I note the Schwalbe published characterizations, but I trust the results of
https://www.bicyclerollingresistanc...ondial-2016-vs-schwalbe-marathon-supreme-2016
Speed is not my priority, although it's close relatives efficiency and ease are high priorities for me. I'm happy if my ride works well and is easy to use, and I don't mind saving energy and going farther. For me, speed is fun, but not a goal.
Regardless, the Marathon Greenguard seems a good balance, as well as a good deal. I had a chat with the fellow at Solarbike (the electric bicycle shop that helped me mount the NuVinci hub) about this, and he thinks the other shop is being too conservative - the cross-member in the rear fork is beefy and not a bent section of sheet metal - it appears solid. He thinks I should put on the tires I want and let the metal wear the tread a little if there's even any actual contact at all. I might also take a half-round file to the cross-member to relieve it, although I'm not setting up to do that yet.
The supplier wrongly told the folks at Solarbike they couldn't get the Greenguards in 50-559, so I called around and found the other shop that could. The other will open again after the New Year and I'm likely to go back and tell them to put the tires on, inflate to 3 bar, and see what happens. They might also come up with an interesting alternative by then.