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Conti Contact Security vs Schwalbe Marathon Plus cycle tires

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UK and Europe
Published
24 February 2008
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29 February 2008
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TJ
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  1. http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/ti%20contact%20security.shtml

    Continental, Germany tells us the Contact Security is

    "Designed for industrial applications, the ContactSecurity can also
    perform well in everyday use. Its massive puncture-proof breaker was
    developed to resist metal cuttings and shards on factory grounds. In
    view of its tough construction, it is not a comfortable touring tyre
    with low rolling resistance, but it does effectively ward off gravel
    and shards on short stretches in the city."

    How do these compare for puncture protection, speed and mileage
    against the Schwalbe Mararthon Plus ??

    Thanks

  2. TJ said:

    http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/ti%20contact%20security.shtml

    Continental, Germany tells us the Contact Security is

    "Designed for industrial applications, the ContactSecurity can also
    perform well in everyday use. Its massive puncture-proof breaker was
    developed to resist metal cuttings and shards on factory grounds. In
    view of its tough construction, it is not a comfortable touring tyre
    with low rolling resistance, but it does effectively ward off gravel
    and shards on short stretches in the city."


    The page also says "The tread derives it’s superb function from a closer
    look at nature’s solutions. Animal paws were the model for designing the
    tread pattern and it’s surface!"

    How many animals have wheels and travel primarily on pavement?

    --
    Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
    The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

  3. TJ said:

    http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/ti%20contact%20security.shtml

    I note that the 26" version is only rated up to 58 psi, and they recommend
    only 45 psi. That seems incredibly low for a road tyre. Does the stiffness
    of the construction make up for it? They do say:

    "The Contact Security is designed for commuters who simply can't risk a
    puncture; people who want a no-hassle ride to work when speed and rolling
    resistance is not an issue."

    Which implies poor rolling resistance; maybe that's part of the reason.

    tom

    --
    inspired by forty-rod whiskey


  4. Quoted message said:


    I note that the 26" version is only rated up to 58 psi, and they recommend
    only 45 psi. That seems incredibly low for a road tyre. Does the stiffness
    of the construction make up for it? They do say:

    Dutch Perfects have a similarly low pressure rating - I just ignore it
    and put a ton in anyway - so far, so good.

    Regards,

    Duncan

  5. "The Contact Security is designed for commuters who simply can't risk
    a
    puncture; people who want a no-hassle ride to work when speed and
    rolling
    resistance is not an issue."

    an accurate statement.
    when speed and MITTY PRO RACER EFFECT SYNDROME are not issued.
    Conti designs around (?) a responsive sidewall. Seems that way as
    often a Conti sidewall is the tire's weakest area, when loaded with
    rubber as on the Security, less responsive than a TT.

    I carry groceries and camping equipment. The Security used here as a
    rear tire with a TT front was always (now at the end) pumped to near
    90-100 pounds. At higher pressures, the tire is slippery during the
    break in miles. Slippery as overloaded slippery tho I ran it unloaded
    and it was again slippery. I assume I reduced the contact suface above
    a thick belt. ??? I don't know if that's logical.

    Never treid it at recommended pressures. That's from using the TT.
    Recommended TT pressures, I consider largely imaginary as one curb
    drop, I used non progressive bifocals, and whoooola! a cut sidewall
    from impact.

    Never had a flat. Is the tire fun for zipping around? sure, why not,
    even when slippery.
    itsnot a question of: is this tire dangerous
    itsha question of does the tire conform to Mitty Syndrome or Pole
    Disease.
    would I buy another. yes, if the debris content is high. I would try
    sanding the contact surface.
    cam I compare it to a Schwalbe? what planet are you from? I have
    Pasela Messengers. They're on strike. There's a comparison. The
    Messengers are wooden but grip, The Security isnot wooden and is early
    on slippery at lower cornering limits, at high pressures-necessary hi
    pressures.
    I have a Schwalbe Big Apple, unrun. It looks like the PR: new factory,
    new capitol, new technology. Looks a lot like a Pasela Messenger but
    thinner.

  6. In article
    <[email hidden]>,

    Duncan Smith said:
    Quoted message said:


    I note that the 26" version is only rated up to 58 psi, and they recommend
    only 45 psi. That seems incredibly low for a road tyre. Does the stiffness
    of the construction make up for it? They do say:

    Dutch Perfects have a similarly low pressure rating - I just ignore it
    and put a ton in anyway - so far, so good.

    Regards,

    Duncan

    I would be wary -- overpressure failures may not manifest immediately,
    and will tend to fail out the sidewall.

    i did something like that to a $$$ studded Nokian tire a few years back
    in an ill-advised attempt to lower rolling resistance. I ran it at 100+
    psi instead of the recommended 65 max and blew out a sidewall after 4
    months. Front wheel. Fortunately it happened while it was parked in my
    office and not out on the ice.

    ..max

  7. TJ said:

    http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/ti%20contact%20security.shtml

    Continental, Germany tells us the Contact Security is

    "Designed for industrial applications, the ContactSecurity can also
    perform well in everyday use. Its massive puncture-proof breaker was
    developed to resist metal cuttings and shards on factory grounds. In
    view of its tough construction, it is not a comfortable touring tyre
    with low rolling resistance, but it does effectively ward off gravel
    and shards on short stretches in the city."

    How do these compare for puncture protection, speed and mileage
    against the Schwalbe Mararthon Plus ??

    Thanks

    I haven't tried the Continental Contact Security and, having read what
    the manufacturers say about it in the sections you and Tom quote, I
    won't be trying them. I do however have experience of the Schwalbe
    Marathon Plus and the very similar Bontrager Satellite Elite Hardcase,
    which are everything Continental says the Contact Security isn't: the
    Marathon Plus and the Bontrager Hard Case are high-pressure, low
    rolling-resistance tyres of exceptional puncture resistance; they also
    have perfectly good grip in the wet, considering that their tread is
    very low and the sipes are only at the sides of the tyres. I switched
    to Marathon after a series of flats in, among others, Continental
    tyres, that cost me about 125 Euro for new tubes and labour to fix
    flats, and after several ruined rides in the same week bit the bullet
    and bought the expensive Marathon Plus, and have not looked back; zero
    flats in about another 2000km on the same roads. The Bontrager
    Satellite Elite Hardcase came on my Trek "Smover" and has about 1750km
    on the same roads that Contis (*not* the Contact Security) weren't
    good enough on. The Bontrager tyres have nice graphics, if such things
    matter to you, illustrated on my Trek "Smover" at:
    http://members.lycos.co.uk/fiultra/BICYCLE%20%26%20CYCLING.html

    There is nothing to choose between the Marathon Plus and the Bontrager
    Hardcase except that the Schwalbe tyre usually costs more even at the
    discounters, though I must admit I haven't fitted the Bontrager to
    rims yet (they came with the bike as a standard fitting); the Marathon
    was difficult enough to fit, being enormously stiff, but nowhere near
    impossible with patience. I wouldn't want to change a tube beside the
    road though with these tyres fitted. I suspect the Bontrager will be
    the same or a little more difficult to remove and refit as it feels
    stiffer still. Neither tyre shows appreciable wear in around 2k klicks
    on roughish roads. If comfort matters to you, you can have it on
    either by inflating to about 60psi at which they are quite resilient
    and do not add appreciable drag through higher rolling resistance, but
    I have suspension seatposts and forks on both my current bikes so I
    pump them up to about 85psi for minimum rolling resistance, at which
    point there is no rolling resistance penalty over any other tyre I
    have ever used; inflate higher still and the action becomes a bit
    jiggly on poor roads and the suspension starts working harder for its
    living.

    As you can guess, I'm a big fan of the Schwalbe Marathon Plus and the
    Bontrager Satellite Elite Hardcase -- I hate flats.

    Andre Jute
    http://members.lycos.co.uk/fiultra/BICYCLE%20%26%20CYCLING.html

  8. One necessary comparison: using a Specialized thornproof or thornproof
    plus slime tube in a sportier tire fills the bill excepting a thicker
    sidewall. Thicker sidewalls are not so thicker tho...that's a toss up
    depending on condiTions and riding habits.

    a thornproof in a Security doesnot normally flat

  9. Andre Jute said:

    the
    Marathon Plus and the Bontrager Hard Case are high-pressure, low
    rolling-resistance tyres of exceptional puncture resistance; they also
    have perfectly good grip in the wet, considering that their tread is
    very low and the sipes are only at the sides of the tyres.

    Contrary to common opinion, for any given rubber compound, (on bicycles)
    slick tyres are better in the wet than tyres with tread. They also tend to
    roll slightly better. Bicycle tyres with tread are only beneficial on soft
    surfaces, not on tarmac.

    --
    [email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

    :: Wisdom is better than weapons of war ::
    :: Ecclesiastes 9:18 ::

  10. Simon Brooke said:
    Andre Jute said:

    the
    Marathon Plus and the Bontrager Hard Case are high-pressure, low
    rolling-resistance tyres of exceptional puncture resistance; they also
    have perfectly good grip in the wet, considering that their tread is
    very low and the sipes are only at the sides of the tyres.

    Contrary to common opinion, for any given rubber compound, (on bicycles)
    slick tyres are better in the wet than tyres with tread. They also tend to
    roll slightly better. Bicycle tyres with tread are only beneficial on soft
    surfaces, not on tarmac.

    --
    [email hidden] (Simon Brooke)http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

    :: Wisdom is better than weapons of war ::
    :: Ecclesiastes 9:18 ::

    True, since a bicycle cannot aquaplane there's no need for any tread
    (on the road).

    Duncan

  11. "TJ" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/ti%20contact%20security.shtml

    Continental, Germany tells us the Contact Security is

    "Designed for industrial applications, the ContactSecurity can also
    perform well in everyday use. Its massive puncture-proof breaker was
    developed to resist metal cuttings and shards on factory grounds. In
    view of its tough construction, it is not a comfortable touring tyre
    with low rolling resistance, but it does effectively ward off gravel
    and shards on short stretches in the city."

    How do these compare for puncture protection, speed and mileage
    against the Schwalbe Mararthon Plus ??

    Thanks


    I am quite happy with SM+ for Chicago city commuting. I hate flats, and I
    don't get any.

    As far as I am concerned (personally), this issue is closed.

    J.

  12. Duncan Smith said:
    Simon Brooke said:
    Andre Jute said:

    the
    Marathon Plus and the Bontrager Hard Case are high-pressure, low
    rolling-resistance tyres of exceptional puncture resistance; they also
    have perfectly good grip in the wet, considering that their tread is
    very low and the sipes are only at the sides of the tyres.

    Contrary to common opinion, for any given rubber compound, (on bicycles)
    slick tyres are better in the wet than tyres with tread. They also tend to
    roll slightly better. Bicycle tyres with tread are only beneficial on soft
    surfaces, not on tarmac.

    --
    [email hidden] (Simon Brooke)http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

    :: Wisdom is better than weapons of war ::
    :: Ecclesiastes 9:18 ::

    True, since a bicycle cannot aquaplane there's no need for any tread
    (on the road).

    The effect of the tread on a car tyre is mostly to give you better grip
    for braking and cornering in wet conditions. Most drivers will have
    locked wheels or skidded a bit in the wet, and this is noticeably easier
    to do with worn tyres (even if they're still legal). Many fewer drivers
    have ever experienced aquaplaning.

    Certainly I've never heard of a bicycle aquaplaning but it's conceivable
    that on wider and lower pressure bicycle road tyres the tread does give
    you a bit more wet grip.

  13. Jay Bollyn said:

    "TJ" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/ti%20contact%20security.shtml

    Continental, Germany tells us the Contact Security is

    "Designed for industrial applications, the ContactSecurity can also
    perform well in everyday use. Its massive puncture-proof breaker was
    developed to resist metal cuttings and shards on factory grounds. In
    view of its tough construction, it is not a comfortable touring tyre
    with low rolling resistance, but it does effectively ward off gravel
    and shards on short stretches in the city."

    How do these compare for puncture protection, speed and mileage
    against the Schwalbe Mararthon Plus ??

    Thanks


    I am quite happy with SM+ for Chicago city commuting. I hate flats, and I
    don't get any.

    As far as I am concerned (personally), this issue is closed.


    Unless the tires are discontinued (e.g. Schwalbe City Jet), or moved to
    production in a country that results in a significant drop in quality
    (e.g. Tioga Comp Pool).

    --
    Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
    The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

  14. Ben C said:
    Duncan Smith said:
    Simon Brooke said:

    Andre Jute wrote:
    > the
    > Marathon Plus and the Bontrager Hard Case are high-pressure, low
    > rolling-resistance tyres of exceptional puncture resistance; they also
    > have perfectly good grip in the wet, considering that their tread is
    > very low and the sipes are only at the sides of the tyres.

    Contrary to common opinion, for any given rubber compound, (on bicycles)
    slick tyres are better in the wet than tyres with tread. They also tend to
    roll slightly better. Bicycle tyres with tread are only beneficial on soft
    surfaces, not on tarmac.

    --
    [email hidden] (Simon Brooke)http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

    :: Wisdom is better than weapons of war ::
    :: Ecclesiastes 9:18 ::

    True, since a bicycle cannot aquaplane there's no need for any tread
    (on the road).

    The effect of the tread on a car tyre is mostly to give you better grip
    for braking and cornering in wet conditions. Most drivers will have
    locked wheels or skidded a bit in the wet, and this is noticeably easier
    to do with worn tyres (even if they're still legal). Many fewer drivers
    have ever experienced aquaplaning.

    Certainly I've never heard of a bicycle aquaplaning but it's conceivable
    that on wider and lower pressure bicycle road tyres the tread does give
    you a bit more wet grip.

    i think you'll find it's not but that tread provieds surer grip, when on
    say park paths or cycle lanes.

    roger
    --
    www.rogermerriman.com

  15. On Feb 24, 5:20 pm, Tom Sherman <[email hidden]>

    Quoted message said:
    Jay Bollyn said:

    "TJ" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/ti%20contact%20security.shtml

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Continental, Germany tells us the Contact Security is

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    "Designed for industrial applications, the ContactSecurity can also
    perform well in everyday use. Its massive puncture-proof breaker was
    developed to resist metal cuttings and shards on factory grounds. In
    view of its tough construction, it is not a comfortable touring tyre
    with low rolling resistance, but it does effectively ward off gravel
    and shards on short stretches in the city."

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    How do these compare for puncture protection, speed and mileage
    against the Schwalbe Mararthon Plus ??

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Thanks

    Quoted message said:

    I am quite happy with SM+ for Chicago city commuting. I hate flats, and I
    don't get any.

    Quoted message said:

    As far as I am concerned (personally), this issue is closed.

    Unless the tires are discontinued (e.g. Schwalbe City Jet), or moved to
    production in a country that results in a significant drop in quality
    (e.g. Tioga Comp Pool).

    --
    Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
    The weather is here, wish you were beautiful- Hide quoted text -

    - Show quoted text -

    A Conti TT with thornproof tube beats a Schwalbe Marathon 8 days a
    week.
    compare the stats

  16. On Feb 24, 10:20 pm, Tom Sherman <[email hidden]>

    Quoted message said:
    Jay Bollyn said:

    "TJ" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/ti%20contact%20security.shtml

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Continental, Germany tells us the Contact Security is

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    "Designed for industrial applications, the ContactSecurity can also
    perform well in everyday use. Its massive puncture-proof breaker was
    developed to resist metal cuttings and shards on factory grounds. In
    view of its tough construction, it is not a comfortable touring tyre
    with low rolling resistance, but it does effectively ward off gravel
    and shards on short stretches in the city."

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    How do these compare for puncture protection, speed and mileage
    against the Schwalbe Mararthon Plus ??

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Thanks

    Quoted message said:

    I am quite happy with SM+ for Chicago city commuting. I hate flats, and I
    don't get any.

    Quoted message said:

    As far as I am concerned (personally), this issue is closed.

    Unless the tires are discontinued (e.g. Schwalbe City Jet), or moved to
    production in a country that results in a significant drop in quality
    (e.g. Tioga Comp Pool).

    And unless there is a significant price difference. Though the
    recommended retail price is about the same for the Schwalbe Marathon
    Plus and the Bontrager Satellite Elite Hardcase, from the discounters
    the Bontrager was about 60 per cent the price the last time I looked.
    As I have both and cannot for the life of me see any significant
    difference, a 40 per cent price difference would have to feature in my
    decision.

    Andre Jute
    http://members.lycos.co.uk/fiultra/BICYCLE%20%26%20CYCLING.html

  17. Andre Jute said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    I am quite happy with SM+ for Chicago city commuting. I hate flats, and I
    don't get any.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    As far as I am concerned (personally), this issue is closed.

    Quoted message said:

    And unless there is a significant price difference. Though the


    recommended retail price is about the same for the Schwalbe Marathon
    Plus and the Bontrager Satellite Elite Hardcase, from the discounters
    the Bontrager was about 60 per cent the price the last time I looked.
    As I have both and cannot for the life of me see any significant
    difference, a 40 per cent price difference would have to feature in my
    decision.

    I have Schwalbe Marathon Plus on one of my TREK 520 bikes and
    Bontrager Select K (with a kevlar strip inside) on the other. Both
    have worn well with minimum flats. The Schwalbe's have gone about
    10,000 miles with just two flats. The Bontrager rear tire wore out
    more quickly than that but still wore longer than most tires, and with
    only a couple flats. I'll replace the Schwalbes before my next long
    ride this summer. I am not familiar with the Satellite Elite
    Hardcase. How does it compare with the Select K?

    I did not have good luck with thorn resistant tubes. Several of them
    had stem failures.

    Using a separate Kevlar lining with a thin tube wasn't good because
    the sharp edge on the Kevlar caused flats. So I went to the Select
    K. And then also the Schwalbe's after I had heard about them.

  18. In article <[email hidden]>,

    Tom Sherman said:
    Jay Bollyn said:

    "TJ" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/ti%20contact%20security.shtml

    Continental, Germany tells us the Contact Security is

    "Designed for industrial applications, the ContactSecurity can also
    perform well in everyday use. Its massive puncture-proof breaker was
    developed to resist metal cuttings and shards on factory grounds. In
    view of its tough construction, it is not a comfortable touring tyre
    with low rolling resistance, but it does effectively ward off gravel
    and shards on short stretches in the city."

    How do these compare for puncture protection, speed and mileage
    against the Schwalbe Mararthon Plus ??

    Thanks


    I am quite happy with SM+ for Chicago city commuting. I hate flats, and I
    don't get any.

    As far as I am concerned (personally), this issue is closed.


    Unless the tires are discontinued (e.g. Schwalbe City Jet), or moved to
    production in a country that results in a significant drop in quality
    (e.g. Tioga Comp Pool).

    that happened to me; i used to like vittirio (?) Courier TTs. kevlar
    belted, pretty bullet proof, durable and i liked the colors. out of
    production it appears, wish i'd bought a few extra.

  19. Tom Anderson said:
    Quoted message said:

    http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/ti%20contact%20security.shtml

    I note that the 26" version is only rated up to 58 psi, and they
    recommend only 45 psi. That seems incredibly low for a road tyre.

    Not for a *fat* road tyre. The ones with the 58 ratings are 1.75" and 47mm.
    That's fat for "road" tyre. 58 psi will make them hard enough, missus.

    Speed fans won't be interested in such heavy tyres anyway.

    ~PB

  20. Ben C said:

    Certainly I've never heard of a bicycle aquaplaning but it's
    conceivable that on wider and lower pressure bicycle road tyres the
    tread does give you a bit more wet grip.

    It is inconceviable unless you're doing about 50 mph. Or is it 80 mph?

    Even a "wide" bicycle tyre is narrower and rounder than a car tyre. With a
    bicycle tyre, the water is squidged out sideways even with a slick tread.
    Only if you rode at incredibly high speeds could you ride on top of a layer
    of water.

    However, tyres with tread cut-outs tend to have a deeper tread (layer of
    rubber, or synthetic rubber) that happens to provide some more natural
    puncture resistance.

    ~PB

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