Cycling UK Forum

Hi,

A 6 mile each way commute ?

Change the wheels ? No. Not if there is nothing wrong with then.
However if you have an itch to improve them, and if you can't do it
yourself, take them both into a bike shop for a quick tweak, evening
spoke tensions and any minor trueing. They should do both wheels
for the cost of straightening one wheel, tweaking wheels is easy.
I did my own and they ride a little better / smoother, and with
evened tensions are more reliable than loose / tight spokes.

Change the tyres ? Certainly if they are poor rolling, puncture
prone, poor grip tyres that resemble hard plastic more than
hard rubber. Ah, but you have Marathons fitted. It is the
classic commuting / touring tyre. Its hard to better all round *
(without paying more) if you want high mileage and very few
punctures and the latter is what you do don't want commuting.

There is generally no point changing decent tyres on a bike
pretty ideal for a modest commute to something else, and
expecting any real improvements without also getting a
real downside, like higher likelihood of getting punctures.

The only exception I'd say, is seeing the light and changing
tyres that are too skinny to the fattest tyres that will fit.
That is a radical change in your riding philosophy, but
you won't look back with fatter tyres on typical roads.

Tweak the wheels. Ride the tyres until the rear needs
replacing. Put the front on the back and fit the new tyre
on the front. Consider a different tyre for the new front.

rgds, sreten.

* I'd argue some lower priced tyres are better value than
the Marathons, not least several Shwalbe budget tyres.