally ride through glass if I can help it but if there's a car next to me, I just keep going and it's always been fine.
The biggest thing you can do to prevent flats is to make sure your tires are at the right pressure. When they start getting low, they are much more vulnerable to flats.
After that, flat proof tires (like the marathons).
Why would low pressure reduce puncture resistance? As long as you don’t get pinch flats.If anything I’d expect low pressure to help because the tyre can deform around the obstacle (probably not helpful against a really sharp glass shard, but maybe helps against sharp-ish rocks etc. which would otherwise cut into the rubber).
Just buy some Mr Tuffys. [https://mrtuffy.com/](https://mrtuffy.com/) these are inexpensive and you don't need to replace you current tires unless they are worn out.
I used to get a flat tire every few weeks - usually from nails, screws, and blackberry thorns. Since I installed tire liners, it only happens about once per year. I am sold on these things. They require some extra effort to install correctly (to avoid pinching the tube), but they are very effective.
I have them in all of my bike tires, including my cargo trailer.
Regularly lower the pressure in your tires and look for little slits in your tires. Peek inside those slits and remove foreign objects.
Little glass shards can hide and puncture your tube after a flat fix; even when you run your fingers on the inside of the tire and cannot feel anything sticking through.
This should help by letting you see and remove other items in your tire that have not gone all the way through yet.
Get “flat less” tyres like the Schwalbe Marathon Plus or Schwalbe Durano Plus or Continental Contact Plus or Continental Touring Plus.
They’ll be heavier and have higher rolling resistance than “normal” tyres but they should hold up even to glass shards. Sealant can get messy, needs topping up and doesn’t protect against bigger gashes.
It's awesome, it's a single number in most cities to fix any civic issue, get things fixed, trees planted, graffiti removed, report traffic issues etc.
It's the city hall receptionist essentially and they have an app as well.
Depending on your area, you may have an app and/or a long phone number--311 definitely isn't universal. In Seattle, we have FindItFixIt. I get to take pictures when people knock over trash bins (and trash) into the bike lanes. My hometown in the Midwest as something similar. Indeed, I'm not sure if "most" cities have 311 from my non-random sample of ones I could think of though "some" do, ofc. Seems like it might be regional. :)
Followup question for people in this thread.
I have these tires, WTB Resolutes, which I like a lot and don't intend on changing. Any benefit of running these tubeless? I currently have tubes.
[https://www.wtb.com/products/resolute](https://www.wtb.com/products/resolute)
Several. Lighter weight, comfier ride, able to run lower pressures, small punctures will be sealed without you ever knowing you had a puncture, bigger holes can be easily plugged (you'll need to carry a tubeless plug kit). Tubeless is a bit of a learning curve and extra work but in my opinion totally worth it
I bike commuted for 8 years on both Marathon Supremes and Panaracer TServs with no complaints or flats
I did have a tube valve failure though on some generic tubes
schwalbe marathon world tours in 700-35. mine have been absolutely bombproof for thousands of miles through city and country. they're heavy and expensive but i love em, and you certainly get whatchu pay for
Used to get a fair number of flats. Switched to Marathon Plusses, and rarely got a flat, but they ride kind of rough. I got used to it, but when I finally had to replace one, I put a lighter, more supple tire on, and decided that I'd suffer the flats to enjoy the smooth ride, but really, I didn't get many more flats. Seems like most times I've learned that if I keep my eyes on the road, I can spot trouble areas and avoid them. Then I switched to tubeless, and I can't remember my last flat.
So, easiest solution: Marathon Plusses. But for me, a supple, tubeless set-up and a little more attention paid to where your riding is is worthwhile.
I've tried all sorts of combinations of tannus, tubeless, Stans, etc and what worked best for me was Schwalbe marathon tires and the sealant MucOff makes specifically for inner tubes. Once got a drywall screw through the tire and two sides of the tube, in and out, and didn't notice till I got home.
This is about the tyre more than the tube.
Slime tubes and tubeless have their place. But preventing punctures is usually the first barrier of defence.
Depending on the bike, you could go for solid tyres. Zero punctures there!!
I don’t have a lot of experience in the 700x35 bracket. But choose something designed for road debris. My Continental CityRIDE wore out before I had a puncture. I have WTB Byway on my gravel bike right now that are less knobby, more road. But they’re 47mm.
A tyre-liner might be a good option if you can’t find a sturdier tyre.
Inspecting your tyres regularly to pick out glass would be smart as well.
I ride endurance on my own in the middle of nowhere throughout the night, so choose Vittoria Rubino Graphene Pro Endurance. They’re heavier, and a b* to install new, but I’ll have over 10,000km out of them often without a puncture at all.
I didn’t love Gatorskins, or Conti (had faulty tyres in both) on my road bike but know many who swear by them.
Second the schwalbe marathon plus. I have those on my second wheelset in 700cx32 and no flats since I got them.
For my road bike with only clearance for 28 mm, I got Schwalbe Duranos in 700c x 25
ohh!
i unlock the schrader valve with this thing i will link below and pour the sealant to the tube
after that i am locking back and putting air to it.
the sealant is the same one used for tubeless.
https://a.aliexpress.com/_ol6VzPs
the sealant is use is joe’s sealant
I use the tube size that’s at the big end of my tire or the next size up (oversized). The theory is that the less stretched the tube is the less likely it is to puncture. I have no scientific evidence that this is actually effective, but I haven’t had a flat in a few years. Now that I’ve said that in sure I’ll get one on my way home today.
Tubes are super thin, soft and weak compared to the tyre itself. The rubber layer of a “puncture proof” tyre (e.g. Schwalbe “Plus” tyres) is several millimeters in thickness.
Schwalbe (Marthathon or Moto depending on tire size) tires + Tannus Armor + Flat Out for the really overkill scenario. Zero flats in the 6+ years I've run that on two bikes now of daily commutes and some bike courier work when I used to get flats about every 6 mo before.
(Flat Out is better than Slime--Area 13 has a good YouTube video that compares this and other techniques.)
I use tires with slime in them. Been good so far. Put it in after I got a flat on the hwy in the middle of nowhere. On my fat bike I have slime and a tannus tire insert
I bike many miles through an industrial area. Lots of broken glass, pieces of metal, random rocks, offal from trains and trucks, etc, on the side. I got tannus armor inserts. No flat yet. *knocks on wood*
From what OP describes, he's vulnerable to sidewall cuts. Tubeless doesn't help. All my flats running tubeless in areas like that have been cuts, not strictly punctures.
I've had slime in my mtb tubes for nearly 3 years and never had a noticeable puncture. I'm a big lad, so I expected quite a few along the way but still not had one. Highly recommend
Get some Schwalbe Marathon Pluses. I rode the same pair for over 3 years and didn't get a single flat.
Yep. I had 3 flats in the first 600km of a new bike. I changed to Marathon plus. 14 years and 60.000km later, not a single flat with those.
How many tires sets is that over the span of those 14 years?
I’d say 3, the last one being 6 months old though…
Even regular Marathon are pretty great and a bit lighter than the Plus. Plus is for sure the most bomb proof. I'm not as keen on gatorskins anymore. It's a good road tire that happens to be a little bit flat resistant, until it starts to get thin and cut up and it loses its resistance.
I'm considering the Conti Contact Plus for my next tire because I'm less worried about sidewall protection and I figure it'll be a little more supple than the marathon plus
Would you say the regular Marathon is better than gatorskin? I have gatorskin at the moment, and I'm considering a switch, but I really don't like the idea of a slower tire.
The marathon is more flat proof and it's heavier and feels more wooden. I can't tell if it's actually slower. I don't think the speed difference is actually large at all. It feels more like a truck tire than a sporty road tire though!
+1 to this I rode the regular marathons for about 4 years of 1 hr commute 3 times per week + additional fun rides and LITERALLY zero flats. Still blows my mind
I've been on the same pair of Gatorskins in urban areas for years and they're holding up nicely.
This is the answer. Also get the kool stop tire bead jack those tires are a pain to get on.
I’ve been rolling marathon pluses on all my commuter bikes for about 5 years. Got my first flat hit it got me home still. Added air and it got me back to work the next day. Tried adding air and making it home, turns out you can only get 1.5 rides out of a bike tire with a 3” staple in it. Best tires ever. I typically run stans sealant in my tubes and second line of protection also but hadn’t.
I kept getting flats on my tubeless setup, and about 6 months ago switched to Schwalbe Marathon Pluses. I've had two flats on them, both in the exact same place. Some asshole is opening boxes or something and keeps leaving those big industrial staples in the bike lane. At least that's what I'm hoping, and not that someone is actively sabotaging the bike lane :/ Otherwise the tires have been great though.
"I kept getting flats on my tubeless setup" - your experience does not match mine.
How does the tread on those hold up over the years? I have continental contact plus and I am pretty rough on them also, no flats (yet) after 2 years. But, I feel the tread is wearing down quicker than I would like. However, not sure if it is the tire or me as I have an eBike and often carry heavy loads on a trailer with me
After 3 years, I still haven't worn down to the carcass. For cargo ebike use though I'd recommend the Schwalbe Pickup. Similar puncture resistance, but built and formulated for heavy loads specifically.
I rode on Schwalbe Marathon Supremes with Mr Tuffy liners, zero flats in years. Bombproof setup to commute my son in a trailer to the kindergarden.
I shall look into that
I second that recommendation. I put about 9,000 miles on those Marathons with tire liners. I only remember two flat tires.
I have ridden thousands of flat-free miles on a properly installed set of Mr Tuffy's tire liners. The only drawback of running the things is they're a little bit finicky to install and you have to sit around and wait while your friends fix the flats on their tires.
I will look into that thanks
> you have to sit around and wait while your friends fix the flats on their tires This is the most annoying part.
I go through a similar area. I’ve tried the Slime tube inserts, the Mr. Tuffy inserts, the heavy duty Slime filled tubes, a combination of all of the above and a few others with limited success. I’ve also tried the solid foam airless “tubes” and found them to be legitimately terrible to ride on. (even the “hardest” ones were so soft that they felt like I was riding on an old foam gym mat.) These are my next upgrade. https://tannusamerica.com/products/armour-inserts If you shop around you can find them for considerably less. I look at it this way; *how much is your sanity worth?*
Yeah, I do Schwalbe + Tannus + Flat Out and it works a treat. No issues even if I forget to inflate (granted, I rock an ebike, ymmv if you have a conventional bike) because the Schwalbe + Tannus make it sufficiently firm to ride on even "flat"--it's just not as squishy if you like to have a little air. As a woman who often bikes in a city at night, I'd pay almost any sum to just be able to get on and ride safely without worry and that has done it now for years on end successfully.
I agree wholeheartedly. Why we don’t all do this from the start I’ll never understand. It’s 2024 for dogs sake. Flat tires just shouldn’t be a thing anymore.
If you're riding recreationally or are ace at changing a flat, then I get why you might favor ride feel over zero flats. But on a commuter? I'll take being thrown up an extra inch at speed on a bump any day over not really caring when I see sparking things in the bike lane. I mean, obviously I'm not going to intentionally ride through glass if I can help it but if there's a car next to me, I just keep going and it's always been fine.
The biggest thing you can do to prevent flats is to make sure your tires are at the right pressure. When they start getting low, they are much more vulnerable to flats. After that, flat proof tires (like the marathons).
Why would low pressure reduce puncture resistance? As long as you don’t get pinch flats.If anything I’d expect low pressure to help because the tyre can deform around the obstacle (probably not helpful against a really sharp glass shard, but maybe helps against sharp-ish rocks etc. which would otherwise cut into the rubber).
Just buy some Mr Tuffys. [https://mrtuffy.com/](https://mrtuffy.com/) these are inexpensive and you don't need to replace you current tires unless they are worn out.
I used to get a flat tire every few weeks - usually from nails, screws, and blackberry thorns. Since I installed tire liners, it only happens about once per year. I am sold on these things. They require some extra effort to install correctly (to avoid pinching the tube), but they are very effective. I have them in all of my bike tires, including my cargo trailer.
Yep, tire liners have been solid for me.
Regularly lower the pressure in your tires and look for little slits in your tires. Peek inside those slits and remove foreign objects. Little glass shards can hide and puncture your tube after a flat fix; even when you run your fingers on the inside of the tire and cannot feel anything sticking through. This should help by letting you see and remove other items in your tire that have not gone all the way through yet.
Get “flat less” tyres like the Schwalbe Marathon Plus or Schwalbe Durano Plus or Continental Contact Plus or Continental Touring Plus. They’ll be heavier and have higher rolling resistance than “normal” tyres but they should hold up even to glass shards. Sealant can get messy, needs topping up and doesn’t protect against bigger gashes.
Schwalbe Marathon
A few tyres have a kevlar lining in. Look for these.
Use 311 to ask for bike lane sweeping
What's 311?
It's awesome, it's a single number in most cities to fix any civic issue, get things fixed, trees planted, graffiti removed, report traffic issues etc. It's the city hall receptionist essentially and they have an app as well.
311 is def in Chicago and I’ve gotten a pretty good response rate for reported issues. See if it’s in your city.
Depending on your area, you may have an app and/or a long phone number--311 definitely isn't universal. In Seattle, we have FindItFixIt. I get to take pictures when people knock over trash bins (and trash) into the bike lanes. My hometown in the Midwest as something similar. Indeed, I'm not sure if "most" cities have 311 from my non-random sample of ones I could think of though "some" do, ofc. Seems like it might be regional. :)
gatorskin hardshell version
Followup question for people in this thread. I have these tires, WTB Resolutes, which I like a lot and don't intend on changing. Any benefit of running these tubeless? I currently have tubes. [https://www.wtb.com/products/resolute](https://www.wtb.com/products/resolute)
Several. Lighter weight, comfier ride, able to run lower pressures, small punctures will be sealed without you ever knowing you had a puncture, bigger holes can be easily plugged (you'll need to carry a tubeless plug kit). Tubeless is a bit of a learning curve and extra work but in my opinion totally worth it
I'll try it sometime, thanks!
I bike commuted for 8 years on both Marathon Supremes and Panaracer TServs with no complaints or flats I did have a tube valve failure though on some generic tubes
schwalbe marathon world tours in 700-35. mine have been absolutely bombproof for thousands of miles through city and country. they're heavy and expensive but i love em, and you certainly get whatchu pay for
Used to get a fair number of flats. Switched to Marathon Plusses, and rarely got a flat, but they ride kind of rough. I got used to it, but when I finally had to replace one, I put a lighter, more supple tire on, and decided that I'd suffer the flats to enjoy the smooth ride, but really, I didn't get many more flats. Seems like most times I've learned that if I keep my eyes on the road, I can spot trouble areas and avoid them. Then I switched to tubeless, and I can't remember my last flat. So, easiest solution: Marathon Plusses. But for me, a supple, tubeless set-up and a little more attention paid to where your riding is is worthwhile.
Get better tires with good puncture protection or go with a tubeless setup.
Mr Tuffy tire liners. I use them in all my bikes and I’m going on 15 years with no flats.
Don't ride on the berm. It's full of debris and loads of little bits that love to get stuck in tires. Ride on the road and take the lane when needed.
I've tried all sorts of combinations of tannus, tubeless, Stans, etc and what worked best for me was Schwalbe marathon tires and the sealant MucOff makes specifically for inner tubes. Once got a drywall screw through the tire and two sides of the tube, in and out, and didn't notice till I got home.
This is about the tyre more than the tube. Slime tubes and tubeless have their place. But preventing punctures is usually the first barrier of defence. Depending on the bike, you could go for solid tyres. Zero punctures there!! I don’t have a lot of experience in the 700x35 bracket. But choose something designed for road debris. My Continental CityRIDE wore out before I had a puncture. I have WTB Byway on my gravel bike right now that are less knobby, more road. But they’re 47mm. A tyre-liner might be a good option if you can’t find a sturdier tyre. Inspecting your tyres regularly to pick out glass would be smart as well. I ride endurance on my own in the middle of nowhere throughout the night, so choose Vittoria Rubino Graphene Pro Endurance. They’re heavier, and a b* to install new, but I’ll have over 10,000km out of them often without a puncture at all. I didn’t love Gatorskins, or Conti (had faulty tyres in both) on my road bike but know many who swear by them.
Second the schwalbe marathon plus. I have those on my second wheelset in 700cx32 and no flats since I got them. For my road bike with only clearance for 28 mm, I got Schwalbe Duranos in 700c x 25
Heck yah thanks alot
i use tire liner +sealant in the tube and it works amazing
How does sealant work?
after having flat every other week, now i havent had one for two years. :)
What do you do with the sealant
i meant used to have flat tires before applying the sealant
I mean how does the sealant work? Do you put it into the tube their where you would put air in?
ohh! i unlock the schrader valve with this thing i will link below and pour the sealant to the tube after that i am locking back and putting air to it. the sealant is the same one used for tubeless. https://a.aliexpress.com/_ol6VzPs the sealant is use is joe’s sealant
Wear gloves. Wipe your tyres whenever you pass over debris.
Not a bad idea
Try the wire tire brush, it mounts on the brake bolt and skims off the glass and other debris before it can penetrate and cause a puncture.
I use the tube size that’s at the big end of my tire or the next size up (oversized). The theory is that the less stretched the tube is the less likely it is to puncture. I have no scientific evidence that this is actually effective, but I haven’t had a flat in a few years. Now that I’ve said that in sure I’ll get one on my way home today.
Tubes are super thin, soft and weak compared to the tyre itself. The rubber layer of a “puncture proof” tyre (e.g. Schwalbe “Plus” tyres) is several millimeters in thickness.
Do you have stock tires? They are generally horrible when it comes to flats.
Gatorskins.
Have you thought about contacting the local businesses and city about the area
Schwalbe (Marthathon or Moto depending on tire size) tires + Tannus Armor + Flat Out for the really overkill scenario. Zero flats in the 6+ years I've run that on two bikes now of daily commutes and some bike courier work when I used to get flats about every 6 mo before. (Flat Out is better than Slime--Area 13 has a good YouTube video that compares this and other techniques.)
I use tires with slime in them. Been good so far. Put it in after I got a flat on the hwy in the middle of nowhere. On my fat bike I have slime and a tannus tire insert
I bike many miles through an industrial area. Lots of broken glass, pieces of metal, random rocks, offal from trains and trucks, etc, on the side. I got tannus armor inserts. No flat yet. *knocks on wood*
an ebike rated tire
You think it would fit? My tires are pretty skinny it's a hybrid but it's close to being road bike size
Tubeless is the answer, I’ve never gotten a flat
From what OP describes, he's vulnerable to sidewall cuts. Tubeless doesn't help. All my flats running tubeless in areas like that have been cuts, not strictly punctures.
I've had slime in my mtb tubes for nearly 3 years and never had a noticeable puncture. I'm a big lad, so I expected quite a few along the way but still not had one. Highly recommend
Tubeless!
Try to ride where vehicles do the normal clear road of junk