Tire Speed and Weight (Updated January 2022)
With the tires I have laying around, and a some new ones I decided to figure out which tire combination is the fasted. Over the course of a few rides I came up with the results.
No science involved here, just going downhill and keeping track of the downhill speeds when weather and road conditions seemed to be about same for each ride I measured.
Max speed measured on ICE Sprint FS E8000 with max pressure in tires, no breeze and Panniers. Fastest and slowest speed have been eliminated.
It seems like the Schwalbe Marathon Supreme 42/559 (26 x 1.60) on the rear makes the difference between fast and not so fast. It's too bad Schwalbe no longer makes a 406 (20") tire. The Supreme is an expensive tire but I feel it is one of their best tires.
Note; I posted on this subject back in January and July. This post is inclusive of those two posts.The last tire addition is a Schwalbe Big Ben 55/559 at the bottom of the list.
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| Note; I currently use the standard mesh seat not the Ergo-Luxe you see in the picture. |
Front tires and Back Tire
Schwalbe 406 Marathon Green Guard and Schwalbe 559 Marathon Supreme
40/406 - 530g 1.16 lbs
40/406 - 530g 1.16 lbs
42/559 - 440g 0.93 lbs
Total 1,500g 3.25lbs
Speed Average: 38.8
Speeds: 38.9, 38.5, 40.8, 38.1, 39.9, 38.1
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Schwalbe 406 Marathon Racer and Schwalbe 559 Marathon Supreme
40/406 - 340g 0.75 lbs
40/406 - 340g 0.75 lbs
42/559 - 440g 0.93 lbs
Total 1,120g 2.43lbs
Speed Average: 38.6 mph
Speeds: 40.8, 38.1, 38.5, 38.5, 38.1, 39.4
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Continental 406 Contact (E25) and Schwalbe 559 Marathon Supreme
37/406 - 420g 0.93 lbs
37/406 - 420g 0.93 lbs
42/559 - 440g 0.97 lbs
Total 1,280g 2.83 lbs
Speed Average: 38.2 mph
Speeds: 36.5, 38.2, 39.4, 38.7, 37.8, 38.0
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Schwalbe 406 Marathon Plus and Schwalbe 559 Marathon Plus
35/406 - 560g 1.23 lbs
35/406 - 560g 1.23 lbs
40/559 - 870g 1.90 lbs
Total 1,990g 4.36 lbs
Speed Average: 36.5 mph
Speeds: 37.1, 35.8, 36.8, 36.5, 37.8
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Schwalbe 406 Marathon Green Guard and Schwalbe 559 Big Ben (added December 2021)
40/406 - 530g 1.16 lbs
40/406 - 530g 1.16 lbs
55/559 - 760g 1.68 lbs (Race Guard)
Total 1,820g 4.00lbs
Speed Average: 35.5 mph
Speeds: 35.7, 35.3, 34.9, 36.0, 35.5, 35.3
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Schwalbe 406 Marathon Green Guard and Schwalbe 559 Marathon Green Guard
40/406 - 530g 1.16 lbs
40/406 - 530g 1.16 lbs
47/559 - 875g 1.93 lbs
Total 1,935g 4.25lbs
Speed Average: 35.3 mph (Only one ride so far)
Speeds: 35.3
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