Schwalbe Marathon Studded 700c Tire - Width: 35mm, 40mm

Terrific Winter Urban Commuter

I'm a 4-season commuter with a 10 mile round trip ride every day. When the ice and snow comes, the steel goes in the house and the aluminum beater with disc brakes comes out. I put Marathon Winters on before last winter, and because we had a mild season the tires were riding on mostly bare pavement or ice for 4 months. This winter they have gotten a workout. I rode during the beginning of Nemo and its immediate aftermath and these tires ate it up. They are better on hard packed snow or ice than deep snow however. I've never had a flat and I probably have around 1200 miles on them. A few studs have come out, but considering that these tires have so many I would never know without inspecting them, and you can get replacement studs if you feel like you need them.
If you are an urban commuter considering getting these, just do it.

Pros: Great grip on the slick stuff
No flats
Reflective sidewalls

Cons: They don't handle like my Gatorskins (but if there is a studded tire that can, I don't know about it)
Incredibly hard to get on. Fortunately they don't get flats, so I put them on at the beginning of the season and they come off 4 months later. One of the long-handled shop tire levers with the grabby bar thing is HIGHLY recommended.

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: February 25, 2013
Reviewed by: Jonathan F.

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