Touring Bike Tire Comparison:
Continental Top Contact Winter II 2016 vs
Schwalbe Energizer Plus 2015 vs
Schwalbe Marathon Plus 2015

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 Winter II *
  • Schwalbe Energizer Plus *
  • Schwalbe Marathon Plus *
* 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 Winter IIEnergizer PlusMarathon Plus
Year 201620152015
Supplied By Bought in storeSupplied by SchwalbeSupplied by Schwalbe
Full Review Full ReviewFull ReviewFull Review
New or Used NewNewNew
Mileage 0 km0 km0 km
Price Range HighMedHigh
Buy At
Manufacturer Part Number 01007131110031211100769
TPI 3/1806767
Compound Winter compoundEnergizerEndurance
Bead FoldingWireWire
ETRTO 37-62237-62237-622
Size Inch 28"28"28"
Width mm 373737
Specified Weight 470 grams730 grams900 grams
Min Air Pressure 58 psi55 psi55 psi
Max Air Pressure 85 psi85 psi85 psi
Made In Pro DataPro DataPro Data
Available Sizes 42-622 (28x1.60)
37-622 (28x1.40)
55-559 (26x2.20)
50-559 (26x1.90)
50-622 (28x2.00)
47-622 (28x1.75)
40-622 (28x1.50)
37-622 (28x1.40)
32-622 (28x1.25)
47-584 (27.5x1.75)
47-559 (26x1.75)
47-406 (20x1.75)
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)
Image
Continental Top Contact Winter II 2016
Schwalbe Energizer Plus 2015
Schwalbe Marathon Plus 2015
Image
Continental Top Contact Winter II 2016
Schwalbe Energizer Plus 2015
Schwalbe Marathon Plus 2015
Image
Continental Top Contact Winter II 2016
Schwalbe Energizer Plus 2015
Schwalbe Marathon Plus 2015

Size and Weight Measurements


Size and Weight Measurements
Model Top Contact Winter IIEnergizer PlusMarathon Plus
Specified Weight 470 grams730 grams900 grams
Measured Weight 468 grams742 grams898 grams
Measured Width Casing 32 mm (un-round)35 mm (un-round)34 mm (un-round)
Measured Height Pro DataPro DataPro Data
Tire Circumference Pro DataPro DataPro Data
Tread Depth 2.3 mm2 mm2 mm
Total Tire Thickness Center 5.5 mm7 mm9 mm
Total Tire Thickness Sidewall Pro DataPro DataPro Data
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 Top Contact Winter IIEnergizer PlusMarathon Plus
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
Pro DataPro DataPro Data
Rolling Resistance
75 PSI / 5 Bar
Pro DataPro DataPro Data
Rolling Resistance
60 PSI / 4 Bar
28.5 Watts
CRR: 0.00854
21.5 Watts
CRR: 0.00644
25.5 Watts
CRR: 0.00764
Rolling Resistance
45 PSI / 3 Bar
Pro DataPro DataPro Data
Rolling Resistance
30 PSI / 2 Bar
Pro DataPro DataPro Data
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 Winter IIEnergizer PlusMarathon Plus
Total Puncture Score Tread 119 Points117 Points129 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 5.5 mm7 mm9 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 Winter IIEnergizer PlusMarathon Plus
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 Winter IIEnergizer PlusMarathon Plus
Full Review Full ReviewFull ReviewFull Review
Verdict RecommendedHighly RecommendedHighly Recommended
Rating 4.0 / 55.0 / 55.0 / 5
Buy At
  • Continental Top Contact Winter II *
  • Schwalbe Energizer Plus *
  • Schwalbe Marathon Plus *
* 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