As a person who loves cycling, I know how important it is to keep your tires puncture-free. One of the best tires on the market is the Schwalbe Marathon Plus. In this article, we are going to see what alternatives you can use instead if it’s not available or it doesn’t suit your needs or budget
I have personally tested most of these tires and had great results using them (if you want to see the detailed test results, you can read this article).
In order to find a good alternative to the Marathon Plus, you need to understand what features you’re looking for in a new set of tires. Here are some of the things you need to keep in mind when choosing:
- Do you want to ride fast? Lighter tires are going to make you slightly more nimble on the bike, but the weight of the tires isn’t going to make a huge difference. None of these tires are for racing.
- Do you need full puncture protection? This varies a lot from tire to tire, and the Schwalbe Marathon Plus is known to be one of the best in class.
- Do you need reflective sidewalls? They add an extra layer of safety to your ride because people can see you when approaching at night. Urban cyclists benefit from this a lot.
- Do you want to take it off-rad? Do you need good grip? If so, you may want to avoid tires with little to no tread pattern and choose knobbier or more aggressively treaded tires.
- Do you want to use it on an ebike? Consider that some tires are only suitable for e-bikes with pedelec speeds, while others are good for Class 2 and 3 e-bikes too.
Continental Contact Plus
Speed: 3/5
Reflective sidewalls: Yes
Grip: 4/5
Off-road capability: 4/5
E-bike rating: 50 km/h
Price: $$
Excels as: an all-rounder
This is probably my favorite bike tire of all time. It offers excellent puncture resistance, even more so than the Schwalbe Marathon Plus. It is lighter and it rolls faster. I also feel that it is easier to maneuver your bike with the Contact Plus.
In a torture test that I ran on several tires, this was the one that came out as the most puncture-resistant of all. I was able to ride it with 10 thumbtacks in it. Some were just penetrated immediately, and they lost pressure. Even the Marathon Plus lost pressure when I removed the last thumbtack.
And to add insult to injury, all of this comes at a lower price tag than the Marathon Plus.
Schwalbe Marathon
Speed: 3/5
Puncture resistance: 3/5
Reflective sidewalls: Yes
Grip: 3/5
Off-road capability: 3/5
E-bike rating: 25 km/h
Price: $$
Excels as: the little brother of the Marathon Plus
This is an excellent alternative to the Marathon Plus if you are looking for a cheaper alternative in the Schwalbe brand. I own a set of these tires, and I’m tempted to say that I like it even more than its big brother.
The Schwalbe Marathon has a slightly thinner, 3 mm thick protective layer (as opposed to the 5 mm on the Plus version). This makes it also lighter and it allows you to be more agile on your bike.
I also prefer the thread pattern of the Marathon over the Marathon Plus. I feel that it offers better grip and better control of the bike.
Continental Ride Tour
Speed: 4/5
Puncture resistance: 3/5
Reflective sidewalls: Yes
Grip: 4/5
Off-road capability: 4/5
E-bike rating: 25 km/h
Price: $
Excels as: the best budget option and a capable tire for touring
This is a true gem if you’re looking for an absolute budget option. It comes in at a fraction of the cost of the Marathon Plus, and it offers decent puncture resistance. I also love the tread pattern of the Ride Tour, which makes it good for some off-road riding too.
I used these tires for 2 years and commuted with them 60 miles per week. They never once had a puncture and I replaced the rear tire only after two years, but not even because they wore out, but just to be on the safe side.
I always felt in control of the bike, and they offered plenty of grip and traction even in the winter snow.
Their only downside is that they are pretty difficult to mount on the rim, so you need to be careful not to puncture your inner tube in the process.
Continental Contact
Speed: 5/5
Puncture resistance: 2/5
Reflective sidewalls: Yes
Grip: 4/5
Off-road capability: 3/5
E-bike rating: 25 km/h
Price: $
Excels as: cheap dedicated urban tire
I didn’t expect much of the Continental Contact tires, but I was very impressed with them when I put them on my bike. They offer excellent grip and control just like their bigger siblings (Contact Plus).
What they lack is a dedicated puncture protective layer. Instead, they have a kevlar belt in the tire, which is sufficient for most urban rides.
They are also a pleasure to ride in wet conditions, and they offer good grip even when cornering in the rain. It’s a solid choice if you’re on a tight budget.
Continental Gatorskin
Speed: 4/5
Puncture resistance: 3/5
Reflective sidewalls: No
Grip: 4/5
Off-road capability: 1/5
E-bike rating: N/A
Price: $$$
Excels as: the best for road riding
These tires suit you best if you like riding fast, and you don’t expect to encounter lots of long, sharp objects on your rides.
The Gatorskin tires still offer good puncture resistance, but instead of a thick protective layer, they are equipped with a kevlar belt. It’s great for protecting against tears and cuts, but probably not as much against nails or glass.
They are considerably lighter than the Marathon Plus, and this makes them better suited for road riding. Long distance commuters on paved roads love this tire as it is super durable.
Continental Contact Plus City
Speed: 3/5
Puncture resistance: 5/5
Reflective sidewalls: Yes
Grip: 4/5
Off-road capability: 2/5
E-bike rating: 25 km/h
Price: $$
Excels as: an urban alterative
The Contact Plus City is very similar to the Contact Plus both in terms of puncture resistance and in riding characteristics, but as its name suggests, it’s more geared toward city riding. It has a smoother running surface when you ride on paved roads, and the tread pattern is more on the side, which helps with cornering.
I’d like to test this tire to find out if it offers better grip in poor weather conditions, such as cornering in the rain.
