Schwalbe’s Big Apple is a 10-year old tire design. What’s a newer/better alternative?

[LeRoy]

The above question requires clarification. I’ll frame the issues in a long-winded way as they pertain to my situation (since, from my point of view, it’s all about me). My second- or third-hand 59 Clem Smith Jr. came to me with 50mm (50-622) Schwalbe Big Apple tires (Performance Line, RaceGuard, LiteSkin). Now, after about 2500 of my miles and an unknown prior history, it’s time for new tires.

 

I am not a sophisticated or particularly knowledgeable judge of tires. I have no depth of experience. However, I like the Big Apple’s virtues: it offers a very comfortable ride, relatively low rolling resistance, longevity, a good price/value relationship, and an admirable resistance to flats. What’s not to like, right?

 

But... there's always a but. Schwalbe, with the Big Apple introduction a decade ago, was a pioneer in the balloon tire movement. And while there have been improvements and variations in the Big Apple line, one wonders what else has been developed by Schwalbe and competitors to fill the same niche for comfort, easy rolling, longevity, value, and flat resistance.

 

To further narrow the question, my riding conditions consist mainly of rails-to-trails mileage, around town use on paved and gravel roads, and very limited use on light-duty off-road bike trails. Although my Clem is rather a heavyweight, even among Clems, with me on board we are still safely below its maximum GVWR, if there is such a thing for bikes. My riding days range from 10-40 miles with very occasional longer ventures. My riding is more relaxed than aggressive. Knobbies and gravel tires don’t seem necessary. I want comfort, easy rolling, value, durability and flat resistance. Finally, I have a generalized impression that lighter tires will be more satisfactory than heavier, other things being equal.

 

To get to the point of this long story, I’m seeking advice from those with more experience. I’m looking at widths from 50-55mm, maybe up to 60mm although I have to consider fender clearance. And this will be simply a choice of tires, not a tube vs. tubeless choice – I’m staying with tubes, And, this is not a quest for new tire and wheel combinations. Here’s what I’ve gleaned after spelunking among the archives:

 

·      The Big Apple is still a fine choice, but it’s no lightweight

·      The Schwalbe Big Ben seems to be more of everything the Big Apple offers, including more weight

·      The Schwalbe Big One, in its several iterations, seems more fragile, less durable and more costly – although its other features are admirable

·      The Maxxis Torch 29x2.1 looks interesting, and is a good bit wider – yet lighter – than Big Apples, but I haven’t seen many reviews

·      The Kenda tires that come standard on the Clem seem to be held in low regard

·      Many of the highly-touted and rather costly specialist tires seem more fragile and/or less long-lived than the Big Apple

The question is, what tire make and model would you recommend for my combination of priorities and riding conditions? Or, should I just order another set of Big  Apples and call it a day? Thanks for any insights and the patience of the reader.

LeRoy

[Robert Tilley]

I'll need new tires for my 622 All Rounder soon and will likely go with one of the Rene Herse offerings. The Antelope Hill looks nice and everything I've heard about them has been good. My AR doesn't get a ton of miles so longevity of the tires isn't a huge concern for me.

https://www.renehersecycles.com/shop/components/tires/700c/700cx55-antelope-hill-tc/

On their blog recently they talked about a new knobby that I may wait for.

Robert Tilley

San Diego, CA

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From: bobsh...@gmail.com Sent: May 13, 2020 8:34 PM To: rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com Reply-to: rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com Subject: [RBW] Schwalbe’s Big Apple is a 10-year old tire design. What’s a newer/better alternative?

[Kainalu V. -Brooklyn NY]

I thought the stock Kendas (kwicknines?) were adequate tires, but the discontinued Big Ones and those that followed are certainly better for most things, but more fragile, the big ones especially so. The G-ones are super duper tires, I use them tubeless and it's great, but with tubes I'd stick with the big apples or similarly thickish tire.
-Kai

[Kainalu V. -Brooklyn NY]

And thumbs up for Liteskin schwalbes.
-Kai

[Nick Payne]

I just installed a Schwalbe Marathon Almotion 700x55 on a rear wheel. It hasn't been there long enough to offer any option on longevity, but it seems pretty tough, well made, was easy to install (I didn't need tyre levers), has no perceptible wobble or runout once inflated, and from what I've read, the rolling resistance is pretty low. The sizing is pretty spot-on as well - it measured 54mm when first inflated, which means that after a couple of weeks it probably is a genuine 55mm. As a rear, I run it at 35psi, which seems about right.

Schwalbe make this model in a couple of different versions - this one says "Evolution TLE" on the sidewall, which I think means their best casing and that it can be run tubeless, though I'm using it with a Maxxis ultralight tube.

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

Nick

[Eric Daume]

Though they have their fans, I've found BA's to be fairly slow and plodding on the few bikes I've tried them on.

That said, they're worlds better than the stock Kwik Nines that come on the Clem. Those are particularly awful tires. Sometimes I wake up at night in a cold sweat, after a nightmare that I was forced to ride Kwik Nines.

I recently put a Maxxiss Grifter on the back of my Jones, after the bead on the Schwalbe Super Moto (pre-Big One) broke. The Maxxiss seems to roll pretty well, and has a bit of tread.

Panaracer Gravel Kings (they have smooth versions) and the Soma Supple tires also work well, IME.

Eric

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[Chris L]

I have the Maxxis Torch 29'ers on my Hunqapillar and the thought of swapping them out for the 60mm Big Apples I have hanging on the wall never once crossed my mind.  And I like the Big Apples.  I just like the Torch more.  

I can't vouch for durability because I don't put on a lot of miles and the miles I do ride are pretty much optimal road conditions (ie, very clean).  

Also, of the four pairs of Schwalbe tires I've owned, three had a tire with a wobble in it, which drives me absolutely nuts, so I'm very leery of ever buying a Schwalbe tire.  

I probably will eventually buy the Rene Hearse Antelope Hill or Snoqualmie Pass tires, just to satisfy my curiosity.  I do worry about durability and flat protection, even on the new Endurance models.

On Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at 10:34:04 PM UTC-5, LeRoy wrote:

·      The Maxxis Torch 29x2.1 looks interesting, and is a good bit wider – yet lighter – than Big Apples, but I haven’t seen many reviews

·      The Kenda tires that come standard on the Clem seem to be held in low regard

[Jim Bronson]

I decided to live with the Kwick Nine on my Clem H.  I just exert the same effort that I would otherwise, and enjoy the scenery.

If I need to get somewhere faster, I use my Road Standard which has Compass tires on it.

-Jim

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[Ginz]

I can say that the tread pattern on my 26x2.35" is different on the one I just purchased vs. the one that is 5-8 years old. 

[Joe Bernard]

Kenda Kwicks are great if you can't afford brakes. Just stop pedaling and you slow down right away!