Touring Bike Tire Comparison:
Continental Sport Contact II 2016 vs
Continental Top Contact II 2015 vs
Schwalbe Marathon Supreme 2016

Contents and Test Summary

  1. Manufacturer Specifications
  2. Size and Weight Measurements
  3. Rolling Resistance Test Results
  4. Puncture Resistance Test Results
  5. Static Grip Test Results
  6. Conclusion
  • Continental Sport Contact II *
  • Continental Top Contact II *
  • Schwalbe Marathon Supreme *
* Grip test data not available
Performance compared to all other touring bike tires
(100% is best)
Pro Members get 11-point radar charts



Manufacturer Specifications


Manufacturer Specs
Brand ContinentalContinentalSchwalbe
Model Sport Contact IITop Contact IIMarathon Supreme
Year 201620152016
Supplied By Bought in storeSupplied by ContinentalBought in store
Full Review Full ReviewFull ReviewFull Review
New or Used NewNewNew
Mileage 0 km0 km0 km
Price Range MedHighHigh
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Manufacturer Part Number 0101015010044111600780
TPI 3/1803/18067
Compound OneStar
Bead WireFoldingFolding
ETRTO 37-62237-62237-622
Size Inch 28"28"28"
Width mm 373737
Specified Weight 520 grams600 grams440 grams
Min Air Pressure 75 psi50 psi55 psi
Max Air Pressure 90 psi88 psi85 psi
Made In Members OnlyMembers OnlyMembers Only
Available Sizes 42-622 (28x1.60)
37-622 (28x1.40)
32-622 (28x1.25)
28-622 (28x1.10)
50-559 (26x2.00)
42-559 (26x1.60)
32-559 (26x1.25)
28-406 (20x1.10)
47-622 (28x1.75)
42-622 (28x1.60)
37-622 (28x1.40)
50-559 (26x2.00)
50-622 (28x2.00)
42-622 (28x1.60)
37-622 (28x1.40)
32-622 (28x1.25)
50-584 (27.5x2.00)
42-584 (27.5x1.60)
50-559 (26x2.00)
42-559 (26x1.60)
Image
Continental Sport Contact II 2016
Continental Top Contact II 2015
Schwalbe Marathon Supreme 2016
Image
Continental Sport Contact II 2016
Continental Top Contact II 2015
Schwalbe Marathon Supreme 2016
Image
Continental Sport Contact II 2016
Continental Top Contact II 2015
Schwalbe Marathon Supreme 2016

Size and Weight Measurements


Size and Weight Measurements
Model Sport Contact IITop Contact IIMarathon Supreme
Specified Weight 520 grams600 grams440 grams
Measured Weight 479 grams584 grams431 grams
Measured Width Casing 36 mm (un-round)37 mm (un-round)35 mm (un-round)
Measured Height 34 mm (un-round)35 mm (un-round)34 mm (un-round)
Tread Depth 0.5 mm2.5 mm1.6 mm
Total Tire Thickness Center 4.2 mm4.4 mm5 mm
Total Tire Thickness Sidewall Members OnlyMembers OnlyMembers 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 Sport Contact IITop Contact IIMarathon Supreme
Spin Up Video YouTubeNo VideoYouTube
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 OnlyMembers OnlyMembers Only
Rolling Resistance
75 PSI / 5 Bar
18.9 Watts
CRR: 0.00567
22.1 Watts
CRR: 0.00662
16.9 Watts
CRR: 0.00507
Rolling Resistance
60 PSI / 4 Bar
20.6 Watts
CRR: 0.00618
24.2 Watts
CRR: 0.00725
19.1 Watts
CRR: 0.00573
Rolling Resistance
45 PSI / 3 Bar
Members OnlyMembers OnlyMembers Only
Rolling Resistance
30 PSI / 2 Bar
Members OnlyMembers OnlyMembers 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 Sport Contact IITop Contact IIMarathon Supreme
Total Puncture Score Tread 76 Points95 Points99 Points
Total Puncture Score Sidewall Members OnlyMembers OnlyMembers Only
Tread Puncture Force Sharp Needle Members OnlyMembers OnlyMembers Only
Tread Puncture Force Blunt Needle Members OnlyMembers OnlyMembers Only
Tread Total Tire Thickness 4.2 mm4.4 mm5 mm
Sidewall Puncture Force Sharp Needle Members OnlyMembers OnlyMembers Only
Sidewall Puncture Force Blunt Needle Members OnlyMembers OnlyMembers Only
Sidewall Total Tire Thickness Members OnlyMembers OnlyMembers Only

Static Grip Test Results


Static Grip Test Results (higher is better)
Model Sport Contact IITop Contact IIMarathon Supreme
Wet Grip Average No DataNo DataNo Data
Wet Grip Center Members OnlyMembers OnlyMembers Only
Wet Grip Edge Members OnlyMembers OnlyMembers Only
Grip in points = coefficient of friction * 100
Tour/E-Bike grip test rim width = 23.0 mm

Conclusion


Conclusion
Model Sport Contact IITop Contact IIMarathon Supreme
Full Review Full ReviewFull ReviewFull Review
Verdict RecommendedRecommendedHighly Recommended
Rating 4.0 / 53.0 / 55.0 / 5
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  • Continental Sport Contact II *
  • Continental Top Contact II *
  • Schwalbe Marathon Supreme *
* 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