Cycling UK Forum

Mine keep going and going. The small grooves that extended to the centre are now well gone and the little round holes on the tread have also virtually disappeared (were these wear markers).

Tread is cut up a bit, but that seems normal on these tyres. Where there is a slight cut or piece of debris imbedded there is plenty of rubber left.

No problem with them and I have a spare pair ready to fit, but wondered if anyone has magic way of saying they are finished and should be replaced.

On a much sadder note, they are discontinued and virtually unobtainable now so what are people going to use instead

There's a wear dot in the centre of the tread. It means. err it's time to start looking out for some at a good price in the next thousand or so miles, though Schwalbe couldn't fit all that on the tread.
EDIT - I've just looked and Schwalbe say it's OK till the carcass shows, though I'd put money on that being very shortly after the dots disappear.

simonhill wrote: ↑22 Aug 2022, 8:16pmOn a much sadder note, they are discontinued and virtually unobtainable now so what are people going to use instead

We use Marathon Plus on our tourers. Which direction would you like to go from that?

Thanks

Jonathan

If you're happy to run them into the ground then either when you loose grip or start picking up punctures. If you're off on a long trip I wouldn't risk it if they look iffy as they might go down hill rapidly.

simonhill wrote: ↑22 Aug 2022, 8:16pm On a much sadder note, they are discontinued and virtually unobtainable now so what are people going to use instead

in what size? I use 700 x 40, stocked up pre Brexit, for a bike I'm riding less, I probably have enough to outlast me... Annoyingly, they're still available from the UK (SJS) for about the same price as I paid.
On another bike, I'm using Schwalbe Almotion, I like them, not as much as the Supreme on decent Tarmac, but on mucky lanes or well surfaced off road i think I prefer them.

PH wrote: ↑22 Aug 2022, 8:39pmEDIT - I've just looked and Schwalbe say it's OK till the carcass shows, though I'd put money on that being very shortly after the dots disappear.

I'm glad to have confirmation of my normal practice.

The only problem is when you've full length mudguards, with flap, hiding the rear tyre, so you don't notice until the tyre punctures through one of the fluffy bits.

Another vote for the Marathon Almotion if you can't get the Supreme. It's a bit heavier but seems to roll pretty nicely.

I've also been using the Continental Taraxagum. Only available in 700x35, but a nice tyre if that size fits your needs.

When they start to get punctures!

They are the best tyres that I have used.

with all tyres I ride until I start to get frequent punctures.
while keeping an eye on the sidewalls.
As others have said, if setting off on a big trip I would put new tyres on if any concern about existing ones.

Mike_Ayling wrote: ↑23 Aug 2022, 4:47am When they start to get punctures!

They are the best tyres that I have used.

Yes, if there is no obvious damage to the tyre, use until you feel you are starting to get thorns penetrating more than before.

Supremes are my fave tyre too. I find other tyres in the Marathon range too harsh and draggy for my kind of cycling, so I won't be looking there for my alternative.

As an alternative, try Continental Gatorskin Hardshell. I've got these on the tandem ATM as a direct replacement for Supremes.

So far, they feel and ride very similarly. However, the Supremes wore out quickly and oddly, squared off like a motorbike tyre with too much motorway/A road use.

I used Paselas for years before which I still like so will probably go back to once the Hardshells die - all dependant on availability at the time.

pwa wrote: ↑23 Aug 2022, 6:31am I find other tyres in the Marathon range too harsh and draggy for my kind of cycling, so I won't be looking there for my alternative.

Does that include the Almotions?

PH wrote: ↑23 Aug 2022, 1:33pm

pwa wrote: ↑23 Aug 2022, 6:31am I find other tyres in the Marathon range too harsh and draggy for my kind of cycling, so I won't be looking there for my alternative.

Does that include the Almotions?

No, I haven't tried those. I have them down as being a bit slower / less easy rolling than Supremes, but better off-road, from what I have heard. And I don't do much off-road. Is that an accurate assessment? I was thinking of the plain Marathons (formerly called Greenguard) and the Pluses, which are both harsh when pumped up enough to roll okay, and draggy otherwise. I'd sooner have more punctures and nicer rolling, if that is the choice.

My wife likes the 28mm Panaracer Gravelkings I put on her bike, but I don't know how tough they would or wouldn't be with my weight on them.

Last summer on my tourer I used 37mm Vittoria Hypers (which are very similar to Supremes), and switched to Almotions in the winter. This summer I left the Almotions on because any performance difference seemed so small that I could not be bothered to change the tyres. If I were a faster rider, I suspect I would notice the difference more.

I bought mine before Brexit, and they are now a lot dearer. SJS appears to be one of the few UK retailers, and sell them for £45 each.

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/tyres-large ... -38-40622/

NB There are two versions of the Almotion in many sizes, a V-Guard version for use with tubes and a Microskin version for tubeless use. The tubeless versions are significantly heavier, so it is necessary to be certain of which version you are buying. Even the HS453 (old) HS603 (new) number designations are the same for the tubeless and non-tubeless versions.

https://www.schwalbe.com/en/tour-reader ... n-almotion

Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like it is probably time to fit the new ones, particularly as I am off on a 2 month trip soon. However, I haven't been getting any punctures and it still looks like there is a bit of rubber left even though all the markings have been worn off. Maybe I'll save and put on my spare bike if I decide that there is some life left in them.

Re future replacements. I use 26" and the Allmotions don't do that size. I was wondering about the Marathon Racers - sounds unlikely as a touring tyre, but has similarities to Supremes. Don't really want any super heavy touring tyres, don't feel I need them anymore.

I also wonder about the Greenguards. The tread on the current Schwalbe website looks slightly different to the early ones that I tried (and didn't like). Is it possible that those who say they aren't too bad are actually riding a later version than us early adopters and rejecters.

I could buy another set (or maybe just a rear) of Supremes for the future, but I am not too happy about using tyres that are already a couple of years old and I have then stored for a couple more years.

Ho hum.

Edit Slowster posted while I was writing.

The link to SJS does show Allmotions in 26", which are not shown on the Schwalbe website, so presumably discontinued and old stock.