Touring Bike Tire Comparison:
Continental Top Contact II 2015 vs
Schwalbe Marathon Plus 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 Top Contact II *
  • Schwalbe Marathon Plus *
  • 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 ContinentalSchwalbeSchwalbe
Model Top Contact IIMarathon PlusMarathon Supreme
Year 201520152016
Supplied By Supplied by ContinentalSupplied by SchwalbeBought in store
Full Review Full ReviewFull ReviewFull Review
New or Used NewNewNew
Mileage 0 km0 km0 km
Price Range HighHighHigh
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Manufacturer Part Number 01004411110076911600780
TPI 3/1806767
Compound EnduranceOneStar
Bead FoldingWireFolding
ETRTO 37-62237-62237-622
Size Inch 28"28"28"
Width mm 373737
Specified Weight 600 grams900 grams440 grams
Min Air Pressure 50 psi55 psi55 psi
Max Air Pressure 88 psi85 psi85 psi
Made In Pro DataPro DataPro Data
Available Sizes 47-622 (28x1.75)
42-622 (28x1.60)
37-622 (28x1.40)
50-559 (26x2.00)		40-635 (28x1.50)
47-622 (28x1.75)
40-622 (28x1.50)
37-622 (28x1.40)
32-622 (28x1.25)
28-622 (28x1.10)
25-622 (28x1.00)
42-590 (26x1.60)
37-590 (26x1.40)
40-584 (27.5x1.50)
50-559 (26x2.00)
47-559 (26x1.75)
40-559 (26x1.50)
35-559 (26x1.35)
47-507 (24x1.75)
47-406 (20x1.75)
35-406 (20x1.35)
35-349 (26x1.35)		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 Top Contact II 2015
Schwalbe Marathon Plus 2015
Schwalbe Marathon Supreme 2016
Image
Continental Top Contact II 2015
Schwalbe Marathon Plus 2015
Schwalbe Marathon Supreme 2016
Image
Continental Top Contact II 2015
Schwalbe Marathon Plus 2015
Schwalbe Marathon Supreme 2016

Size and Weight Measurements


Size and Weight Measurements
Model Top Contact IIMarathon PlusMarathon Supreme
Specified Weight 600 grams900 grams440 grams
Measured Weight 584 grams898 grams431 grams
Measured Width Casing 37 mm (un-round)34 mm (un-round)35 mm (un-round)
Measured Height Pro DataPro DataPro Data
Tire Circumference Pro DataPro DataPro Data
Tread Depth 2.5 mm2 mm1.6 mm
Total Tire Thickness Center 4.4 mm9 mm5 mm
Total Tire Thickness Sidewall Pro DataPro DataPro Data
All size measurements are taken at high air pressure on a 18 mm inner width rim.

Rolling Resistance Test Results


Rolling Resistance Test Results
Model Top Contact IIMarathon PlusMarathon Supreme
Spin Up Video No VideoYouTubeYouTube
Inner Tube Conti Tour 28 (170 gr butyl)Conti Tour 28 (170 gr butyl)Conti Tour 28 (170 gr butyl)
Measured Width 37 mm34 mm35 mm
Rolling Resistance
Real tire width in mm:
30-32 = 77 psi/5.3 bar
33-35 = 70 psi/4.8 bar
36-38 = 63 psi/4.3 bar
39-42 = 58 psi/4.0 bar
43-46 = 54 psi/3.7 bar
47-50 = 50 psi/3.4 barExtra Low Air Pressure		 Pro DataPro DataPro Data
Rolling Resistance
Real tire width in mm:
30-32 = 66 psi/4.6 bar
33-35 = 60 psi/4.1 bar
36-38 = 54 psi/3.7 bar
39-42 = 50 psi/3.4 bar
43-46 = 46 psi/3.2 bar
47-50 = 42 psi/2.9 barHigh Air Pressure		 25.8 Watts
CRR: 0.00773
(54 psi / 3.7 bar)		25.5 Watts
CRR: 0.00764
(60 psi / 4.1 bar)		19.1 Watts
CRR: 0.00573
(60 psi / 4.1 bar)
Rolling Resistance
Real tire width in mm:
30-32 = 55 psi/3.8 bar
33-35 = 50 psi/3.4 bar
36-38 = 45 psi/3.1 bar
39-42 = 42 psi/2.9 bar
43-46 = 38 psi/2.6 bar
47-50 = 35 psi/2.4 barMedium Air Pressure		 Pro DataPro DataPro Data
Rolling Resistance
Real tire width in mm:
30-32 = 44 psi/3.0 bar
33-35 = 40 psi/2.8 bar
36-38 = 36 psi/2.6 bar
39-42 = 33 psi/2.3 bar
43-46 = 31 psi/2.1 bar
47-50 = 28 psi/1.9 barLow Air Pressure		 Pro DataPro DataPro Data
The touring bike section is a multi tire size section, air pressures have been adjusted to the measured casing width.

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 Top Contact IIMarathon PlusMarathon Supreme
Total Puncture Score Tread 95 Points129 Points99 Points
Total Puncture Score Sidewall Pro DataPro DataPro Data
Tread Puncture Force Sharp Needle Pro DataPro DataPro Data
Tread Puncture Force Blunt Needle Pro DataPro DataPro Data
Tread Total Tire Thickness 4.4 mm9 mm5 mm
Sidewall Puncture Force Sharp Needle Pro DataPro DataPro Data
Sidewall Puncture Force Blunt Needle Pro DataPro DataPro Data
Sidewall Total Tire Thickness Pro DataPro DataPro Data

Static Grip Test Results


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

Conclusion


Conclusion
Model Top Contact IIMarathon PlusMarathon Supreme
Full Review Full ReviewFull ReviewFull Review
Verdict RecommendedHighly RecommendedHighly Recommended
Rating 3.0 / 55.0 / 55.0 / 5
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  • Continental Top Contact II *
  • Schwalbe Marathon Plus *
  • 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