City riders on 26 inch wheels who want plush, confident tyres for everyday riding.
Schwalbe calls the Big Ben the Big Apple's robust brother. It is a high volume balloon tyre that gives great comfort, because all that air at low pressure takes the sting out of kerbs, tram tracks and broken bitumen.
This 26 x 2.15 (55-559) version is black with a reflective stripe and a wire bead. The modern tread is designed for safe handling in city traffic, and the RaceGuard layer adds puncture protection under the tread.
It runs at a low 30 to 55 PSI, which suits cruisers, city bikes, older 26 inch mountain bikes turned commuters, and anyone who would rather float than rattle.
Balloon comfort
Big volume at low pressure smooths out rough streets.
City tread
Modern profile for safe handling in traffic.
Reflective stripe
Better visibility from the side at night.
RaceGuard
Puncture protection layer under the tread.
Size
Construction
Use
Balloon volume
A big air volume at low pressure soaks up bumps, so the tyre itself does the job of suspension.
Reflective stripe
Reflective sidewall stripe for side-on visibility at night.
Great for
Maybe not for
Fits 26 inch (559 mm) rims. At 2.15 inches wide, check that your frame, fork and any mudguards have room. Use a 26 inch tube sized to suit a 2.15 inch tyre.
Run it soft
The comfort of a balloon tyre comes from running lower pressure. Start near the middle of the 30 to 55 PSI range and go lower if you are light or riding rough streets, higher if you are carrying loads.
Mudguard clearance
Many 26 inch bikes came with narrower tyres. Spin the wheel once fitted and check it clears the frame, fork crown and mudguards all the way round.
Tyres and tubes from the German specialist.
Schwalbe is the tyre brand of Ralf Bohle GmbH, a family business from Germany that has worked in bicycle tyres for a century.
The Marathon family is its best-known range, and the brand is known for its puncture protection belts, SmartGuard in particular, and for running its own tyre recycling system.
