Schwalbe Marathon tires don't quite fit on Silvio

[AbramClark]

I've got these tires on 3 other bikes and like them a lot. I finally got a set for the Silvio today only to discover that they don't quite fit, at least in the rear fork. The wheel does turn, but the tire is slightly too tall and rubs a bit against the very center of the fork. It looks like this could be solved by filing out a fraction of a millimeter from the fork. Is this a bad idea?

 

[super slim]

I've got these tires on 3 other bikes and like them a lot. I finally got a set for the Silvio today only to discover that they don't quite fit, at least in the rear fork. The wheel does turn, but the tire is slightly too tall and rubs a bit against the very centre of the fork. It looks like this could be solved by filing out a fraction of a millimeter from the fork. Is this a bad idea?

Which model Silvio, and what size tyre, and what tyre pressure as Schwalbe increase in size with tyre pressure?

On my Silvio V1.0, which was designed for a 700*23 tyre, I could squeeze in a 700*28 Ultremo XZ, at 110 psi, but NOT 115 psi, after filing the front and rear fork crowns to the tyre profile+ 1.5 mm.
I removed a max of 2 mm on the front fork, where there was a lot of extra metal due to the suspension, and 1 mm on the rear.

If riding of a wet gravel road , then lower the pressures 10 psi to give more clearance.

If using a different person's track pump, check the tyre to fork clearance with a 1.5 mm Allen key, before the ride, or you might wear a hole in your rear tyre on a Community ride!

 

[bladderhead]

Silvio 2.1 has a big lump of metal under the front fork crown which seemed to perform no function other than to make it impossible to accommodate a mudguard. I filed it. Many miles ago.

 

[AbramClark]

Oh oops, it's a 28mm tire, and I usually ride with 75 to 90 PSI. This tire does start to spin freely around 40 PSI, clearly far too low.

I had a set of 28mm maxis tires that fit fine at over 100 PSI (don't know the specific brand, I got them lightly used from another biker). The front is still the old tire (haven't tried fitting the new size there). The rear fork has very little extra material beyond the bolt for the brake.

I think the Schwalbe Marathon is unusually tall for a 28mm because of all the extra material for puncture resistance.

 

[AbramClark]

You need more clearance for rocks to pass through

Really? I have slick tires. If I ride through mud I can get build-up around the breaks, but rocks should never be squeezing between the fork and tire.

 

[AbramClark]

Wow, I just measured both tires, and the Schwalbe Marathon 700x28 is slightly more than 3mm taller (6mm total diameter) than the Mavic Yksion Elite Guard 700x28. I switched back to my old tire, and I'm going to ask the LBS about an alternative x28 or x25 with more puncture protection that will definitely fit.

I had no idea tires with the same label width are so different.

 

[AbramClark]

The recommendation at the bike shop was Specialized Armadillo tires, but for now I'm just using the cheap and thin Mavics

 

[super slim]

Really? I have slick tires. If I ride through mud I can get build-up around the breaks, but rocks should never be squeezing between the fork and tire.

If it is a wet day, gravel will stick to a slick tyre, and jam, but not stop the wheel, just cut a long groove in your tyre until you stop!

 

[Mathew Fy]

just cut a long groove in your tyre

I destroyed a Schwalbe One that way after riding on fresh chip-seal where the tar and rock chips wedged into the fork crown. Didn’t notice the tire bulging until the next ride.

 

[Emeljay]

The recommendation at the bike shop was Specialized Armadillo tires

I bicycle toured from Seattle to San Diego, got 3 flats up to about California where I changed to Armadillo tires. No flats after the change, and compared to previous tires I felt very stable, rode well in the rain, and felt fast enough for touring with a loaded bicycle.

 

[super slim]

I bicycle toured from Seattle to San Diego, got 3 flats up to about California where I changed to Armadillo tires. No flats after the change, and compared to previous tires I felt very stable, rode well in the rain, and felt fast enough for touring with a loaded bicycle.

I think the road conditions in California are MUCH better than Washington, and Oregon, due to the hundred+ cops seen, with laser guns in CA(24 days riding), compared to NONE seen in WA and OR(18 days riding)!!

In 2011, I did the ACA Pacific West, Van supported tour from the Canada to the Mexico borders, on my Quest V1.0 with brand new 26"*1.3" Kojacks (Great tyre for grip in the wet!), with 5 punctures and 1 pinch flat in WA and OR + 9 broken spokes(brand new TWE $550 wheel set!) overs 6 days in WA + OR from hitting concrete bridges, after subsided roads on 80 kph descents. Its also rained EVER day in WA+OR, so I think that helps punctures to occur!
No punctures or broken spokes in CA!!

 

[Emeljay]

+ 9 broken spokes(brand new TWE $550 wheel set!) overs 6 days in WA + OR from hitting concrete bridges, after subsided roads on 80 kph descents.

I had 6 broken spokes, but was lucky with only 6 rain days in my month riding in October through WA/OR all the while it was raining all around, did also go fast on descents...fast enough to make my eyes water too much so I couldnt see!Now I take goggles for descents

 

[super slim]

I had 6 broken spokes, but was lucky with only 6 rain days in my month riding in October through WA/OR all the while it was raining all around, did also go fast on descents...fast enough to make my eyes water too much so I couldnt see!Now I take goggles for descents

We were lucky that it did not rain during tent set up or tear down times!
I bought a waterproof camera for my 2013 riding tours!

 

[Emeljay]

I was lucky it did not rain when I was where I was, every RVer who later camped near me said, Oh, you came from there, it is flooding there now! I saw the dark sky and black clouds every morning, had my coffee, and I sprinted down the road!

 

[AbramClark]

No flats after the change, and compared to previous tires I felt very stable, rode well in the rain, and felt fast enough for touring with a loaded bicycle.

Thanks, think I'll give these a try. Since I'm doing a bike camping trip this weekend I should drop my bike at the shop now actually. Not going to try to do it myself again just in case those don't fit either.

 

[jond]

I always like to look at www.bicyclerollingresistance.com

I have been surprised many many times for example a standard 406 marathon is faster than a marathon racer. Who’d a thunk it.

Also a Kojak is not a fast tyre at all......barely faster than a marathon and actively seeks out puncture ops.

The fastest a Pro one 406 size. Of course there is a not so insignificant weight differential affecting hill climbing and acceleration .

I run more happily now with marathons on my hurricane. Safe in the internet knowledge they are not as heavy as the plus or as puncture prone as the racer,s lighter and slower carcass. If I want speed it’s vendetta time.

Yes it’s a rolling resistance drum test but still meaningful and surprisingly illuminating.

 

[jond]

We were lucky that it did not rain during tent set up or tear down times!
I bought a waterproof camera for my 2013 riding tours!

Nothing worse than wet tent and camping gear . No matter the dry bag or ortleib scuba panniers it’s all wet wet wet damp feet in the sleeping bag/quilt if in daily constant rain. How bout that chafing!