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Continental Tour Ride tyres - a warning..

• Thread starter wafter
• Start date 18 May 2023

I like steel bikes and I cannot lie..

• 18 May 2023

sevenfourate

Devotee of ocd.

Ancient randonneur

Tyre depth is the more crucial measurement.  

I like Skol

A minging manc....

Did a similar frustrating exercise a few years ago with Vittoria Zaffiros. My bike at the time came with 23mm Zaffiros and when these wore out I decided I could go up to 25mm safely, but probably no more. I ordered the 25mm tyre which was now superseded by a later version of the same tyre, but was frustrated to find the new 25mm tyre was actually a fraction smaller than the 23mm size it was replacing! It is annoying, especially when it is essentially the same type of tyre from the same manufacturer.  

sevenfourate said: I measured up between the forks on one of my bikes - meant for 25c maximum. And figured after careful consideration i'd 'risk' buying some 28c rubber and give it a go..... Popped into my LBS, all they had in was Ride Tour in 28c. No big issue; the price and purpose for them suited me just perfect. Until i then realised once on and fitted - they were probably narrower than the 25c i'd just removed - and in that make / model tyre, i suspect i could have crowded some 32c on without issue of having decent clearance on inner fork legs. As you say; annoying, pointless, miles off spec, like no other Brand blah blah. Click to expand...

Ian H said: Tyre depth is the more crucial measurement. Click to expand...

I like Skol said: Did a similar frustrating exercise a few years ago with Vittoria Zaffiros. My bike at the time came with 23mm Zaffiros and when these wore out I decided I could go up to 25mm safely, but probably no more. I ordered the 25mm tyre which was now superseded by a later version of the same tyre, but was frustrated to find the new 25mm tyre was actually a fraction smaller than the 23mm size it was replacing! It is annoying, especially when it is essentially the same type of tyre from the same manufacturer. Click to expand...

Jameshow said: Had the same with those new robino I brought 38mm my behind - 25mm actually!!! Click to expand...

You can have quality, quantity and value. But never all three.  

Ride It Like You Stole It!

One tyre that did come up big and very supple are pro4 more like 28mm for 25mm  

Legendary Member

• 19 May 2023

sevenfourate said: Shocking ! 😳😡 Click to expand...

vickster said: Was a typo, changed to 28mm. Rubino don’t come in 38mm Click to expand...

sevenfourate said: Understood. Still not great though. I'm an Engineer. We don't buy Steel or any materials advertised as 28mm and to fit into a joint or gap to suit - that then come in as an actual 25mm. And you wouldn't buy lengths from a wood yard, fittings for your kitchen, or parts for your car etc etc that varied by 3mm (*Or 11% difference on 25mm).....or more. So i wouldn't expect bike tyre's to be any different, or infact routinely sold and not as advertised. And unsurprisingly; across the named brands guilty of this - it seems it may be a case of receiving less (Ie: Less material and less cost to those manufacturers) than stated. Never more...... Click to expand...

Jameshow said: Planned wood is never to size it's 44x44 for 50x50mm nominal but we expect that tbh. Unlike tyres! Click to expand...

O' wise one

I had Continental travel contacts on my tourer because I like the dual tread and what I thought were quality tyres at £35 a peice. Well the 37c measured 34mm and the tread has come apart on the centre line. I replaced with a 42c comes out at 38mm ! And over a few years the bead has separated from the side wall. Not happy, contacted Conti UK and all they could offer were different model tyres no cheaper than I could get online. Rubbish quality tyres made in India.  

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Continental Conti Tour Tires

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Hello, I am looking at new tires for my 2016 RGU. A mechanic I know recommended the Continental Conti Tour tires. I haven't heard much about them so I am seeking some actual experiences from those who have used them. Please share your review of the Continental Conti Tour tires. Thanks  

I am gonna buy a new set also but I have decided on Dunlap American Elite, cus I read a jillion reviews. Lawabiding biker is what pushed me over. Check it out on you tube. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk  

I think if you research this forum you'll find that most are running Dunlops or Michelins. Don't recall seeing anyone reviewing any Conti's. I prefer the Dunlops.  

Both are very good tires with Dunlap being better on wet pavement, the michelin may wear a little better. I have Dunlaps now. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk  

2016 rgs You all make good arguments for new tires. I still seem to see a lot of good reviews for Dunlop. But I am looking at new tires at 12K. Is that the norm? How much more would the Michelin last? And Continentals? Durability? Longevity? Handling?  

[email protected] said: You all make good arguments for new tires. I still seem to see a lot of good reviews for Dunlop. But I am looking at new tires at 12K. Is that the norm? How much more would the Michelin last? And Continentals? Durability? Longevity? Handling? Click to expand...

Love Michelin Commander 2’s. Been running them for years and wear great and handle great!  

Last April I was told to replace my Dunlop rear tire front had plenty left I had 16 k on this second set I was not going to put on one tire Dealer said that the HD design Dunlop’s came with a 60.00 gift card! All we run are Dunlop’s I don’t want to go that long out again put a pair on my wife’s 2017 RGS to help cover winter storage her of was 12k  

I’ve run Continentals, Michelins, Dunlops and Avons and as far as I’m concerned Avons win hands down. They stick to the road excellently and run great in wet weather. Mike U. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk  

No longer available but I really liked the Goodyear Eagles, with yellow lettering, Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk  

I have been using Michelin C2 for many years and have never been disappointed. Longevity and road held on wet are waiting for you. I think the Dunlop are noisy after 10K  

Michelin Commander III‘s are supposed to be out real soon, might wanna have a look at them also. With tire wear, a lot depends on where you live and how you ride, keep up with tire pressures, etc...  

before my bike got totaled i had put a set of the avon cobra chromes on. the performance was excellent. based on my experience with the tires, and with their customer service, when these stock dunlops wear out, i'll go with the avon cobra chromes again. i usually replace them as a set, and i was getting over 20k with the american elites. i know the avons won't wear as long, but that just means that i have more opportunity to inspect my wheel bearings as i do my own labor. but for the customer service portion, i had what i considered to be a warranty issue and i contacted dunlop, sent them pictures, and they never responded to me. f**k 'em as far as i'm concerned. i would have changed out the tires immediately when i bought these new bikes, but really, they've already gotten their money whether i run them or not, so it didn't make sense to throw them away and spend more money right away. but when they're gone.....  

Last time I had Continentals was on a Triumph, that’s been years ago. On Harley’s I’ve run Dunlop, Avon, and Metzler. I will never buy another Metzler, I had good luck with one set of Avon, terrible results from another. Dunlop OEM and American Elite have always given me good miles (20k plus 2010 and up) plus good handling and traction, I plan to stick with Dunlop. I also like that they are made in USA. BTW I haven’t tried the Michelins.  

I run the Dunlop am elite-going on 13360 miles,i can probably get 4000 more by looking at tread-however looking at going with native bagger front and radial,which means radial on the rear also  

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Extra Puncture Belt

Carefree on a daily basis

Anyone looking for a reliable everyday companion will go for a tire with EXTRA PunctureBelt. This rugged rubber breaker, combined with the rubber-reinforced ­sidewalls of the tire, ensures a high level of puncture protection and sidewall abrasion. ­Where durability is the main focus, there is also a solid tire version.

Suitable for E-Bikes

For our E-Bike tyre we fall back on over 100 years’ experience with moped and motorcycle tires. All of our city/trekking tires are rated to a standard speed of at least 25 km/h. Those tires marked e50 are also certified for S-Pedelecs. With their high quality structure, puncture protection is high and the rolling resistance is low offering protection from premature wear brought about by the additional driving force.

Still have questions?

Learn more about our premium technologies.

We are happy to answer all your questions and support you with our tire expertise.

Versatile, safe and durable

The RIDE Tour offers everything a real all-round tyre needs. A tread for every intended surface, the obligatory breakdown protection belt and a high mileage compound ensure the RIDE Tour is a trusted companion on your regular rides. Available in a very wide range of sizes making it an ideal workshop tyre for bike shops to service a variety of different bicycle types.

The RIDE Tour was formerly know as the Tour Ride, and now features an upgraded 180 threads per inch casing rather than the previos 66tpi. This means that the tyre casing is more supple, which means a quicker deformation around the road surface. This gives both better rolling resistance (a faster ride for the given rider power input) and better puncture protection as the tyre is able to deform more quickly around sharp offending objects. 

Durable 3ply / 180 tpi (threads per inch) nylon casing.

• City / street tyre for a diverse range of fitments
• Available in all black, white sidewall, all white, grey and brown sidewall options in many sizes
• A thick EXTRA puncture belt under the tread
• Inexpensive & long lasting

TREAD WEAR INDICATOR

Tyres worn out?   Check our guide to find out .

TYRE TECHNICAL

What makes Conti tyres technically brilliant - read on

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But first I had to fit them. It was extraordinarily difficult. Of the scores, perhaps hundreds, of different tyres I've fitted, these were the toughest. In the end, it took: six to eight cable-ties around each rim, squeezing the tyre down into the well; a liberal application of chalk; much swearing; and considerable discomfort. My hands afterwards were like claws.

I've fitted Marathon Plus tyres with nothing more than my fingers and thumbs, albeit in wider sizes. (I remember struggling to fit a 700x25 M+ too.) Plus-style springy rubber under the tread makes any tyre harder to manipulate. The narrower the tyre, the less malleable it is. It's good that the Touring Plus is virtually impregnable, because you'd have a real fight on your hands trying to change a tube at the roadside with winter-chilled hands.

The lack of suppleness and flex in the hand is matched on the road. There's a lifeless, wooden feel to the tyres that transmitted more road vibration to my hands than I was comfortable with. I've not noticed this so much with wider versions of the Marathon Plus – I have 35-349 versions on my Brompton, and I've used 47-559s around town.

They roll better than you might think from the weight. There is, nevertheless, a notable drop in speed, of the order of 1mph compared to the Durano Plus tyres I was using before.

So they're heavier, slower, and unyielding. So far, so bad. On the (Touring) plus side: they are very, very tough, and they're still about one thousand per cent better to ride on than solid tyres. For some purchasers, this puncture resistance will trump everything. They just want to ride a handful of miles to work and not get a flat tyre – ever. These cyclists can cheerfully ignore almost everything I've written, although even they would be better served by a wider version – the extra weight won't be as noticeable in a wider tyre (on a heavier bike), the lack of suppleness will be masked by the bigger air pocket, and they'll be easier to fit.

> Not sure which tyres you need? Check out our guide here

For road.cc readers (and writers), the Touring Plus will suit some bikes... but not the kind of bike that you would ordinarily fit with 24mm tyres. In 42mm on an urban dreadnought like a Pashley Roadster? Sure. In 35mm on a short-hop folding bike (if such a size were produced)? No problem.

On a road bike or audax bike, you're trading away everything – weight, feel, speed, roadbikeyness – for reliability. Before purchasing, be sure that's what you want to do. There are less tough tyres that, for me and you, are a better compromise. If you want a really tough 25-28mm tyre that rolls reasonably well, try Schwalbe's Durano Plus. If you want a reasonably tough tyre that rolls really well, try the Michelin Pro4 Endurance .

A fantastically tough tyre that, in this narrow size, feels uncomfortably wooden and slow. Go wider!

road.cc test report

Make and model: Continental Touring Plus tyre

Size tested: 700x28

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Continental says:

"Extremely tough general commuter with a puncture-proof layer that's virtually impenetrable to stones, glass & thorns

For those riders whose only concern is puncture protection

When changing a tube is really not an option!

Don't be afraid of the puncture demon!"

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

A compact, highly elastic rubber breaker makes the Touring Plus extremely resistant. Stones, glass splinters and thorns have no chance. Whatever you ride over will find it virtually impossible to pierce the thick Security Breaker band under the tread (see diagram).

The layer strength of the breaker is adapted to the rolling movement of the tyre. The Touring Plus remains very comfortable in spite of its protective coating and rolls and steers very lightly.

Tyre has a wire bead.

Sizes: 47-507, 47-559, 28-622, 32-622, 37-622, 42-622, 47-622, 42-635

The dynamo track on the side won't be needed by most, but the reflective sidewalls are a good idea for commuters.

10/10 for puncture resistance, 4/10 for ride feel. I'm averaging those out.

Extremely tough, with no signs of wear so far.

The heaviest 24mm-wide pneumatic tyre I have ever encountered, by some margin.

Okay for short distances. Not great for more than a few miles in this width.

Given the longevity, a good price.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

I was not afraid of the puncture demon while using these tyres.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Puncture resistance. Reflective sidewalls.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Ride quality. Fitting difficulty.

Did you enjoy using the product? No

Would you consider buying the product? In a wider size for a different kind of bike, yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? In a wider size, yes.

Use this box to explain your score

The rating reflects the 28-622 tyres that I tested. I'd very likely rate wider, lower-pressure versions of this tyre more highly.

Overall rating: 7 /10

About the tester

Age: 46   Height: 1.78m   Weight: 64kg

I usually ride: Genesis Longitude   My best bike is: Planet X Pro Carbon Track

I've been riding for: Over 20 years   I ride: Every day   I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, cyclo-cross, commuting, touring, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking

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10 comments.

SMP+ 700 x 28 for me.

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I had a pair of these on a project retro Kona MTB -  26 x 1.75.

I've used Schwalbe Marathon Plus for many years and thought I'd try something different and a bit cheaper (found the Touring Plus on special offer).

Two punctures in two months. Thorns and glass that my Schwalbe's rejected had defeated the Conti's. Same roads I'd ride with the Schwalbes. Not worth the hassle - switched back to Marathon Plus ASAP.

Strongly advise AGAINST buying this tyre for it's puncture resistance.

On my third set of 42mm tyres.. Before I switched my commute (10 miles ew) into industrial area (strewn with glass nails etc) was a puncture nightmare.

since then not one and like comment above I have worn them through to puncture layer. But then to be fair to the reviewer I am that person who wants to ride a few miles to work and never get a puncture.

I have these on my Tour de Fer in 37mm. They were easy to fit on Mavic XM719 rims and were plenty comfy on a 180km ride I did a while back. They are hugely heavy but then so is the bike, especially loaded up!

Continental Sport Contacts have served me really well as a commuting tyre for a number of years. They're pretty quick, supple and feel surprisingly fast. durability is OK, I generally replace them after about a year - usually when I start to get punctures as the centre portion of the tread squares off.

They're also widely available for under £20.

Fit them with a pair of Lezyne Saber levers, very easy. OK to carry these levers if touring but not for road biking.I like this tyre as the reviewer comments they're great for mixed riding - tarmac and a bit of towpath / gravel.

I've got these in 25mm on my CX commuting bike and didn't find them that bad... Heavy, slow, dead - yeah, but also BOMB proof.  I found them a step up tougher than Durano plus.  In fact, the only tyre I've worn through to the puncture layer without ever getting a puncture.

This review fits my experience, a few years ago, of these tyres. I had the '28mm' version too .

They are so hard to fit that their puncture resistance counted for little, as I was terrfied in case I got a puncture as there was no way I would be able to remove and refit the tyre out on the road.

I never normally use tyre levers to FIT tyres, but I snapped a plastic lever getting these off and off and holed an inner tube after being reduced to using metal levers to get them back on.

When on they rolled so badly that if felt as if I brought my personal headwind with me.

I still have a pair in the garage, with a handful of miles on them, but really I should just chuck them away as I am never, ever, going to use them again.

I used these a fair bit during my commutes over the past few years, as well as Top Contacts. They gave similar results. I was using 32mm versions and I rather liked them. They do roll well and are certainly tough. You do sacrifice a bit of pace uphills and under acceleration but it's worth it to avoid punctures during the winter. But the main reason for me using them is I found them to be an excellent choice if you have a mixed surface commute. They handle offroad tracks surprisingly well without feeling wrong on tarmac, like you do with knobblies. The wear rates are also impressive.

I cannot say I remember having as much difficulty getting them on. But I got shown good a good technique for fitting tyres from a mate who ran my LBS many years ago. I also have pretty strong hands so I'm often surprised when I hear people complain and resort to tools.

If you are riding on tarmac only, you would probably be better served by something like the Continental 4 Seasons.

FWIW, I had these on a Surly Long Haul Trucker in 42c.

I found that they felt rather leaden on that bike too - I liked the Comfort Contacts (again, 42c) that they replaced a lot better, and didn't notice a huge difference in durability.  (The bike was used as a year 'round urban commuter).

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Touring Bike Tire Test: Continental Contact Urban

Contents and Test Summary

• Introduction

Manufacturer Specifications

• Size, Weight, Thickness
• Rolling Resistance: 18.4 Watts
• Puncture Resistance: 95 Points
• Static Wet Grip: 81 Points
• Conclusion: 5.0 / 5 Highly Recommended
• Continental Contact Urban

The Contact Urban is a new touring bike tire from Continental that comes with a modern look and feel. A couple of months back, we already tested its little brother, the Grand Prix Urban ( read our review ). While the Grand Prix Urban is targeted more towards performance, the Contact Urban comes closer to traditional touring bike tires as it's heavier and comes with more puncture protection.

Together with the Continental Contact Urban test, we're introducing wet grip testing to the touring bike section. Today, you can find wet grip test results of 5 touring bike tires, and every new test in this category will also include the wet grip test from now on. We only re-tested 4 other touring bike tires as we only re-test tires newer than 3 years, and the touring bike section hasn't been all that popular. We hope the addition of the wet grip test will spark some new life into the touring bike section.

The Continental Contact Urban comes with a 3/180 TPI casing which is quite common on Continental tires. The compound is the PureGrip compound used on many other "medium-priced" tires from Continental, and it's ranked just behind their BlackChili compound. What seems new is the "SafetyPro" layer of anti-puncture material under the tread, which we haven't seen on any other Continental tire yet.

Before testing the Contact Urban, we already spotted one significant advantage over many of its competitors: it's available in a HUGE amount of different sizes. Check the table below to see all available sizes, but this tire should be on the list of everyone looking for 27.5", 26", 20", and even 16" tires.

Continental Contact Urban Test Results

Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements

Rolling resistance test results, puncture resistance test results.

Static Grip Test Results

We're impressed by the performance of the Contact Urban, especially when considering its friendly price. It's one of the fastest rolling touring bike tires, offers excellent tread puncture resistance, and is simply the best performing tire in our wet grip test. The main weakness can be found in the sidewalls as they aren't really up to touring bike standards.

As the Contact Urban is available in so many different sizes, we want to dig a bit deeper into the wet grip test results. We've noticed over the years that bigger tires in the same series sometimes come with a softer compound than the smaller versions. The reason is that bigger tires can use softer compounds as the pressure per square mm of contact area is lower. In other words: a small tire with a very soft compound would wear too fast, and they require a harder compound to have the same durability.

We're not sure if Continental also does this with the Contact Urban, but we suggest getting at least the 40 mm version (on test here) if you're buying it because of the wet grip performance.

RATING: 5.0 / 5 TEST VERDICT: Highly Recommended

6 Best Commuter Tires Tested and Compared (Including Table and Pictures)

As a serious bike commuter, you want to ride in comfort, and you’ll want to avoid punctures as much as possible. But which tire represents the best value? I spent a lot of money and time testing the most regarded commuter tires. Here is a detailed comparison of the six best commuter tires money can buy.

Please enable JavaScript

The six tires I am showing you are:

• Continental Contact
• Continental Contact Plus
• Continental Ride Tour
• Schwalbe Marathon
• Schwalbe Marathon Plus
• Schwalbe Marathon GT

I have the 32mm version of each of these tires except the Schwalbe Marathon GT, where I used the 37 mm version. I believe this is the smallest you can get in the GT.

32 mm is the best tire width for commuting because it offers sufficient cushioning, so it absorbs the road buzz, and it’s not too bulky to slow you down because of its excessive weight.

All of these tires have reflective sidewalls , which make them stand out at night and are very safe to ride at night. Every commuter bike needs to have these, in my opinion.

They all have their strengths and weaknesses and try to strike the right balance yet appeal to a different type of user.

If you are looking for a robust tire that’s also budget-friendly, get the Continental Ride Tour . If you have more money to spend, get the Continental Contact Plus . These two tires are my personal favorites as they represent the best value for money.

Here’s a quick recap of the results of my extensive testing.

Here’s a detailed description of each category.

Weight is an essential aspect for many riders who want their bike to be as light as possible. Since these tires are in the commuter range and have at least some puncture protection, they will not be as light as racing tires, where each gram counts. In my view, a heavy tire is not a huge penalty on a commuter bike, which needs to be functional, comfortable, and durable . 

• Continental Contact: 510g
• Continental Contact Plus: 740g
• Continental Ride Tour: 670g
• Schwalbe Marathon: 640g
• Schwalbe Marathon Plus: 870g
• Schwalbe Marathon GT: 770g

Unsurprisingly, the Continental Contact is the lightest tire since it offers the least amount of puncture resistance. The protective belt built into the tire defines how heavy a tire will be for the most part. It’s a balance of costs and benefits.

Even when you handle the tires off the bike, you will notice how heavy the Marathon Plus is, but of course, this comes with the great benefit of very high protection.

Note that if the Marathon GT existed in a 32mm version, it would probably be a good 40g lighter.

• Continental Contact: 4
• Continental Contact Plus: 3
• Continental Ride Tour: 3
• Schwalbe Marathon: 3
• Schwalbe Marathon Plus: 2
• Schwalbe Marathon GT: 3

Speed and agility

I was curious to see if and how much the weight of these tires affected their speed. I tested this on a local hill. 

I rode the same bike with the exact same setup on the same hill three times. I measured the time it took to get both up and down and averaged them out. On the way down I didn’t pedal at all, but I let gravity take care of the speed.

What stands out to me is that the weight of the tires comes into play much less than I expected , so much so that you can’t even tell the difference based on this experiment. 

I didn’t use a power meter to measure my output on the way up, so that could explain why the up times were less consistent, but the average time down is also very curious as Continental Contact, which is the lightest tire, ran the slowest. 

Since I ran these tests on different days, other factors, such as slight differences in tire pressure , temperature, wind, and humidity, played a much more important role in determining my average speed.

Agility is another, much more important factor to consider than speed because it’s clearly noticeable as you switch between tires. I didn’t find an empirical way to measure this, so it’s based on perception. Here, the weight comes into play a great deal. 

• Continental Ride Tour: 4
• Schwalbe Marathon: 4
• Schwalbe Marathon GT: 2

All of these tires are made for commuting and touring, where nimbleness is not such a high priority as it is on racing bikes. I felt that lighter tires are more responsive and make handling the bike just a bit faster.

The Marathon Plus is very heavy and rides like a tank. It rolls through road imperfections with ease because of its weight and body mass, but when you make small sudden corrections, you can feel that it’s not as nimble as its lighter counterparts. 

The Contact Plus stands out to me as an interesting tire here because it is quite agile for its weight. I really like how it strikes the right balance of weight and agility.

As a commuter, you may spend up to an hour or even more on your bike each way, which means that you need your bike to be as comfortable as possible. This starts with the tire, especially if your bicycle – like mine – doesn’t have a suspension fork .

• Continental Contact: 3
• Continental Contact Plus: 4
• Schwalbe Marathon Plus: 4
• Schwalbe Marathon GT: 5

The harder a tire needs to be inflated the more road buzz it transmits. Since the Continental Contact has the least amount of puncture resistance, you need to make sure that you run it at a sufficiently high pressure so you avoid getting flats . This means that it’s going to offer the least amount of comfort. This has been true in my case. Don’t get me wrong; even this tire is well-comfortable compared to a skinny 23 mm rock-hard tire.

The rest of the tires are well protected against flats, so I felt comfortable running them even at lower pressures, which made them slightly more comfortable. 

The Marathon GT stands out since it has the most air volume, being 37 mm wide.

If you want to be in control of your bike, you need tires that offer sufficient grip as you corner and brake. I ran several tests on a variety of surfaces, and I was quite happy with them.

• Continental Contact: 5
• Continental Contact Plus: 5
• Schwalbe Marathon Plus: 3
• Schwalbe Marathon GT: 4

I felt in control with these tires most of the time. The Marathon Plus loses traction on wet slippery surfaces the easiest , but I didn’t feel unsafe or unable to turn or stop.

Versatility

Most people who purchase these tires are going to use them mostly on paved roads with the occasional single-track use. The tread pattern ranges from barely any (Marathon GT) to really good. The better the pattern, the more useful the tire is for off-road use.

You’re not going to win gravel races with any of these tires, but the Continental Ride tour and the Continental Contact Plus are quite capable of touring on mixed surfaces.

I was surprised to see that the Schwalbe Marathon has a better pattern and offers better off-road riding than the Marathon Plus. In my opinion, this would make more sense the other way around.

• Continental Ride Tour: 5

Durable tires need to be replaced less often and have a longer lifespan.

Not being able to ride 1000s of miles with each of them to see which one lasted longer, I did some skidding tests with each of them and observed how much the surface was worn at the end. This is an indicator of how they compare in real life.

I also spent time researching other people’s experiences and how much they were able to ride them before they needed to replace them.

I spent the most time with the Continental Ride Tour as it was my daily commuter tire for over 2 years and 4,000 miles. I had to replace my rear tire after 3500 miles, but the sidewalls started cracking just after a few weeks of use. It didn’t affect the riding experience, and it didn’t result in punctures, but it’s something to keep in mind.

E-bike ready

You can mount all of these tires on e-bikes. The Marathon GT and the Contact Plus are rated the highest, at 50 km/h (30 mph), while the rest of them can be used on normal pedelec bikes up to 25 km/h (15 mph). 

This isn’t a deal-breaker for most people, but if you’re looking for new tires for your e-bike, it is an essential detail to pay attention to.

I also own the 37 mm version of the Schwalbe Marathon Plus, rated at 50 km/h (30 mph). It seems that the larger Marathon Plus tires have a higher e-bike rating.

Puncture protection

These tires are among the best in their class regarding puncture protection, which makes them very dependable and great for commuting. 

Pay close attention to this detail if you encounter many thorns or sharp glass on your route to work. A puncture-proof tire can save you a lot of time and headaches. 

• Continental Contact: 2
• Schwalbe Marathon Plus: 5

If puncture protection is your main concern, I can recommend both the Schwalbe Marathon Plus and the Continental Contact Plus tires. They are both excellent. I ran these tires over rose thorns, and thumbtacks, and both of them held up really well.

I give a slight edge to the Contact Plus because I could ride it with ten thumb-tacks in the tire, and it didn’t lose any pressure, while the Marathon Plus had a flat when I removed one of them. 

If you look at each diaphragm, you will notice that the Contact Plus has an additional Kevlar belt under the protective rubber.

The Continental Contact only gets a 2, but it’s still a perfect tire, which didn’t cause me any problem, but it doesn’t offer that extra protective layer that all the others do. If you ride mostly on urban roads without too much debris, it is an excellent tire that won’t disappoint you.

Ease of mounting

Most of the time, we don’t think how easy it is to mount the tire as long as we don’t have to do it. But even the most protective tire may need to be taken off some time.

In my experience, none of these tires were straightforward to mount, probably because they are all wire bead tires. Folding tires stretch easier, so they are easier to put on the rim. 

I had to use tire levers for all despite watching several people on YouTube putting them on with their bare hands.

• Continental Contact Plus: 1
• Continental Ride Tour: 2

I had terrible difficulties getting one of the Contact Plus tires on the rim. The process took me more than I could admit (ahm. 60 minutes), and I punctured my inner tube five times. Thankfully, I was at home under no time pressure and with plenty of patches and spare inner tubes .

The Ride Tour and the Marathon are both difficult tires to mount, in my experience. The rest of them were neither too easy nor too hard. With practice and skill, they get easier.

Price and value

I paid the following amounts for these tires. I realize that these prices change over time, and these tires have become much more expensive recently, but they haven’t changed relative to each others’ prices.

• Continental Contact: $18.5
• Continental Contact Plus: $26.6
• Continental Ride Tour: $15
• Schwalbe Marathon: $21.85
• Schwalbe Marathon Plus: $28.65
• Schwalbe Marathon GT: $28

Let’s tally up the points first to see how much each is worth the price.

These tires are all great, but considering the overall performance and the price point, the Continental Contact and the Continental Ride Tour represent exceptional value. The fact that they are cheap doesn’t mean that they are cheapish.

Sure, if you’re looking for absolute puncture protection, they are not the best choice, but they don’t fall behind the pack. The Marathon Plus ended up with the least points, which was a big surprise to me.

Considering the overall performance and the price of these tires, they deserve the following points for value:

Continental Contact: 5 Continental Contact Plus: 4 Continental Ride Tour: 5 Schwalbe Marathon: 4 Schwalbe Marathon Plus: 3 Schwalbe Marathon GT: 3

Which one should you get?

If you’re looking for a tire for a very specific use, and any one of the above criteria is important to you, you can pick the tire that best suits your needs.

If you’re like me, who rides on mostly decent roads and wants a good commuter tire, any one of them is a good fit. Even if your budget only allows for the cheapest Continental Ride Tour, you won’t be disappointed.

My personal favorite is the Continental Contact Plus . It is a great tire overall, and it performs best in most circumstances. If money isn’t an issue, I recommend it without hesitation.

Happy pedaling!

Sam Benkoczy

Hi, I'm Sam. I own and maintain 6 e-bikes, 15 regular bikes (road bikes, folding bikes, hybrid bikes, city bikes among others). I learned about bikes from my local bike mechanic as well as from bike maintenance courses. I love being out there in the saddle, and using my bike as a practical means of transportation. You can also find me on my YouTube channel at youtube.com/bikecommuterhero Say hi to me at [email protected].

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