Schwalbe Tyre Marathon Plus MTB HS468 26", 27.5" and 700c Tyre
Maximum Puncture Protection with More Grip for Unsealed Trails.
The Schwalbe Marathon Plus MTB is made for riders who want Marathon Plus puncture protection but need more grip away from sealed roads. Its HS468 tread combines easy-rolling centre ribs with larger shoulder lugs for compact gravel, forest tracks and mixed-surface riding.
The 5mm SmartGuard layer adds weight and gives the tyre a firmer ride than a performance mountain bike tyre. In return, it provides strong protection against the glass, sharp stones and metal fragments responsible for many everyday punctures.
SmartGuard Protection
A 5mm layer of highly elastic SmartGuard rubber sits between the tread and inner tube. It helps prevent sharp objects from reaching the tube and includes recycled natural rubber from old latex products.
Schwalbe describes SmartGuard tyres as “Flat-Less”, but no tyre can prevent every puncture. The Marathon Plus MTB is about reducing the chance of flats rather than making them impossible.
Grip on Hardpack and Gravel
The continuous centre ribs keep the tyre rolling reasonably well on sealed roads and hardpacked tracks. Larger outer lugs provide extra grip when cornering or moving onto looser surfaces.
This tread works well for rail trails, gravel paths, forest roads and everyday mixed-surface riding. It is not a lightweight trail or enduro tyre, so riders tackling steep, muddy or technical mountain bike terrain may be better served by a softer and more aggressive tread.
Approved for Fast E-Bikes
The Marathon Plus MTB carries ECE-R75 approval and an E-50 rating, making it suitable for approved European speed e-bikes where certified tyres are required.
Versions marked Reflex include a reflective sidewall strip, improving side-on visibility when riding in low light or darkness.
Key Features
• HS468 mixed-surface tread pattern
• Easy-rolling centre ribs
• Larger shoulder lugs for off-road grip
• 5mm SmartGuard puncture-protection layer
• Strong protection against common road and trail debris
• SmartGuard contains recycled natural rubber
• Schwalbe Performance Line construction
• ECE-R75 approved
• E-50 rated for fast e-bikes
• Reflective sidewall strip on Reflex versions
• Available for 26", 27.5" and 700c wheels
Who Is This Tyre For?
The Marathon Plus MTB suits recreational mountain bikers, commuters and touring riders who regularly move between sealed roads and unsealed tracks.
It is particularly useful on e-bikes and high-mileage bikes where avoiding punctures matters more than low weight or a soft ride. If you are looking for maximum traction on technical trails, this is probably not the right tyre.
Perfect For
✔ Recreational e-bikes
✔ Mixed road and trail riding
✔ Rail trails and cycle paths
✔ Compact gravel and forest roads
✔ Commuting on rougher routes
✔ High-mileage touring
✔ Riders wanting strong puncture protection
✔ ECE-R75-approved speed e-bikes
Our Thoughts on the Schwalbe Marathon Plus MTB
We’d choose the Marathon Plus MTB for a bike that spends time on both sealed roads and well-formed trails. It has more grip than the standard Marathon Plus, but still rolls sensibly on hard surfaces.
It is a heavy, firm tyre, so we would not fit it to a performance mountain bike where acceleration, grip and trail feel are the priorities. It makes far more sense on a commuter, trekking bike or recreational e-bike that needs to be reliable day after day.
These tyres can be tight to install. Once fitted, use a pressure gauge rather than checking them by hand—the thick SmartGuard layer can make the casing feel firm even when the pressure is too low.
Why Buy from Chain Reaction
✔ Expert tyre sizing and compatibility advice
✔ Professional tyre and tube installation available
✔ Help choosing the correct tyre pressure
✔ Workshop support for mountain bikes and e-bikes
✔ Finance options available
✔ Nationwide New Zealand delivery
✔ Ongoing support from our Christchurch team
Specifications
• Product line: Schwalbe Performance Line
• Tread pattern: HS468
• Intended use: Mixed-surface, trekking and recreational off-road riding
• Wheel sizes: 26", 27.5" and 700c
• Puncture protection: SmartGuard
• SmartGuard thickness: 5mm
• Recycled content: Recycled natural rubber within SmartGuard
• E-bike approval: ECE-R75
• E-bike rating: E-50
• Reflective strip: Reflex versions only
Check that the selected tyre size and width will fit your rims, frame, fork and mudguards. Set the pressure with a gauge and follow the range printed on the tyre sidewall. SmartGuard greatly reduces puncture risk, but no bicycle tyre can prevent every flat.
