20" tandem tyre?

[zenitb]

I now have a Bike Friday designed "Tandem Two's Day" tandem. It goes on leisurely club runs on tarmac but the front tyre (an old Continental Top Touring 2000..ETRTO 28 width) is almost bald!! (There is a decent and newish Schwalbe Road Cruiser on the back.. ETRTO 32mm width)

Given there are two of us on it (11 + 11 stones = 22 stones) I have been pumping up the tyres as hard as I dare ..80-85psi.

There is plenty of room under the forks so I was looking for some good advice as to a robust, safe replacement tyre?

All comments gratefully accepted...

[Brucey]

it might help if you say what size your rims really are; the are umpteen different 20" (nominal) tyre sizes and they all fit to different rims.

[zenitb]

ETRTO 406 Brucey

[NickJP]

I'd look for some BMX tyres intended for road or bitumen track use. Maxxis make a few in different sizes. I'd go for something considerably larger than the 28mm you say you are presently running. Schwalbe also make their Kojak in 35-406, if you want something smaller than any of the Maxxis tyres.

https://www.maxxis.com/us/tires/bicycle/bmx/
https://www.schwalbe.com/en/Kojak-11600046.02

[pjclinch]

Schwalbe Marathons come in 406/40 and are pretty bombproof, use them on my touring 'bent.

[Richard Fairhurst]

I’ve been eking out some Marathon Supremes but Schwalbe discontinued the 20in product a few years back - you can still find them on eBay sometimes. I’ve not yet found an equivalent that hits the sweet spot between fast and puncture-proof - they do Marathon Racer and Marathon Plus for each end of that scale.

[rareposter]

Schwalbe also make their Kojak in 35-406, if you want something smaller than any of the Maxxis tyres.

https://www.schwalbe.com/en/Kojak-11600046.02

Another vote for the Schwalbe Kojak - excellent tyres.

[CJR18]

Schwalbe Marathon 20x1.75 47-406 rated at 80kg
I found this to be the widest tyre (Sun Ringle Envy rim) that would fit in the rear triangle of my BF Twosday tandem with sensible clearance.


If you can make it fit I would try a Schwalbe Pickup 55-406.
I wonder what it would actually measure on your rims and frame- rated at 115kg
https://www.schwalbe.com/en/Schwalbe-Pick-Up-11159258

Tannus armour inserts - are an option to explore they allow slightly lower pressures for same load
https://www.tannus.co.uk/pages/about-ta ... ur-inserts

[simonineaston]

Although I’m light weight and do not own a tandem, I’ve used Schwalbe’s Marathons on 406 wheels and they've always seemed really, really robust…

[zenitb]

I’ve been eking out some Marathon Supremes but Schwalbe discontinued the 20in product a few years back - you can still find them on eBay sometimes. I’ve not yet found an equivalent that hits the sweet spot between fast and puncture-proof - they do Marathon Racer and Marathon Plus for each end of that scale.

Thanks for responding Richard.
I had 26" Supremes on a now deceased tandem Richard...and did like them. Given my and my stokers combined age (130??) we probably should be prioritising robustness over speed so it looks like the Marathon Plus is our Schwalbe option.

[zenitb]

Schwalbe Marathons come in 406/40 and are pretty bombproof, use them on my touring 'bent.

I like the sound of 40 width pj ... do you know offhand what the max psi rating is?

[zenitb]

Although I’m light weight and do not own a tandem, I’ve used Schwalbe’s Marathons on 406 wheels and they've always seemed really, really robust…

Simon thanks for that... another marathon vote

[Jdsk]

Schwalbe Marathons come in 406/40 and are pretty bombproof, use them on my touring 'bent.

I like the sound of 40 width pj ... do you know offhand what the max psi rating is?

"Pressure: 4.0-7.0 Bar":
https://www.schwalbe.com/en/Marathon-11100148
(assuming that's the right type of Marathon)

Jonathan

[zenitb]

Thanks for that Jonathan...7bar looks like 100psi which would be fine I think...

[zenitb]

I'd look for some BMX tyres intended for road or bitumen track use. Maxxis make a few in different sizes. I'd go for something considerably larger than the 28mm you say you are presently running. Schwalbe also make their Kojak in 35-406, if you want something smaller than any of the Maxxis tyres.

https://www.maxxis.com/us/tires/bicycle/bmx/
https://www.schwalbe.com/en/Kojak-11600046.02

Kojak!! Who loves ya baby!! Looks a great suggestion for tarmac only which I hadn't considered.. cheers nick!!