Big Apple or Big Ben?

[skeltrike]

Disastrous weekend tyre-wise. Looking to replace both rear tyres on my Kett. it has always had 20" Big Apples. Googling has turned up Big Ben, can anyone explain the difference? (simply)

[belgiangoth]

Big Ben - no puncture protection liner; Big Apple - layer of puncture protection.
My wife's Tern came with Big Ben's, but after her first puncture we swapped them for Big Ben plus (which have even thicker puncture protection liner). My previous experience of Schwalbe "plus" models were Marathon Plus so I was worried, but on handling the Big Ben Plus I wondered whether we had got the right tyre, as it remains thin, supple (ish) and reasonably light.

[KM2]

Thanks for that Belgaingoth
A friend has been struggling to find some 26” Big Apples which gives the supple sidewall required for comfort. If the Big Bens remains supple they should be adequate.
Thanks

[UpWrong]

I thought the only difference was more tread on the Big Ben. They both come in plus and and non-plus versions I thought.

[hercule]

Having used them both, the BB has a meatier tread than the BA and I think is sized larger (2.15” vs 2.0” respectively) for the narrowest ones. My impression is that the BB was heavier and it may be a tight fit for your Kett’s mudguards.

[belgiangoth]

I thought the only difference was more tread on the Big Ben. They both come in plus and and non-plus versions I thought.

Currently on the Schwalbe site they don't list a BB plus and the image of the two are identical.

[Jdsk]

I thought the only difference was more tread on the Big Ben. They both come in plus and and non-plus versions I thought.

Currently on the Schwalbe site they don't list a BB plus and the image of the two are identical.

What do the two different pull-down sections at the bottom mean? One has Race Guard and the other has K-Guard.
https://www.schwalbe.com/en/tour-reader/big-ben

Jonathan

[UpWrong]

Two versions with different puncture protection. Raceguard is 2 layers of nylon fabric, K-guards is one layer of kevlar. Kevlar slows you down more because it absorbs more energy.

[Jdsk]

Thankyou.

Jonathan

[Cowsham]

If your only ever on tarmac or dry path the big Ben's are fine but when on a wet path the tread pattern is too shallow. I put the land cruisers on and find they are much better for slightly mucky/wet conditions . Land Cruisers roll better too but are slightly heavier.

[skeltrike]

Thanks all, decided to stick with Big Apples as they have served me well to date, hoping they arrive before the weekend!