Schwalbe

These are excellent tires and tubes which I needed for an upcoming weekend ride. When I was shopping online (Sat) the BikeTiresDirect website indicated an expected delivery date of the following Friday, 6 days later which seemed very standard for a small package containing 2 folding tires and 2 tubes. Once the order was processed on Monday the expected arrival date changed to a full week later. The package was then picked up on Tuesday by a very slow carrier called TBA and delivered the flooing Monday. The BikeTiresDirect website is very misleading in this regard.

I ride with these tires on a Catrike 559 recumbent trike. This is my second set of Schwalbe Big Apple tires for this bike. I have never had a flat or any adverse issues. My trike does not have any suspension on it and therefore is a rough ride compared to a diamond frame bike. I run these tires between 40 and 45 pounds of pressure and they provide a decent about of absorption and cushioning from the road surface defects, and they do not create excess friction that slows me down.

I was glad to install these valves on my gravel bike running tubeless tires. They are much easier to use than old school presta valves and flow a lot more air, which helps with seating tubeless tire beads; they also haven't clogged with sealant like presta or Fillmore valve stems. However, one valve has been solid and leak-free, the other developed a major leak that I could not stop despite disassembling and cleaning the valve. I needed to swap it out for an older Fillmore valve before riding again. I'm going to chalk that up to a fluke or defect in that particular valve stem rather than an issue with the design.

Great grip uphill and down on loose rocky surfaces. Have also descended some pretty chunky stuff and they have withstood the durability test. Haven't ridden enough on pavement to have a strong opinion there yet, but if you ride rougher terrain, I'd recommend these. No issues with seating the tire tubeless and no punctures yet.