How do you prevent a flat tube

[calinb]

In Portland, Oregon, "The City that<hardly>Works," with miles and miles of expensive bike lanes and converted car lanes that never get cleaned or swept, I prevent flats by avoiding bike lanes! There's so much glass in them, I was getting about 2 flats / week (~150 mi. / week) before I started avoiding them. Glass will eventually work its way into most any material. The trick is to find something that gives you enough time to periodically inspect your tires and pick it out before it gets all the way to the tube. With an ebike, it's a pain to do, but I flip my bike over about once per week, don an illuminated magnifier visor and pick at the holes and gashes in my tires with a dental pick to find the glass. I go by sound as much as vision.

-Cal

 

[Mark_A_W]

Albie, I have 4000k's on a Marathon Plus with Thorn-Proof tubes, without a flat. Now I have two of them. Heavy but they work.

I'll add slime tubes next....if there ever is a next, the tyre looks brand new after 4000k...


I didn't have much luck with Maxxis Overdrive Kelvar tyres, they were ok, but still got a few punctures.


But what Calin says about bike paths is true. Drunks wander down them and smash bottles, and they NEVER get swept. The road gets less glass to start with, and ~0.4m out from the gutter it's swept clear by the cars anyway.

 

[calinb]

I also think soft, wide, (mountain bike) or otherwise large contact patch (slicks) are the worst for picking up glass. Unfortunately, the high pressure slicks or semi-slicks (smooth center) work the best for speed, but a good 'ol knobby seems to get fewer flats from road glass on a mountain bike.

 

[nitecheck]

Flat tires are a pet hate of mine. I commute 60kms a day mainly on break down lanes (aptly named) or the so called bicycle lane beside a motorway. Anyway any were up to 2 flats a ride - carry 2 tubes as got caught out with 1 tube then a pinch flat 5 mins after I fixed the 1st
Ok - what works for me. Keep your tyres inflated to max recommended pressure, run a tyre liner like Mr Tuffy, use thorn resistant tubes, use slime if you like ( I have a large tub of goop used in armoured car tyres - great for motorcyles too), use a quality rim tape (prefer rubberised cloth - like road bikes) and lastly carry that spanner - with a spare tube :wink: I know this is overkill - but ALL this keeps me a happy flat free rider & as stated above - flats really are a pet hate of mine.

 

[diver]

I went to the hank tire and added a pyramid thorn resistant tube. I them wrapped the inside rim with the Velox rim wrap and that solved my blowout problem. that tube is so thick and heavy. My tires were blowing out i think because of to much battery weight. I run 20 6 volt 14 amp hour battery's in my junk so it is heavy
butch

 

[nitecheck]

In Portland, Oregon, "The City that<hardly>Works," with miles and miles of expensive bike lanes and converted car lanes that never get cleaned or swept, I prevent flats by avoiding bike lanes! There's so much glass in them, I was getting about 2 flats / week (~150 mi. / week) before I started avoiding them. Glass will eventually work its way into most any material. The trick is to find something that gives you enough time to periodically inspect your tires and pick it out before it gets all the way to the tube. With an ebike, it's a pain to do, but I flip my bike over about once per week, don an illuminated magnifier visor and pick at the holes and gashes in my tires with a dental pick to find the glass. I go by sound as much as vision.

-Cal

Been there Cal - on a ICE bike - Ebikes much better. Late one night in my garage - I was doing the ritual - spin the wheel - feel by hand (ouch) test. Yep - something in the tyre check - but has not worked through the tyre liner yet (normally - I'd pull at least 4 or 5 peices of rubbish from the tyres nightly) Admittedly I was running crap soft compond tyres that were over heated by speed. Anyway - I'm using a hi-carbon mini jeweller screw driver to dig out a an object - I inigited a 2 inch spark as the driver slipped (apparently the object I was attempting to prise out was a sliver of hi-carbon grade rim bead from a truck tyre). Besides the pretty yellow/blue spark - One would not think the spark to be a problem - except ...this a I.C.E MTB!! -that I'd just topped of the tank & still had the fuel cap off!!! Fuel still on my hands & fumes in the garage Eeek - human torch in the making. Mental note - de-spike tyre Before refueling.

 

[calinb]

Eeek - human torch in the making. Mental note - de-spike tyre Before refueling.

Good thing the stoichiometric mixture wasn't quite right, nitecheck! Good story!

I've been thinking about going to a harder compound tire--or maybe I'll try some knobbies and see how much speed I lose. I just put a Green Slime tube protector liner in my rear tire (not the yucky Slime goo). Still need to do the front. They should at least give me more time to pick out the glass before it reaches the tube. I used to use a tiny jeweler's screwdriver but I now use a steel dental pick. Funny thing is, I got a flat on the rear only two days after installing the liner I figured the liner had failed me already but it turned out to be a tube defect. I switched to the Continental tubes because they don't have raised seems (better for patches) but they still DO have flush seams and one started to leak a little.

-Cal

 

[monster]

i just had a puncture on my way to work! the wall of the tire was torn up and whatever it was made it through to the tube underneath. i wish i'ld read this thread first before fixing it. it might have saved me time and protected against further flats.

however, most of these puncture protection techniques fail to protect the side walls of the tires, which can be the most vunerable bit on some types of tires. any ideas of how to protect against abraision damage from the sides?

if you have a puncture is there any slime product that you can use by the road side to seal the puncture without taking off the tire? e.g. "inject slime" - "re-inflate tire" - done ?

 

[Link]

if you have a puncture is there any slime product that you can use by the road side to seal the puncture without taking off the tire? e.g. "inject slime" - "re-inflate tire" - done ?

I don't know. The Slime bottle I have has a tool to remove the valve because it would get gunked up by the stuff if it was still in. You could probably use that.

 

[Toorbough ULL-Zeveigh]

I've had the same experience, 3 out of my 4 flats were thru the sidewall bypassing the tire liner & fat outside part of the 'thorn-resistant' tube completely.
The wall damage eventually caused the bead to separate from tire flex & had to prematurely trash the tire with plenty of tread left. :x

 

[monster]

at halfords you can buy tyre weld (for cars) that is similar to slime, but you can just push it on the valve and it seals and inflates the tire in one! it says not suitable for tyres with innertubes. anyone know why?

 

[monster]

from the slime web site:

"We do not recommend or guarantee SLiME for sealing bead or valve leaks.
When the sealant is installed, and the tire is in rotation, SLiME is forced only
to the tread area. There is no contact with the sidewall or bead unless the tire
is set on its side. If this is a vehicle tire or any high speed tire, we would
recommend having the tire inspected by a tire care professional as the leak
could be due to a bent rim etc."

so it might not seal tyre wall punctures?! tip the bike on its side?

 

[monster]

The guys at the bike store suggested I cut my old Maxxis DH tube (2.5") and wrap it around the new tube so this make the tube thicker. I also wanted to get a kevlar belt but they didn't have any at the bike shop for my wheel size (they only had the skinny 700c ones).

what about wrapping an old tyre around your inner-tube? this might prevent side wall damage causing punctures. you could even wrap a tube and a tyre around the tube?

 

[monster]

i have bought some tyre weld and i will test it on some bike tyres to see what its like.

instructions say that it cant do side wall damaged tires

 

[monster]

argg. i got a flat yesterday. probably because of the holes in my tyre side wall. so i went out and bought: new tyre, slime tube, slime, inflators and tyre levers. i put an old tyre and tube inside the new tyre with the slime tube. thats two tyres, two tubes rim tape and slime!

and it still went flat this morning!

i think i can eliminate road debris as the culprit. i rim taped that wheel several times so i dont fancy spoke punctures as a cause. when i put the old tyre in i had to cut it and it had wire around the rim which had sharp ends so this has to be it.

funny thing was that with all that stuff in the tyre there was still enough width left on the rim to ride on the flat.

 

[monster]

maybe if you put enough tyres inside each other you wont need and inner tube?

 

[tavernier5]

Cut strips of shower pan liner from Home Depot work good for tire liner.
BL

 

[kbarrett]

My commuting solutions:

First, use tires that can be easily removed in the field ... stay far away from Hookworms. The Schwalbe Big Apples I use can almost be removed without spoons, and have a punture resistant belt.

I use presta valve tubes with aluminum schrader hole adapters in the rims. I have yet to lose a tube to valve stem base failure with presta valves.

I use thick rim tape to prevent spoke pokes, that Fonde Du Jante stuff that Velox sells.

I don't bother patching ... I just carry spare tubes.

I do NOT use those puncture prevention ribbons, as I had the corners on one chew up a tube ... that kinda defeats the purpose right there.

Finally, I ride in the road ... all that damned glass always migrates to the bike lanes.

When you pull a wheel, the very first thing you have to do is identify the leak, and fix what caused it ... or you will be doing the same thing in 15 minutes, and be down one extra tube.

 

[kbarrett]

Stolen from here:

Zen and the Art of Fixing a Flat Tire

You are riding on a picturesque country road on your bicycle with the wind in your hair and birds singing in the nearby trees, and you are about to reach a Zen-like state of rapture when you start noticing your rear wheel. It seems to be bumping on the ground. Gradually, you realize that you have a flat.
You stop your bike and pump in some more air, but it doesn't work. Then you realize that you don't have a patch kit, so you begin walking towards the nearest phone. After hours of trying to find a phone or to get someone to let you use a phone, you figure that you have to walk for only another half hour to reach your home, when a cold, hard rain begins.

You vow that you will never make that mistake again.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You are riding on a picturesque country road on your bicycle with the wind in your hair and birds singing in the nearby trees, and you are about to reach a Zen-like state of rapture when you start noticing your rear wheel. It seems to be bumping on the ground. Gradually, you realize that you have a flat.

You stop your bike and pump some more air in, but it doesn't work. This time you are prepared. You use your tire levers to remove the tire, and you open the patch kit, prepare the area around the hole, and then you try to squeeze out some glue. Oh, you didn't realize that the tube of glue was soldered shut under the cap! You frantically search for something to punch a hole, but you discover nothing.

Hours later, after a soaking rain, you reach your home. You vow that you will never make that mistake again.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You are riding on a picturesque country road on your bicycle with the wind in your etc., and you are about to reach a Zen-like state of rapture when you start noticing your rear wheel. It seems to be bumping on the ground. Oh no, not again!

You stop your bike, remove the tire, and open the patch kit. Removing a pin from the kit, you punch a hole in the end of the tube, causing the glue to squirt out. Now, all you have to do is to find the hole.

Unfortunately, this time the hole is not so large. You can't see a hole, and you can't feel air escaping. Since your water bottle is empty, you try spitting on the tube, but to no avail. You start pumping more and more air into the tube, hoping that the hole will reveal itself, but to no avail. Then you put the tube and tire back on and pump it full; the tire quickly deflates.

Hours later, after a soaking rain, you reach your home. You vow that you will never make that mistake again.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You are riding on a picturesque country road on your bicycle with the wind in your etc., and you are about to reach an etc. when you notice etc. Your rear wheel seems to be bumping on the ground.

This time you take out a spare tube. When you can't find the hole, you just swap tubes, and then proceed to ride away. A couple of hundred feet away, you notice that your rear wheel seems to be bumping on the ground.

Did you remember to inspect the tire casing for glass, nails, or a piece of wire? Hours later, after a soaking rain, you reach your home. You vow that you will never make that mistake again.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You are riding on a picturesque country etc. on your etc. with the etc. in your etc. Your rear wheel seems to be bumping on the ground.

This time, you inspect the casing, but the new tube will not fill with air. Did you inspect it before starting your ride? Tubes that are fresh from the factory sometimes have holes in them. As you reach home in a soaking rain, you vow that you will never make that mistake again.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You are riding on a picturesque etc. Your rear wheel seems to be bumping on the ground.

This time you check the casing, and the new tube works perfectly. A mile up the road, you have a second flat. Hours later etc., you vow etc.



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You are riding etc. You are no longer worried about flats at all because you have installed plastic thorn guards. Then, your rear wheel seems to be bumping on the ground. A close inspection reveals that the tube was pinched by the thorn guard.



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You are riding etc. You are deliberating aiming at every piece of glass and every nail on the road. Your rear wheel is bumping on the ground, but you know why, and you don't stop. Your tire is now filled with solid rubber.

Suddenly, a huge, vicious dog springs out of nowhere. He bites your tire, and you chuckle, thinking how much that hurt. Then you discover that your rear tire is now bumping uncontrollably on the ground because a large chunk is missing.

Hours later, you reach your home and have someone drive you to the hospital for rabies shots. You vow etc.



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You are riding etc., pulling a bike trailer full of spare tires. Suddenly, you feel a bumping coming from the trailer. Then you remember that you did not bring spares for the trailer tires. Hours later, etc., you vow etc.



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You are riding etc. with an RV full of bikes and tires behind you. Suddenly, you hear a bumping sound behind you. The RV has a flat tire. You ride on for several miles, looking for a phone when you notice that your rear wheel seems to be bumping on the ground. Hours later, etc.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You are riding on a picturesque country road on your bicycle with the wind in your hair and birds singing in the nearby trees, and you are about to reach a Zen-like state of rapture when you start noticing your rear wheel. It seems to be bumping on the ground. Gradually, you realize that you have a flat. You continue to enter your trance. You now know, logically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually, that flat tires are just another part of the trip. You enjoy fooling with the tire, getting bit by the dog, walking in the rain, and having passing motorists honk at your heels and throw bottles at you. You don't even wince when you get the shots. You have now passed beyond the plebian problems of bike riders: you are now a true cyclist®.

Isn't cycling wonderful?

 

[nitecheck]

I've given up of "preventing" flat tyres I just now try to limit how many I get. Last week - 3 flats in 1 commute (run out of tubes & had to walk the last 9 or so kms - pulled my thigh muscle during the trek I'm pretty stubborn...I could feel the muscle going but refused to call a cab - stupid I know - but there it is) I got home & put the bike away in disgust. Anyway a week or so later of hobbling about & the Detonators are now gone (they had 1700 km on them but may have been a bit thin? I was "sure" I should have gotten a lot more kms out of them?) Have upgraded the tyres to Conti GP4000's now - added new tyre liners & only now am I planning on commuting again. These Conti's run real smooth & ultra quiet (with kewl refective sidewalls to make me feel safer at night ) Hopefully they will have better puncture protection than the Maxxis's they replaced....guess time will tell. The trash on the motorway "bike/break down lane" is simply disgraceful - I suppose the lanes must be swept/cleaned occassionaly. Though I have never seen it myself (except for the poor guys picking up trash on the grassed areas) - as the level of sharps does not seem to get worse but just remains horrible...if that makes sense Anyway here's hoping for a clear cool morning....I a new start.

 

[AussieJester]

I have been using Slime (and similar before that) in my wheelchair tires for yeeeears, works great and
yeah it makes a little mess but nothing a rag can't wipe off in one stroke :-S

 

[docnjoj]

One of the funniest incidents I ever had on a bike occurred on my own hill. My wife and I were riding down to the bay(coasting) and this little yappy dog (not on a leash with the owner standing nearby) attacked my rear tire and bit it. It tried to hold on but I had a fender and it went alnost half a rotation attached to the tire until getting whacked by the fender brace! It ran (slowly) away whimpering and I and my wife were laughing so hare we almost crashed! Sometimes, God truly does have a sense of humor! Dog apparently sore but unbroken! Owner said nothing as she was breaking the leash law!
otherDoc

 

[dogman dan]

Slime is the thing! 1700 flat free miles in the thorny desert on my commuter. On my trail bike, every ride i pick mesquite thorns the size of toothpicks out of the tires and keep riding. I don't bother to carry a pump.

 

[AussieJester]

It ran (slowly) away whimpering and I and my wife were laughing so hare we almost crashed!

bwahahaha too funny...we used to have an Old English Sheep Dog that would try to bite the end of motorcycle exhausts (when the bike was idling) his cheeks would blow up and looked funny as hell...

 

[docnjoj]

Arent those pipes a little HOT! You must have called the dog "Lipless"
otherDoc