Touring Bike Tire Comparison:
Continental Contact II 2015 vs
Continental Top Contact II 2015 vs
Schwalbe Marathon Racer 2015
Contents and Test Summary
- Manufacturer Specifications
- Size and Weight Measurements
- Rolling Resistance Test Results
- Puncture Resistance Test Results
- Static Grip Test Results
- Conclusion
- Continental Contact II *
- Continental Top Contact II *
- Schwalbe Marathon Racer *
* Grip test data not available
Performance compared to all other touring bike tires
(100% is best)
(100% is best)
Pro Members get 11-point radar charts
Manufacturer Specifications
| Manufacturer Specs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Continental | Continental | Schwalbe |
| Model | Contact II | Top Contact II | Marathon Racer |
| Year | 2015 | 2015 | 2015 |
| Supplied By | Supplied by Continental | Supplied by Continental | Supplied by Schwalbe |
| Full Review | Full Review | Full Review | Full Review |
| New or Used | New | New | New |
| Mileage | 0 km | 0 km | 0 km |
| Price Range | Med | High | Med |
| Buy At | Ad Amazon.com | Ad Amazon.com | Ad Amazon.com |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 0100262 | 0100441 | 11100290 |
| TPI | 3/180 | 3/180 | 67 |
| Compound | SpeedGrip | ||
| Bead | Wire | Folding | Wire |
| ETRTO | 37-622 | 37-622 | 35-622 |
| Size Inch | 28" | 28" | 28" |
| Width mm | 37 | 37 | 35 |
| Specified Weight | 620 grams | 600 grams | 465 grams |
| Min Air Pressure | 60 psi | 50 psi | 65 psi |
| Max Air Pressure | 88 psi | 88 psi | 95 psi |
| Made In | Members Only | Members Only | Members Only |
| Available Sizes | 47-622 (28x1.75) 42-622 (28x1.60) 37-622 (28x1.40) 32-622 (28x1.25) 28-622 (28x1.10) | 47-622 (28x1.75) 42-622 (28x1.60) 37-622 (28x1.40) 50-559 (26x2.00) | 40-622 (28x1.50) 35-622 (28x1.35) 30-622 (28x1.20) 40-559 (26x1.50) 40-406 (20x1.50) 40-355 (18x1.50) 40-305 (16x1.50) |
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Size and Weight Measurements
| Size and Weight Measurements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Contact II | Top Contact II | Marathon Racer |
| Specified Weight | 620 grams | 600 grams | 465 grams |
| Measured Weight | 623 grams | 584 grams | 450 grams |
| Measured Width Casing | 34 mm (un-round) | 37 mm (un-round) | 33 mm (un-round) |
| Measured Height | 31 mm (un-round) | 35 mm (un-round) | 32 mm (un-round) |
| Tread Depth | 1.8 mm | 2.5 mm | 1.5 mm |
| Total Tire Thickness Center | 4.2 mm | 4.4 mm | 4.6 mm |
| Total Tire Thickness Sidewall | Members Only | Members Only | Members Only |
| All size measurements are taken at an air pressure of 60 psi / 4 bars on a 17.8 mm inner width rim. | |||
Rolling Resistance Test Results
| Rolling Resistance Test Results | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Contact II | Top Contact II | Marathon Racer |
| Spin Up Video | No Video | No Video | No Video |
| Inner Tube | Conti Tour 28 (170 gr butyl) | Conti Tour 28 (170 gr butyl) | Conti Tour 28 (170 gr butyl) |
| Rolling Resistance 90 PSI / 6 Bar |
Members Only | Members Only | Members Only |
| Rolling Resistance 75 PSI / 5 Bar |
21.7 Watts CRR: 0.00650 | 22.1 Watts CRR: 0.00662 | 22.6 Watts CRR: 0.00677 |
| Rolling Resistance 60 PSI / 4 Bar |
24.3 Watts CRR: 0.00728 | 24.2 Watts CRR: 0.00725 | 24.6 Watts CRR: 0.00737 |
| Rolling Resistance 45 PSI / 3 Bar |
Members Only | Members Only | Members Only |
| Rolling Resistance 30 PSI / 2 Bar |
Members Only | Members Only | Members Only |
| All numbers are for a single tire at a speed of 29 km/h / 18 mph and a load of 42.5 kg / 94 lbs. Use the formula: RR (Watts) = CRR * speed (m/s) * load (N) to calculate rolling resistance at a given speed and load. |
|||
Puncture Resistance Test Results
| Puncture Resistance Test Results (higher is better) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Contact II | Top Contact II | Marathon Racer |
| Total Puncture Score Tread | 65 Points | 95 Points | 97 Points |
| Total Puncture Score Sidewall | Members Only | Members Only | Members Only |
| Tread Puncture Force Sharp Needle | Members Only | Members Only | Members Only |
| Tread Puncture Force Blunt Needle | Members Only | Members Only | Members Only |
| Tread Total Tire Thickness | 4.2 mm | 4.4 mm | 4.6 mm |
| Sidewall Puncture Force Sharp Needle | Members Only | Members Only | Members Only |
| Sidewall Puncture Force Blunt Needle | Members Only | Members Only | Members Only |
| Sidewall Total Tire Thickness | Members Only | Members Only | Members Only |
Static Grip Test Results
| Static Grip Test Results (higher is better) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Contact II | Top Contact II | Marathon Racer |
| Wet Grip Average | No Data | No Data | No Data |
| Wet Grip Center | Members Only | Members Only | Members Only |
| Wet Grip Edge | Members Only | Members Only | Members Only |
| Grip in points = coefficient of friction * 100 Tour/E-Bike grip test rim width = 23.0 mm |
|||
Conclusion
| Conclusion | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Contact II | Top Contact II | Marathon Racer |
| Full Review | Full Review | Full Review | Full Review |
| Verdict | Not Recommended | Recommended | Recommended |
| Rating | 2.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 |
| Buy At | Ad Amazon.com | Ad Amazon.com | Ad Amazon.com |
- Continental Contact II *
- Continental Top Contact II *
- Schwalbe Marathon Racer *
* Grip test data not available
Performance compared to all other touring bike tires(100% is fastest - lightest - thickest - strongest)
Pro Members get 11-point radar charts