Schwalbe Big Apple Tires

[calfee20]

Well I finally got a flat. It was no big deal because the tire was flat in the shed before the ride. An hour later the leak was still a mystery so I went out anyway. I carry a CO2 inflator with me. I had turned my factory Electra tires inside out looking for anything sharp on the inside and I was concerned by how thin the tread area was. A new tube fixed it but maybe it is time for new tires.

I have wanted to try a pair of Big Apples. There is a lot of "Kool Aid" about these tires on the Schwalbe site. They are supposed run at lower pressure, add suspension, and have puncture resistance.



Well I drank the Kool Aid and ordered a set from BiketiresDirect. They were on sale $28 each and free shipping orders over $50. The sale is over they seem to out of them. Almost two weeks went buy from order date to first test so you will have to cut me some slack on not reporting on the sale.

The tires are very light compared to the Electra factory ones. The sidewalls are so thin I was forced to mic them. The side walls are a very uniform .026 inches thin. The tread surface had some decent thickness due to anti puncture belt though. Anyway I mounted them with 35 psi and went for a ride..........the Kool Aid is real.

It felt unbelievably smooth. Almost all of the little vibrations that make it to the bars was gone. I went looking for the nasty little holes and cracks that I always avoid for a test and there was a huge improvement. The jar would still be there but the sharpness had been pulled out of it. I rode through some wet areas to check the contact patch and it was a lot narrower than the factory tires. They felt easier rolling to but that is a hard thing to prove so maybe it was the "Kool Aid" talking. I will get back in a couple of weeks with an update but as of right now I would recommend these tires for anyone with a cruiser or townie type bike.

http://www.schwalbetires.com/bike_tires/road_tires/big_apple

[cajk]

Thanks for the timely post!

I just ordered two of the Big Apple Plus tires in 55-406 size for the front wheels on my trike. I've been running Schwalbe Marathons (40-406) for years, but the paved roads in our neighborhood are deteriorating and becoming very rough and coarse textured. Recently I've been getting a lot of uncomfortable vibration through the frame and steering bars. I'm hoping the Big Apples will at least partially alleviate this problem. Glad to hear the Kool Aid is not total baloney! (mixed metaphor)

By the way, I found the prices listed at the Schwalbe North America corporate website to be very competitive. I couldn't beat their price on the pair of 20" tires + tubes + shipping.

https://www.schwalbetires.com

[calfee20]

I was going to mention some of the different sizes they come in but my post was getting to long so I added the link instead. Seriously though I was so surprised by how great they felt that I didn't want to go off about it and come off sounding like a nut. I kept checking my PAS level because I felt like I was a level higher. Could they be rolling that much easier? The factory tires are 57X559 these are 60X559. That is only 3mm. You wouldn't think that difference in size would make much of a difference. So it all has to be in tire construction. On straight running they run totally on that wide center tread which makes a narrow contact patch.

I will tell you, if I see a difference in range on my smallish battery pak you will be able to knock me over with a feather..............calfee

[Sneakers915]

They are more supple than a tire like the Marathons, so they both feel way better and roll easier. There is a lot of real data and seat of the pants data out there that high quality big(ger) tires with supple casings will out perform thinner and stiffer tires in comfort and rolling resistance. The downsides are they usually are more expensive and don't last as long. It's worth it for me, tires have a big effect on the ride.

[BK Xray]

I've used Big Apples for years on my recumbent trikes. Increased comfort without sacrificing speed.

[spinningmagnets]

If you need a similar tire with supple sidewalls, and a tough flat-resistant tread in a 2.0-inch tire, the RiBiMo Panaracer works just like this, for a 2.4-inch, the Big Apple is the right brand. I would love to find a 2.8-3.0 inch tire with the same construction...

[calfee20]

I have been thinking about your article on scooter tires and rims. How about 21 inch rims and motor cycle tires. I have to do more research.

[spinningmagnets]

I have seen a few builds with 21-inch moto rims, and when you add a fattish tire, it's similar to a 29r wheel and tire.

[calfee20]

If you need a similar tire with supple sidewalls, and a tough flat-resistant tread in a 2.0-inch tire, the RiBiMo Panaracer works just like this, for a 2.4-inch, the Big Apple is the right brand. I would love to find a 2.8-3.0 inch tire with the same construction...

Schwalbe has a 70 X 584 or 27.5 X 2.8 with the same construction as a Big Apple. I don't know how that rim size will work out though. Our bikes have a lot of room in the fork area but is it enough. http://www.schwalbetires.com/bike_ti...s/super-moto-x Here is another one. http://www.ebay.com/itm/2017-Schwalb...-/332078818814 Finally one more http://www.ebay.com/itm/Schwalbe-Sup...QAAOSwmCVY~Jwn

[Sneakers915]

What frame and fork? You'd need a + bike or fat bike to fit that in most cases.

You can use something like this to compare different combinations. http://www.bikecalc.com/wheel_size_math

[cajk]

This morning Fedex delivered two 20" Big Apples and 2 new tubes. I immediately installed them on my trike, and took a test ride. I 100% agree with the positive comments (above) on these tires. They made a MAJOR improvement in my ride. I am running them at minimum pressure of 30 psi. I can't detect any increase in rolling resistance, but there is a BIG decrease in high frequency road vibration coming through the aluminum frame and steering bars. Makes my Trike feel like a Cadillac compared to the old Marathon tires. This upgrade was definitely worth the money!

Now I just need to decide on what I want to do about "improving" the tire on the 26" rear wheel...

[cajk]

With the existing Schwalbe Marathon (26 x 1.50") rear tire, I have about 1/2" clearance between the tire tread and the end of the main frame tube. It would all depend on how much "taller" the Big Apple is. Now that I have the Big Apples mounted on my front 20" wheels, I can compare them to the original 20" rear wheel that came on the trike. It still has a Marathon tire. I can see how much height difference there is, and extrapolate that difference to the 26" size. It MIGHT work.

[ykick]

Tight fit tires can be tricky to guesstimate. I have bike which 2.4” Cyclops rub the suspension swingarm. I then found 2.3” Panaracer UfDa! worked and were my 2nd urban tread choice for several years. But unfortunately Panaracer appears to have discontinued the Uf Da!

That's the bike I eventually used Big Apples until I found a wider swingarm and went back to Cyclops.

If I only had a Nickel for every motorcycle/bicycle tire I've worn out???

[cajk]

After closely comparing the 1.50" Marathon to the 2.15" Big Apple on my 20" wheels, I am 98% positive I can't use the 2.15 Big Apple on my rear 26" wheel...it would hit the end of the central frame tube.

Plan B: I could go back to the original 20" rear wheel, and use the 2.15" Big Apple. But I don't want to, cuz I like the look, ride, and performance of a bigger wheel on the back of my trike.

Plan C: I've been wanting to ditch the 8-speed derailleur on my trike and install a 8-speed Alfine IGH. I will save my money until I can afford to buy a complete new rear wheel assembly with the IGH. I think a 24" wheel with a big tire would work perfect for my application. Tire selection is more limited in 24", but Schwalbe does make the Crazy Bob in 24" x 2.35".

[ykick]

I liked the 26” Big Apples I used recently but kinda pricey, $35-45ea.

Best bang for 26” buck IMO = CST Cyclops. Less than $15/tire and they’re everything I need in an eBike tire under 2.5” width.

No air tire is flat proof. That’s a pipe dream.

[oledave]

I just recently got The Little Big Ben tires and they made a huge difference in comfort from my other tires. I can not tell if they roll any easier or worst on smooth roads but on ruff roads, these tires roll a lot faster.

[PatrickGSR94]

I also run Big Apple 2.15" tires on my e-bike. Great tires so far, almost 1,000 miles since I finished my build. This one time I did make the mistake of airing them up to their max pressure, and the commute home from work that day was absolutely BONE JARRING on bad roads! I had to stop and let some air out of the tires! In 3.5 months I think I've only checked and topped off the air twice or maybe 3 times.

[Rider]

Schwalbe Super Moto-X are close to the Big Apples in tread design. They make them in 27.5 x 2.4 E-bike rated with Green Guard and 27.5 x 2.8 Snake Skin with Race Guard. I just mounted up a 27.5 x 2.8 on the front of my Soma B-Side narrow 21mm ID rim and it only measures 2.5 wide. On a wider 27.5+ rim I'm sure it would be wider, but the tire works great even on this narrow rim. The ride is super comfortable and traction very good. It's a wonderful upgrade now that I'm riding on cement more. They really feel good on hard pack dirt and float through sand too. Fits my standard 27.5 RockShox TK 30 Gold fork too. The total tire diameter on this rim is 28.5".

[marcva]

I have a set of Moto-xs on the way for my anthem commuter build. I have about a mile of tow path in my 18 Mike commute each way so the width will be nice, as will the green guard.

[treolan]

Had Super Moto-X tires on my bike before and had no problem. They are very smooth and quiet.