Hybrid and e-bike commuters on 650B wheels, and anyone who would rather carry a bit more weight than stop on the roadside to fix a flat.
The Schwalbe Marathon Plus is the tyre we reach for when a rider tells us they are over punctures. Under the tread sits SmartGuard, a 5 mm layer of flexible rubber that stops glass, flints, metal shards and even drawing pins before they reach the tube.
This is the 27.5 x 1.50 (650B) size (ETRTO 40-584), rated from 4 to 6.5 bar (55 to 95 psi) and up to 100 kg per tyre. It weighs about 920 g, which is heavier than a regular tyre, and that extra rubber is exactly where the protection comes from. Schwalbe rates this size E-50, so it is approved for e-bikes up to 50 km/h (E-50).
A reflective stripe on both sidewalls makes you easier to spot at night, and the anti-aging sidewall holds up better if the tyre is run a little soft. It is a wire bead, tube-type tyre, so fit it with a standard inner tube.
Schwalbe's toughest protection
5 mm SmartGuard layer under the tread stops most everyday puncture causes.
Seen at night
Reflective stripe on both sidewalls.
E-bike approved
Rated E-50 by Schwalbe for pedal-assist bikes.
Long lasting
Hard wearing tread and an anti-aging sidewall for years of commuting.
Size
Construction
Ratings
In the box
SmartGuard
A 5 mm thick layer of flexible rubber, partly made from recycled latex, sitting under the tread. It is what makes the Marathon Plus Schwalbe's most puncture resistant tyre.
Anti-aging sidewall
A sidewall designed to resist the cracking that comes from riding a little under-inflated.
Reflective stripe
A reflective band on each sidewall that lights up in car headlights, so you are easier to see from the side at night.
Great for
Maybe not for
Fits 27.5 inch / 650B (584) rims, found on many hybrids, e-bikes and some gravel and touring bikes. Match the ETRTO number (40-584) printed on your current tyre rather than the inch size, as inch sizes can refer to different rims. Use an inner tube sized for 40-584.
Fitting tip
The Marathon Plus is stiff and a snug fit, especially when new. Push the beads into the centre channel of the rim as you work around, finish at the valve, and use proper tyre levers carefully so you do not pinch the tube. A little warmth (leave it in the sun) makes the bead more pliable.
Check pressure with a gauge
Because of the thick SmartGuard layer, the tyre feels firm even when it is low. Schwalbe recommends a gauge rather than the thumb test. Stay within 4 to 6.5 bar, going lower for comfort and higher for heavier loads.
German tyre specialists.
Schwalbe is the tyre brand of Ralf Bohle GmbH, a family company based in Reichshof, Germany. It focuses on bicycle tyres and tubes, from everyday commuter rubber to race tyres.
The Marathon family is Schwalbe's best known touring and commuting range, and Schwalbe was the first tyre maker to offer products made with Fair Rubber, paying a premium to the small farmers who tap the rubber.
