If you want suspension comfort on your city bike or a mountain bike you've converted for touring/commuting use, fat tyres like Schwalbe’s Big Apples are the best way to get it.
Cobbles and potholes cease to matter, while the bike isn’t burdened with heavy energy-sapping springs. This Liteskin version pares around 200g off the standard Big Apple thanks to lighter sidewalls and a folding bead.
It still has Kevlar puncture protection, plus a dynamo track and reflective sidewalls. Rolling performance is surprisingly good, bettered only among balloon tyres by Schwalbe’s 2in Kojak. You’ll need big frame clearances and wide rims and mudguards.
It’s available in three widths for 26in wheels (2, 2.15 and 2.35in), two widths for 700C wheels (50 and 60mm) and one width for 20in wheels (2.15in). The 26x2.35 we tested weighs 680g.