Big Apple HS 338

Was riding Michelin city tires. Put over 2000 miles on front before I had a puncture and an unfortunate spill on a corner @ over 20 mph. Found the “Big Apple 2.35. Kevlar good? Nice reflector (like the Michelin), great for morning commute. The price was really justified in the sense of security achieved by “Kevlar”. I worked with the stuff and believe it to be what should be in my tire. They barely fit on my 85’ Ross Mt. Rainier, equipped with Wilderness Energy brushless electric motor powered by a 48 volt 20 amp hour LiFePo4 battery. The bike had no suspension, until I put these guys on. A much better feeling ride @ 32mph than the Michelins. Just buy these, pot holes beware!

The 26 x 2 Big Apple tires came stock on my Koga Miyata Vector. In two occasions I fell totally unexpectedly. I attribute this to the slick tire:
-1- Black ice: not even that slippery, but there was no warning. All of a sudden the bike just slipped.
-2- Mudd on the road: Same totally ‘out of the blue’ complete loss of traction, even when going straight.

The puncture performance also needs improvement. After about 3000 km, the rear tire has several large slots from sharp stones / glass. I’ve had numerous flats already. My commute is about 60% road, 40% off-road (sand with some gravel).

I installed the 2.15 Big Apple’s LiteSkin version on my folding bike (20 inch wheels). I used to have 2.0’s on it before, which were OK, but nothing special.

So how does it feel to go from 2.0 to 2.15? Well, in short, it feels like riding a new bike. I never understood what all the hoopla surrounding the BA’s was all about, although I was riding the 2.0’s that came with my folding bike from the start and experimented with various pressures to find that sweet spot. Yes, the ride was definitely smoother than on Kojak’s or Stelvio’s, but not so amazing that it was worth drooling over. I still felt every bump and pothole that NYC is littered with and was a bit skeptical of the whole balloon bike idea.

The 2.15’s have converted me! I rode home from work last night and paid special attention to the now familiar pot holes and other road imperfections that made my commute a pain. The ride is really, noticeably, significantly better than on the 2.0’s. So good in fact, that I didn’t notice some of the old trouble spots I rode over in the past and the more significant ones, were greatly smoothed out. Anyone living in a city with crappy roads and commuting over less than perfect road conditions, should have these. It’s worth the investment! At $52.85 a piece, they are not cheap, but again, it really transforms the ride, so if you are on the fence about buying these…fall off it and do it!

I stumbled across these 2.15’s pretty much by coincidence, while checking over the choices on Schwalbe’s website. They only come in LiteSkin version, which is a fair bit lighter than the “regular”, non-folding tire. The claim is that the LiteSkins retain the same puncture protection…let’s hope it’s true! At least the Kevlar is still in them, so I am hopeful. I basically went from a 50mm to a 55mm tire and saved 50 grams. Not bad! Ok the weight saving is irrelevant at this level, even for weight weenies I should think, but going to a bigger tire and not adding weight is great.

I put a call in to Schwalbe before ordering these and they confirmed that they are a new addition to their line-up and were introduced, since the jump from 2.0 to 2.35 was too big and people were asking for an option in between. Good job! At least in the US, the 2.15’s are only available in the LiteSkin version, although on the international site, they show regular wire bead’s in 2.15 as well, although I don’t know why anyone would want them (assuming the puncture protection claim is really accurate). Given the novelty factor, I wouldn’t be surprised to be one of the first to be testing these :)

Oh yes, last but not least, they look really cool too. The logo is just much better than on the 2.0’s…and 2.35’s for that matter!

I can only imagine what 2.35’s must feel like…sadly not possible to install on my folder, but I am very happy with what I have.

I used Big Apple tires 50-622 (28’-2.00’) on the TransAm trail. It proved one of the best choices I made. I pumped them to about 3.5 bar. My bike had no suspensed front fork, yet always felt comfortable due to the tire suspension. At about 3/4 of the trail I exchanged my front tire, that showed still very little wear, with the back one. Arriving at the Pacific coast, after 4200 miles on one set of tires, I had only had one flat. Great job, Schwalbe!

I tried Big Apples 26 inch 2.35 width on my hard tail mountain bike and on a tandem.

(Only on the rear so far, as I think my behind can take less shock then my hands. But I might put the stuff up on the front too.)

Just AMAZING

Stoker does not complain any more on worst cobble stone that used to wreck her behind and spine with other tires. On my hard tail, I also comfortably glide over cobblestones

The lighter snake skin kevlar bead version should roll more easily. It seems to me that the BA has not much rolling resistance even at low pressure

22 lbs is amazing, but up to 30 lbs suspension effect is great.

Notice that BA balloons in all directions, they are not only wider but higher too. On my tandem they will not fit with higher pressure then 30 lbs, this is funny but actually ok, I can forsake the high pressure stuff

Read up about high pressure and 19 mm rims, I think you should run them under 50 lbs always

If you cannot fit the 2.35 and need to go down to 2.0, consider marathon supreme with a little less balloon effect but even lighter rolling and overall a better tire.

Oh, I put 20x2.0 on my bikefriday (New World Tourist). To still allow folding I had to change the quick releases to OnGuard locking skewers to get more clearance. Now I will see if I can fit the 2.35 width in there, but most likely not. But with low pressure maybe things can fold even when normally they would not fit any more (need to try this still)

Hey,

Do you have a US ETA on the Liteskin 55-406 Big Apple Liteskin (11617338) from the Schwalbe International site?

when are the 29 x 2.35 Big Apple folding beads going to be available??

I have been trying to get hold of them for a couple of months now to go on my FS 29er…

quite frustrated

Can anyone compare their Big Apples with Maxis Holy Rollers?

After searching around the Big Apple looks like a good choice for a Whizzer. Is it tough enough to handle 40mph with a gross weight of 290 pounds?

When do you expect these to be available at the retail level in North America - specifically in the 26” sizes? - Thanks

Hi I have a Batavus Personal Delivery Bike with 26x1.75 tires there seems to be enough room for at least the 26x2.00 Big Apple, but I’m wondering if I could fit one of the larger sizes? Thanks!

There are a lot of Catrike, Terra Trike etc. people that will snap up 50-349 Big Apples the week they hit the market. Please we need this tire!

I found it here, on their global website.

http://www.schwalbe.com/gbl/en/bicycle/tour_city/produktgruppe/produkt/?…

Hope that helps.

How come the Big Apple tyres don’t have the same data chart that every other Schwalbe tyre seems to on this website? Where is the relative data for Speed, Grip, Puncture Protection and Durability?

Please post this on the website.

p.s. Seems to me that the Big Apple is an awesome tyre for so many uses. I’m planning to get a 29 x 2.35 version for my dual suspension mountain bike for fast, light trail and some road riding (with predictable drift). Seems like it would be great tyre to keep innovating on (eg some of the Marathon Supreme Triple Nano Compound technology, etc)

like when can we start ordering ‘em?

Bike Friday is selling Tikits as fast as they can make them! Please oh please give us the Big Apple liteskins so we can tour happy!
I can assure you there will be a better market for this size than many of the other you make….

Could the LiteSkin 29x 2.00 be used tubeless?

I am using the 26x2.35 Big Apple on an electric bike capable of 40MPH sustained speed for perhaps 20 miles at a stretch. Am I about to die?

Please make the Supermotos or the Big Apples in a 2.35 width for a 29er bike for all road touring. Please also make them lighter, and with the Triple Nano Compound.

Thanks

With lots of 650B coversions on the road, and new 650B mountain bikes coming on line (“27.5”), when might we expect some 50mm and 60mm Big Apples in this wonderful size?

I notice that KHE has a kevlar bead 55-406 tire rated to 120 psi. A kevlar bead Big Apple rated at 120 would be my dream tire, especially if it were available in 60-406 and 60-622. (I ride a recumbent that uses both sizes.) Maybe next year? I know you can do it!

Please produce the BA in the 349 size. There are a bunch of us waiting for it.

There is a rather large crowd of Catrike people just waiting for the BA in 349 diameter. We can’t use the 355’s because no one is drilling the 355 rims with 32 holes for our hubs these days.

Yes, Please, produce a 349, maybe even a LiteSkin in both 349 and 406.

Any plans on a 349 ?

It took me 4 decades to learn that the iRide Suspension Fork , & the Manitou $400 air/coil/& oil…is nowhere near the original simplicity & ease of suspension adjustment (by changing tire pressure) that we enjoy in the Schwalbe Big Apples !

The Rivendell Atlantis Frames easily use 50 & 60mm tires.
After about $9,000 in high end complicated modern bikes , i have happily retired to a new 1950’s bike !
It is so easy to enjoy the cemetery roads in complete comfort @ 25psi ; & then enjoy another days ride blast of passing a roadbike with 7/8” tires hard as cement ! And all i had to do was inflate the BA’s to 50lbs. The Brooks saddle springs take care of the 230lb discomfort well.
If the road guy ever asks me how do i go so fast so effortlessly, i’ll tell him about the 180mm cranks/ widest pedals / hollow pin chain/ total XT / & Dyad rims…along with bikeshoes without cleats.
I’m still scared on fast corners though. It may take next summer to fix that. And then , Look out Lance !

I built a heavy cargo trike five years ago, and when deciding on 20” (406) tires I saw the ad about the Big Apples and how they could be run at a lower psi but with little to no rolling resistance penalty. Having used Schwalbe tires on other bikes I decided to believe the hype and was not disappointed - they ended up being the perfect choice! If you ever need to carry a load in a trailer or cargo vehicle I cannot recommend these more highly.

The original 50mm width tires have worn down a fair bit and have been transferred to one of my trailers, and new 60mm were installed on the trike this past summer, and all is still well. I use this machine on a regular basis to move my drums around (I’m a pro musician) as well as whatever else needs moving (I don’t own a car), and the tires have been great, with only one flat the entire time. See my website http://drumbent.com/trike.html or blog posts (such as http://drumbent.blogspot.com/2007/05/house-move-by-pedal-power.html).

Great work Schwalbe!

Mark

Could Team Schwalbe recommend a Presta valve tube for the Wire Bead 29 x 2.35 (11154838)? Thanks!

When do you anticipate getting the LiteSkin versions in stock?

The Big Apples are fine except when trying to jump a curb or trying to swerve slightly over a 3/8” tall ridge in the road. When jumping a curb I have to hit the curb at a perpendicular angle or my rear tire won’t grab. Recently I expereinced a fall. I was rolling along just fine commuting home and tried to swerve slightly to the left to avoid a stick in the road. However, there was a slight ridge in the pavement that my tires would not roll over. In fact because of the shape of the tire the ridge acted like a rail that channeled me with the ridge instead of rolling over it. My momentum was committed to the left and that is when I fell. Everything happened in slow motion. The people in the cars all around were gasping and I could hear girls screaming with fear thinking that I was hurt. The fall happened in front of a Junior High School where there were kids on the balcony and I heard them scream loudly .. “Ooooohhhh Maaaaaaaaaaan!”.
-S.P.

I am running them on my MTB which previous to my revelation about the BAs was a 26 * 1.25 at 100lbs. I could feel every crevice/crack on my commute, almost making me quit riding (bus & bike to work and 30km ride home). Well I say the diff in tires is like night and day. I have the back around 60lbs and front around 50, and I weigh over twice the combined air pressure. :-). Well I have enjoyed riding home with the BAs, and actually can not believe how secure and comfortable they are. Good work Schwalbe, now make some bigger tires like these in a 650c for my recumbent so I can ride start to both ways.

Brian

These are great tires.
They would look the business in white!