Tandem touring tyres

[HTFB]

Now, I've fitted my Orbit/Thompson tandem with Marathon 700x35, and will to a first approximation never need to worry about tyre choice again.

But when Guy and I attempt LEJOG after Easter it'll be with me on the back of his Galaxy Twin. And in a couple of training weekends around the Dales we've not only explored the wide and wonderful variety of ways in which one can break spokes (JD Cycles can rebuild a beautifully round wheel, but it would have helped if it had been properly stress-relieved...) but have also worn the rear tyre---some sort of Continental 700x32---right out. Cut threads all down one side and a disturbing wobble on the road. I blame our titanic combined weights strength.

Guy has, sold to him with the tandem, an unused pair of Conti Top Touring 2000 700x37 tyres of uncertain age. Are these likely to be up to the job? I seem vaguely to recall some warning about this model. Or should we splash out on Marathons?

And what about a spare folding tyre? Any advice?

[clarion]

Marathon Plus.  Why compromise?

[Oscar's dad]

On Tina the Tandem (an Orbit Routier from JD) we have a Marathon XR 700x35c on the front and a Specialised Armadillo Crossroad 700x38c on the back.

The bike came with a matching pair of XRs.  I wanted a folding tyre to carry as a spare.  At the time all I could find that folded was the Crossroad (I clearly didn't look very hard).  I then discovered that the XRs on the bike where the folding variant so I put the Crossroad on the back and carry the original tyre as a folding spare.  I like this as the Crossroad has a wider section so should be better at carrying loads and is has more tread which is good as we also ride on tracks and bridleways.

When these boots wear out I'd like to have a look at Marathon Extremes (700x1.4 and 1.6) or Marathon Plus Tours (not sure if they do a 700 version) or the Continental Top Contact.

[clarion]

We tour on 32s, and neither I nor Butterfly's luggage is light

[Oscar's dad]

When it comes to loaded tandems, I wouldn't entertain anything narrower than 35 but it is a personal choice.  We like unmade roads so a wider tyre with lots of tread works well for us.

[Tim]

Currently we've got paselas on ours. 28mm (I'm pretty certain). Pump 'em up (don't want pinch punctures) add the luggage and away we go. Add trailer as well if there is not enough space on the bike.

Haven't had any tandem specific issues with them - we've damaged sidewalls in the past, but it's no more of an issue than with a solo.

We tend to stick to tarmac.

[clarion]

We stick to tarmac too, so that would be a difference.  We've ridden with 28s, but prefer 32s.

[Rig of Jarkness]

The sidewalls on Conti Top Tourers don't seem to be up to the job when it comes to tandems.  Our Galaxy came with them new but the first split after just 100 miles or so.  I forget whether it was front or rear.  The other one lasted longer but still split well before the tread was showing much wear.  We abandoned Top Tourers and started using Marathons instead.  That must've been 10 years ago and we've not had any problems since.

[phil d]

We use Pasela TG 28s on our tandem.  It is used for day rides and lightweight ("credit card") touring.  They do fail occasionally, and we always have a folder (same tyre other than the bead) with us.  Only needed it a couple of times in quite a few 000 km of riding, but nice to know it's there.

[HTFB]

Just to report that the Conti Top Touring 2000s lasted the 1200-odd miles without any problems or punctures at all, unlike the wheels themselves.

[thing1]

Attempted to order some new Marathon Pluses last night for our touring tandem. I totally hadn't realized Marathon plus is now a range in itself (as mentioned up-thread)

Marathon Plus - road
Marathon Plus MTB - off-road
Marathon Plus Tour - on & off road

I ordered the MTB my mistake.

Just phoned SJS and changed the order for the "Tour" version instead (in 26" x 1.75). We're likely to be touring on some unpaved/gravel roads at some point, so the tours seem just the ticket.

Anyone got any experience of them, and specifically using these on a loaded tandem?

[notlobgp14]

Interesting reading the Thread; we have a Mercian Tandem which was built with quite tight clearances tyre wise.  The bike was purchased second hand, coming with the tyres on and some spares; I think these were 25’s and 28’s.  When fitting some new tyres I went for the same as those fitted to my Hewitt Audax, Conti Top Touring 28’s, for which there is just enough clearance under the mudguards.

The rear tyre lasted approx 1000 miles, due largely to a mudguard fixing screw rubbing on the tread?  I fitted the same type again as a replacement.

Recently we suffered a couple of broken spokes on the rear wheel, as a result of riding on a Sustrans Route near Selby.  Well that’s what we put it down to.  The wheel was repaired in time for an Audax ride, completed without incident.  On checking the rear wheel post ride, I noticed some slack spokes on the non-drive side.  This was due to the rim starting to crack and allowing the tension off the spokes.  The wheel is in for a rebuild with new rim, the builder asked me what size tyre we used and selected a rim to suit the 28’s.  In my ignorance I did not know that the rim width mattered greatly.  Having done some research since, I have found that Rim width to Bead Diameter is fairly critical to tyre performance.

As part of my information gathering, I also found that Tyre pressure not only affects the ride, but can affect the rims.  Until recently I used a hand held pump to inflate bike tyres; but now use a track pump and inflate to 100psi.  My rim failure may be due to a combination of factors; increased tyre pressure putting more load on the rim, increase in spoke tension after replacing the broken ones, leading to a cracked rim.

In the thread I noticed a wide range of beads being fitted to the same Tandem, the same size Rim I assume.  It may be worth researching, measuring the Rim internal gap dimension and fitting tyres accordingly.