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I have had excellent experiences with two brands of bike tires on tour. The Schwalbe Marathon Plus and Continental Touring tires have lasted the longest (most kilometers or miles) with the least flats, slices, or blowouts.

Inspecting a tire for thorns.

These bike touring specific tires have tread patterns that can meet most cycle touring needs.  They can be purchased two sizes: 26 inch (MT mountain bike) and 700c (road).

The only problem with the Schwalbe Marathon Plus and Continental Touring is they are hard to find in bike shops, especially when you need them, while traveling on the road.  Often the best traveling tires we can find, without shopping online, are Vittoria Randonneur Touring.  These tires, in my opinion, are not as good as the ones mentioned above but are usually better than other tires on the shelf in a retail store and provide pretty good value for the money. 

The lightweight Kevlar folding spare tire will always occupy the bottom of one of my bags.  Bad luck usually strikes when you are the furthest from civilization.  My advice is to start out with the best long distance touring tires and travel equipment and always be prepared for the worst scenarios.

Continental Travel/Contact Tires:  Tim's Favorite Recommended Bicycle Travel and Touring Tire

Buy Continental Travel/Contact Tires HERE (from Tim) I waffle between the Travel Contact and the Schwalbe tires (below) as my recommended favorite best bicycle touring tires for the kind of bike tour I am on. Especially this year when a rock cut a four inch gash in the sidewall on my Schwalbe Marathon Plus while riding on a dirt road in Nepal. Maybe this was a fluke, any tire can have problems, but The long trusted Continental Travel Contact is a very dependable tire and a good deal for the price. In my experience they get the highest mileage compared to other bike tour tires in the same weight category and possibly the highest miles of any I have used. I especially like the slick smooth tread on top like a bald road tire and the knobs on the edges do not touch the ground until you hit the dirt. It seems to be the best of both worlds and reaches an optimal compromise between pavement rolling efficiency and loose dirt handling and stability. The square-ish profile seems to float on top of gravel and sand better than other tires the same width. The only draw back is there is no folding option so I recommend starting with two new Travel/contacts and, if your trip is in the developing countries, more than six months long, or over rough terrain then carrying a folding spare tire in the bottom of a pannier sold below as insurance against a very bad day. Buy Continental Travel/Contact Tires HERE My personal link to the tires that fit my bike/s. Continental Travel Contact Tire - 26 x 1.75

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Vittoria Randonneur Touring Tires

Buy Vittoria Randonneur Touring Tires HERE (from Tim) There are many great tires on this page but the Vittoria Randonneur line of tires are the lowest price touring and commuting tires I would buy. Think of them as economical: The best value for the maximum miles - kilometers. I have used these tires in Argentina and New Zealand and know they can handle long distances, on the pavement or dirt, while carrying a heavy load. If your travel budget is tight but you still want to avoid flats and punctures look no further. It would be too good to be true if a tire in this price range was folding so I suggest you start with two of these and carry a folding spare tire below if needed. With the money you save buying these tires you will have a few more days of cash to extend your adventures Buy Vittoria Randonneur Touring Tires HERE

 

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Schwalbe Marathon Dureme

Shop for Schwalbe Tires Here (from Tim) This is the tire I plan to buy next. I have seen an increasing number of them on the bikes of other travelers I meet. They look very tough but expensive. I have to give Schwalbe credit for including a Kevlar bead to make these tires lighter and the ability to be folded makes them easy to carry as a spare or have them sent in the mail. It is surprising how many bike tourist and traveling cyclists find themselves needing tires mailed out to dark corners of the globe because they are picky about there tires (like me) and can only stand to use tires found in local bike shops until the package arrives. If you want a worry free trip, and do not mind spending the money, then this may be your best choice. Shop for Schwalbe Tires Here

 

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Schwalbe Marathon Plus Punctures become obsolete with the MARATHON PLUS! The SmartGuard layer made from a flexible, special rubber offers particular resistance to shards of glass and flints. Even a thumbtack cannot penetrate this protective layer. The SmartGuard belt does not increase rolling resistance. The MARATHON PLUS rolls as easily as a tire without protection. Shop for Schwalbe Tires Here

Continental Touring Plus A compact, highly elastic rubber breaker makes the Touring Plus extremely resistant. Stones, glass splitters and thorns have no chance. The layer strength of the Breaker is adapted to the rolling movement of the tire. Features and Information Touring Plus * Security breaker makes tire extremely resistant to punctures 700C touring tires 26 inch touring tires Continental Touring Plus 700x37 Continental Touring Plus 700x32 Continental Touring Plus 700x28 Continental Touring Plus 26x1.75

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Folding Emergency Spare Tire Schwalbe Marathon Supreme HS382 (Folding Tire) Manufacturer: SCHWALBE Schwalbe Marathon Supreme Shop for Schwalbe Tires Here

Schwalbe Ice Spiker Winter Studded Tire 26" x 2.10

As the snow begins the fall and the ice accumulates on the ground we start to see less people on the road and more trainers coming out of storage.  Before you think about jumping on the iron horse and staring at the 2006 Tour video you watched 30 times last year, think about picking up a pair of the Schwalbe Ice Spikers studded winter tires and riding in the winter conditions.  The 304 spikes keep you glued to the road or trail through the corners, and they are constructed of steel so you know they will last.

**Tires must be run-in for 25 miles on a hard surface to set the spikes in place.

Studded Mt. Bike Tires Sold Here

Schwalbe Marathon Winter Bicycle Tire with metal studs 700x35

* 240 spikes

Schwalbe Marathon Winter Tires. For a safer journey. You have full control on icy roads with the Marathon Winter. Even in tight bends and under violent braking everything remains under control. The spikes work best on ice when running at minimum pressure, while at maximum pressure the tires can be ridden on ice-free roads with minimal road noise
Features and Information
Marathon Winter
* Marathon Silica compound for easy rolling and longer life
* Reflex sidewalls incorporate light-reflecting bands

Studded Mt. Bike Tires Sold Here