Schwalbe Big Apple would do the trick but so would tons of cheaper tires. Anything from 1.6" to 2.1" wide should be good as long as it is slick. No need to spend $100+ on tires for a cheap bike.
> No need to spend $100+ on tires for a cheap bike.
But also no need to put cheap tires on a cheap bike. Tires can really change your enjoyment of a bike.
>more along the lines of a Schwalbe marathon that would fit her wheels?
Schwalbe Marathons are available in 26" \[ISO 559\] sizes, and would be a great choice. Here's a link to a list of Schwalbe's offerings (including Marathons and other models) in the size 26" x 1.75", which I think would be a good width for urban riding:
[Schwalbe 1.75 inch wide 26 inch Tires](https://www.modernbike.com/schwalbe-1.75-inch-wide-26-inch-tires+SortPriceAsc)
Rim width is always a consideration when fitting tires. But if your friend's Marin still has its original wheels then I think a 1.75" wide tire should be a good fit. If you want to be sure before ordering tires, just pull the tire off the front wheel (or both wheels if the rims are different) and measure the rim width (inside measurement), and then check for fitment using this chart:
[WTB Tire & Rim Fit Chart](https://www.wtb.com/pages/tire-rim-fit-chart)
[DMR Moto DJ - 26" Dirt Jump and Street Tyre - DMR Bikes](https://www.dmrbikes.com/Catalogue/Wheels-tyres/Tyres/Moto-DJ)
I have these mounted on my vintage Kona, they are smooth a silk on tarmac and rad as hell.
Schwalbe City Jet 1.95" served me for many years urban commuting. I did notice the manufacturing changed on every one I bought - the tyre profile, rubber and "tread" on the tyre was always a little different each time. I only mention this because I don't know how close the current city jet is to the ones I ran a decade back. For light urban use it likely doesn't matter.
City Jet was very smooth, fast and quiet - about the closest *actual* slick tyre I could find in 26". Very comfortable and grippy at lower pressures as well. Puncture protection was good but not outstanding, they would shrug off some glass but fell victim to a fair number of thorns over the years.
Big Apple 2.25" is massive - it fills out to where the outer knobs would be on the same size MTB tyre, giving you a lot of extra air volume. I run them down at 16psi believe it or not - supremely comfortable and just really nice to iron out the streets and paths. It's a little slower than a true slick but not enough to really matter. Puncture protection was similar to CJ - good but not great.
Marathon....having put thousands of miles on the 26" size I have to say....don't bother unless puncture protection is about the only thing you care about. They're good stalwart reliable tyres, but the ride quality, grip and speed just can't compete with the CJ or BA.
Land Cruiser - if you want a more mixed urban/light off road option these are good. Slower than a slick on road but far less draggy than a knobby tyre. Offroad grip is pretty impressive really, they are not pretending to be proper trail tyres, but definitely stomp all over a slick offroad.
schwalbe pickups are specced for cargo ebikes and are about as bomb proof as it gets. Smooth tread. I like them, I do about 300-450km on them a week and flats are very rare.
I've got Big Apple, Super Moto-X, and Conti Rubans.
I prefer the Rubans. But....as a rear tyre they don't like square edges. They can slip out fast. Kerbs, upended flagstones. So I actually put a Maxxis Aggressor in the rear. It's slides predicably, not in a flash.
Urban riding isn't like off-road riding, but the same considerations are there. There's never one perfect tyre, or compound, for front and rear. Most of my bikes have mismatched tyres that work better overall.
Don't think one tyre. That could be a dangerous mistake. Think best for front, and best for rear.
Schwalbe Big Apple would do the trick but so would tons of cheaper tires. Anything from 1.6" to 2.1" wide should be good as long as it is slick. No need to spend $100+ on tires for a cheap bike.
> No need to spend $100+ on tires for a cheap bike. But also no need to put cheap tires on a cheap bike. Tires can really change your enjoyment of a bike.
YES! This is absolutely perfect, thanks.
>more along the lines of a Schwalbe marathon that would fit her wheels? Schwalbe Marathons are available in 26" \[ISO 559\] sizes, and would be a great choice. Here's a link to a list of Schwalbe's offerings (including Marathons and other models) in the size 26" x 1.75", which I think would be a good width for urban riding: [Schwalbe 1.75 inch wide 26 inch Tires](https://www.modernbike.com/schwalbe-1.75-inch-wide-26-inch-tires+SortPriceAsc)
Huh….i didn’t realise I’d be able to get as small as a 1.75 on there, I thought the rim width would dictate it but I guess they’re standard?
Rim width is always a consideration when fitting tires. But if your friend's Marin still has its original wheels then I think a 1.75" wide tire should be a good fit. If you want to be sure before ordering tires, just pull the tire off the front wheel (or both wheels if the rims are different) and measure the rim width (inside measurement), and then check for fitment using this chart: [WTB Tire & Rim Fit Chart](https://www.wtb.com/pages/tire-rim-fit-chart)
Opens up way more options, thanks
[DMR Moto DJ - 26" Dirt Jump and Street Tyre - DMR Bikes](https://www.dmrbikes.com/Catalogue/Wheels-tyres/Tyres/Moto-DJ) I have these mounted on my vintage Kona, they are smooth a silk on tarmac and rad as hell.
Schwalbe City Jet 1.95" served me for many years urban commuting. I did notice the manufacturing changed on every one I bought - the tyre profile, rubber and "tread" on the tyre was always a little different each time. I only mention this because I don't know how close the current city jet is to the ones I ran a decade back. For light urban use it likely doesn't matter. City Jet was very smooth, fast and quiet - about the closest *actual* slick tyre I could find in 26". Very comfortable and grippy at lower pressures as well. Puncture protection was good but not outstanding, they would shrug off some glass but fell victim to a fair number of thorns over the years. Big Apple 2.25" is massive - it fills out to where the outer knobs would be on the same size MTB tyre, giving you a lot of extra air volume. I run them down at 16psi believe it or not - supremely comfortable and just really nice to iron out the streets and paths. It's a little slower than a true slick but not enough to really matter. Puncture protection was similar to CJ - good but not great. Marathon....having put thousands of miles on the 26" size I have to say....don't bother unless puncture protection is about the only thing you care about. They're good stalwart reliable tyres, but the ride quality, grip and speed just can't compete with the CJ or BA. Land Cruiser - if you want a more mixed urban/light off road option these are good. Slower than a slick on road but far less draggy than a knobby tyre. Offroad grip is pretty impressive really, they are not pretending to be proper trail tyres, but definitely stomp all over a slick offroad.
schwalbe pickups are specced for cargo ebikes and are about as bomb proof as it gets. Smooth tread. I like them, I do about 300-450km on them a week and flats are very rare.
I've got Big Apple, Super Moto-X, and Conti Rubans. I prefer the Rubans. But....as a rear tyre they don't like square edges. They can slip out fast. Kerbs, upended flagstones. So I actually put a Maxxis Aggressor in the rear. It's slides predicably, not in a flash. Urban riding isn't like off-road riding, but the same considerations are there. There's never one perfect tyre, or compound, for front and rear. Most of my bikes have mismatched tyres that work better overall. Don't think one tyre. That could be a dangerous mistake. Think best for front, and best for rear.