Last December, I replaced the stock Bontrager Race Lite Hardcase tires on my Trek Valencia after 2,000+ miles. With the Valencia playing the role of both my commuter and touring bicycle, it was critical for me to find a pair of tires that would be extremely durable, highly flat-resistant and competent in inclement weather.
If the first 350 miles are any indication, my selection of Schwalbe’s Marathon Supreme tire appears to be a wise one.
Let’s take a look at these tires in more detail:
- Weight : At 375 grams, the Marathon Supreme’s are about 50 grams lighter than the stock Bontrager tires they replaced. Considering 50 grams is less than a 1/4 of a pound, the difference is not significant but I’ll take any weight reduction I can get (since I’m typically in the mode of adding weight to this bike in the form of accessories, etc.)
- Reflective Sidewall: A strip of reflective material on each side of the tire goes a long way in increasing your side visibility when you’re on the road in low-light conditions.
- Tread: The tread pattern on the Marathon Supreme seems to be a nice balance between providing excellent traction on wet pavement with a minimal price in rolling resistance. In my experience, I’ve noticed a slight reduction in top speed compared to the slick (and higher pressure) Bontrager tires but a noticeable increase in wet-weather traction. That’s a trade-off I’m more than willing to make on a bicycle dedicated to commuting & touring.
- Road Feel: This is perhaps the most impressive improvement I’ve experienced since switching to the Marathon Supreme – ride quality is definitely improved. Hitting bumps, uneven pavement and the like is now a noticeably less jarring experience. This is both a result of great tire construction and the fact that the tire has a lower maximum pressure of 85-95 psi. Fully loaded with touring gear, the ride quality improves even more – providing miles and miles of comfortable riding — a testament to its roots as a bicycle touring tire.
- Price: No doubt about it, these tires are not cheap. I purchased mine for around $60-70 a tire from Amazon.com. Do I regret this investment? Not for a second.
As I continue to experience these tires, I will post another update once I cross the 1,000-1,500 mile mark. At the moment, I have to give the tire a highly recommended rating based on my experiences with it so far.
It’s slightly disingenuous to compare a $40 wire-bead tire to a $70 folding tire. I think the biggest thing here is that you purchased a tire with a lower max pressure rating. Were you to be running your Bontrager’s at 90psi, you would probably have noticed a very similar ride. Max PSI on the 700×32 Race Lite Hard Case is 110psi which is a lot more than what most people need or should use. I’ve been using RLHC’s for the past couple years now and never run at max pressure and have passed 3000 miles (between a set of 700×32s and 700×25s) without a flat and with a comfortable ride for all but the most jarring road hazards. I have a similar setup to your Valencia with my Trek Soho (original).
Not saying you shouldn’t be recommending the Schwalbe, many others have said it’s a wonderful tire. I’m not quite sold on the upgrade significance in spending $60 more on a pair to save 3.5oz, especially for a touring rig.
I have to agree with Brandon 100% , well stated. I have two bikes with RLHC tires as well with similar mileage and NO FLATS.
I actually agree with many of Brandon’s sentiments as well. This review was supposed to be less of a comparison and more of a review of the Marathon Supreme. I’ll state for the record right now, the Bonty Race Lite Hardcase tires ROCK. I had maybe 2 flast in 2500+ miles. I can’t say enough good things about them.
That said, the Supremes have been very impressive so far – providing some noticeable improvements like better handling on slick streets.
Also, most of the tire manufacturers I’ve visited suggest that unless you’re under around 180lbs, you should be riding your tires at max tire pressure to insure the best flat protection possible. On a bicycle commute or tour, that’s definitely my priority.