I just read up on the Somas on the Riv page and these are the same basically as the older Panaracer Urban express tires. I rode these in 32mm for years and they never flatted on me. Tread wear was less than a Marathon however. The Soma is described as a road tire by Grant. You can't beat a Marathon for all around use though. Puncture protection goes only so far......keep that in mind. On a commute when going to a job you want reliability, going out goofing off you can ride whatever tire performs as a flat is just a diversion from your fun. You really don't want to be fixing a flat on your way to work.
On Tuesday, October 2, 2012 9:09:32 PM UTC-7, lungimsam wrote: > > I am looking for a good puncture protected 650b tire that won't feel slow > and heavy. > > I do commuting on glass-ridden streets. Even metal scraps on the streets. > > I do recreational road riding with a friend (40-75 miles) in hilly areas. > Lotsa hills where I live. So I am worried the heavy Marathons will just add > to the climbing punishment. > > I am really torn between the Marathon on the riv site and and Soma > (Panaracer) Xpress. I am only interested in the Xpress because it weighs > less, yet still has puncture protection. > > But the Panaracer tires I have now (Swiftys) both got splits completely > around the tires, on both sides, in the gumwalls, for no apparent reason, > and both were less than 3 months old. > > So I feel a little afraid to spend the dough on the Somas since they are > Panaracers. > > Both tires are expensive, and I just don't want to get them only to be > disappointed. > > I don't know how the Marathons feel. If they roll fine, then great, I'll > get 'em. I just don't want a tire that will feel draggy and add to the > torture of hill climbing. > > I have been searching high and low for a puncture resistant 650b tire that > won't be slow. Not many 650b choices to be had with puncture protection. I > am not a racer, it is just that ot hurts when you ride your bike and it > feels like the brakes are dragging. Riding should be fun, not painful. > > Thanks for any info. I appreciate you all taking the time to help me on > this. > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/ZjUTGvcV_pYJ. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
