Very predictable ride on any surface I used those (asphalt both dry and wet, sand, gravel, rocks), comfortable and good rolling resistance. Puncture resistance is very convincing, though not bombproof.

Unlike what other brands (read Schwalbe) pretend for their own products (granted, it might well just be marketing blob), this tyre's compound won't kick sharp bits out of itself. In other words, all punctures I ever had with those tyres came either from metal beads (those 5mm long steel rod bits from blown truck tyres, very common on the roads i cycled through) or from sharp stones/glass shards that would dig their way over 1000s of km through the rubber until reaching and wearing off the kevlar belt and, obviously, the inner tube. This mostly happens on the front tyre, as it "cleans the way" for the rear one. It never got slashed, despite their careless owner relentlessly driving them through broken glass along the road.

I used on single pair of those during a 9 months journey from Istanbul to Singapore, a 11,500km unsupported touring adventure. I had started with the stock Continental Contacts but destroyed them in 1,800km, and was lucky to find those in Tabriz, Iran. I put close to 10,000km on those, and by the end of the journey i reckon they could have done another 5,000, albeit with an increased frequency of punctures. Bike+gear+cyclist+water&food was about 120kg altogether.
Bottom line is, those tyres proved reliable and very safe to ride, never felt betrayed no matter the riding conditions, which is a major factor when you are far from home. They seem comfortable and even though i didn't try the reknown Marathon Plus for long enough to compare, there is no doubt that at less than £20, they are better value than the Schwalbe.

Similar Products Used:

Marathon Plus 700C x 35
Continental Contact 700C x 32

Low rolling resistance, grooved tread, kevlar

None noted

I like 'em, even after only 1 x 10 mi. ride. I ride in the typical commuter environment: pebbles, rocks, sand, uneven ground, grass, dirt, deep sand, glass, puddles, asphalt, concrete curbs, road junk, etc. These tires have the low rolling resistance I'm looking for, with grooves to disperse water. At this price, I don't think they can be beat for all-around city riding/commuting. I'm not a hard-core roadie, so take this with a grain of salt, but I wouldn't hesitate to use these tires on a long road ride either. 5 chilis for value (I paid $15 per at Blue Sky) 4 chilis because they do everything I ask, but I just don't know about durability, puncture resistance, or tread wear yet.

Similar Products Used:

Ritchey Tom Slick

Faster than knobbies. The inverted tread is good on loose surfaces. Great in the wet. Relatively light for their volume.

Not as fast as a pure slick.

These tires are a nice compromise between speed, comfort and predictable handling. I have the 1.75" version which I bought to replace a set of 1.25" Continental Sport Contacts. In comparison the Overdrives are not as fast in a straight line, but they are much more stable. The higher volume and lower pressure makes the Overdrives much more comfortable to ride than the skinnier, higher pressure tyres they replaced.

I've been really impressed with the wet weather performance of these tyres. They grip really well on wet surfaces. They also seem to handle dirt reasonably well. Whilst they're not an offroad tyre, they can handle the occasional foray onto gravel roads or trails.

Overall I think they tyres are good for commuting or touring where comfort and predictability are more important than straight line speed.

Similar Products Used:

Continental Sport Contacts, IRC Metro

Light, durable, dependable on wet surfaces as well, fast

No 26x1.95/2.1 available for rear:-), the full protection version should be a bit cheaper. No foldable version

I use these tires to go to work on weekdays; Hungarian cities' bike roads are similar to XC trails:-(. High risk of puncture: snakebite, glass pieces, tank mines... But no problem with these slicks. Easy to accelerate and brake them.
Weak point: on the rear gear a 1.95 or 2.1 size would be nicer; you know, better comfort feel and better LOOK!!!
I want a foldable OverDrive, please!!!:-)
On city trails I think one of the best buys. Also OK for very light trails.
For MTB road trips, city trips, go to work with your XC bike

Similar Products Used:

Schwalbe City Marathon, Marathon Slick