We installed a set of four Schwalbe Big Apple 20" X 2.35" tires tires on our Rhoades Car back on 16 April 2009 and with winter nearly here, we have now just about completed a whole season on them. As a result Gordon Koppang prompted me to take this opportunity to write a bit about the Big Apples.
As I wrote previously, the Big Apples replaced our factory-supplied Cheng Shin 20" X 2.125" tires, which we had used for two seasons. The Cheng Shins are okay as tires go, but they are slower and make more noise than the Big Apples. Really the only advantage that the Cheng Shins have for on road use is that they are doubtlessly cheaper for the factory to install than Schwalbes, which are a German-made high-end cycle tire.
Our ratings of the Schwalbes have not seriously changed since the first impressions. After about 330 km on them this season they are taller, faster, give a smoother ride, better cornering and less road noise when going straight and especially when cornering. They also offer better shock absorption, even inflated to 50 psi, versus 35 psi for the Cheng Shins. Other than the price of Cdn $43.50 each, they are superior to the Cheng Shins in all respects.
Our good experiences with the Schwalbes on our Rhoades Car have spilled over into our Catrike experiences. My Catrike Speed came with one rear Schwalbe Stelvio slick tire and two front Greenspeed Scorcher slicks that were pretty much worn out. After our good experiences with the Schwalbes on the Rhoades Car I had no hesitation in ordering the OEM tire for the Catrike Speed, 16" X 1.125" Schwalbe Kojaks to replace the Scorchers when they started showing cloth. It is worth noting that Ruth's Catrike Trail came with OEM-supplied 20" X 1.5" Schwalbe Marathon Racers all around and Ruth is very happy with these tires, too. We have had nothing but good experiences with all the Schwalbes on our cycles.
It is too bad that Rhoades Car don't offer the Big Apples as at least an option. Personally if I were manufacturing quadracycles I would be using the Schwalbe Big Apples as OEM equipment, because they are a superior tire and make your product ride smoother and faster, which makes a better impression on the purchaser, than using low-end tires. Of course I would also use Shimano dérailleurs instead of SunRace ones, but that is another story.
To anyone buying a Rhoades Car I would say, leave the factory tires on there for a while and, when it comes time to replace them in a few years, or if you find you want a bit more speed and a lot less noise then get a set of Big Apples. The difference is worth the price.
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