How do you prevent a flat tube

[albie]

So i've copped my 2nd flat tyre in less than a month. Now the wierd thing is that I'm currently running the Maxis Hookworms (26"x2.5') with the downhill tube.

I was riding to work this morning and burst the rear tube (where the hub is) so pretty much had to push it back home (around 3km) and went to work in the car instead (didn't have time to remove the rear wheel and replace the tyre as I had to go to work) I'll replace the tube tonight but I'm just wondering how are you guys preventing your tube from getting flat.

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).

 

[kyakdiver]

Few things I do to prevent flats..... One is I carry a wrench to remove the tire on the road along with a spare tube :lol: :lol: :lol: .. The other is some heavy duty rim tape and not that thin rubber stuff. I also try and use a heavy tube and I've heard good things about the slime tubes as well but have never used them....

I do get one or two flats a year but I'm also riding 5000 miles plus a year. replacing a flat on the road takes so little time that once you get the hang of it.... It's a 3 minute process.

If you carry the wrench you might never have a flat again...

Your bike shop idea of adding the old tub around the new one is also a good idea. Other than these things.... Some of it's just a matter of luck. I've had years where I went 8,000 miles without a flat and others where I would have one or two in a week and then nothing for another 6 months. Keeping my eyes open for glass and such seems to be the trick that works best for me.

I don't know if any of this helps..... But it works for me.

kyakdiver

 

[Link]

I have slime in my tires. You know, that goopy green stuff you can get in a can? I got the tubes pre-filled with the stuff. Works great. I haven't had a flat since. Been a good year or so. Used to have to patch/replace the tube every two months if I was lucky.

I've only actually caught it working once, but I know from looking at my tires that it has saved me a VERY hard ride quite a few times. The time I did catch it, I was in my driveway, pulling out stickers. I pulled out a BIG one. Good 3/8in long. There was some hissing for maybe ten seconds, and a bit of green liquid oozed out of the hole. I wiped it off a couple times. After a while, there was no more hissing, and I'm still using that same tube :wink:.

I also tried the solid tubes. The foam rubber ones. They suck. It's a good idea, but poorly implemented. The foam rubber is much to soft. It makes it very hard to ride. If they were to make them out of a hard, solid rubber I think they would work great. But, until then, don't bother with them.

 

[albie]

I saw those green bottles at the bike shop this morning and was wondering what it was.

I might get a bottle when I get home tonight or get one tommorow morning!

 

[kyakdiver]

The green bottles SUCK!!!!! It makes a huge mess..... What I'm talking about is a Slime tube which is part of the tube..... Kinda like a gooey liner inside the tube to fill small punctures.

If you use the slime in the bottle and you get a flat you will have a green oozy mess.............

kyakdiver

 

[kyakdiver]

Follow this link to what I'm talking about....

http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/11981-345_SLIRT3-3-Parts-74-Tubes/Accessories/Slime-Self-Healing-Tube.htm


kyakdiver

 

[albie]

they don't have anything for 2.5" wide tyres

looks likei have to do the messy tube lol

 

[Link]

Follow this link to what I'm talking about....

http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/11981-345_SLIRT3-3-Parts-74-Tubes/Accessories/Slime-Self-Healing-Tube.htm

kyakdiver

Yeah, I think those are exactly the ones I have.

Albie: Let us know if you have the same messy outcome as he did. Hope you don't!

 

[Ypedal]

I always buy the thickest tubes the shop has on hand.. my norco has Freeride tubes ( had a hard time getting it into the tire !! )

I also use felt tape ( hockey supplies are way cheaper than mr tuffy tape !! ) and go around the rim at least 3 times.. sometimes more if it's a single walled rim.. I also place a strip of tape over the seam of the rim, once the tire is mounted and inflated i cut the tape flush with the tire ( sometimes the seams of the rims open up and chew your tube !! )

seems to work so far.

 

[curious]

Check for (i) rim tape application and any suspicious points, (ii) internal rim surface for any sharp points/edges, (iii) loose spoke (it can cut through the rim tape). Also make sure you do not clinch the tube when mounting the tire. Some tires are notoriously difficult to mount and it is easy to damage the tube doing so. Such frequent tube failures are nearly sure sign of rim and/or mounting issues.

 

[albie]

Ok got my tire fixed this morning at the bike shop (was a bitch to remove so i gave up and decided to take it to them this morning).

Used a bottle of slime when they mounted the tire.

THe cause for my tube punture was one of the spokes... too much weight + fully inflated tire + pothole = tube puncture

I'll fix up the tube and leave it as a spare

 

[josh]

For prevention of flats from the outside, Schwalbe Marathon plus tyres are supposed to be virtually flat-proof and probably add less weight than green slime too - they seem about the same weight as Specialized Armadillo (I think thats right?), and a bit heavier than my Kenda K-Shields, but well worth it for the extra protection - I've ridden through broken glass a few times (not deliberately) without worrying .

I've read that a touring bike was ridden 10,000 miles around all the 5 Great Lakes on them, flat-free, and a couple rode across America, twice (about 20,000 miles?) with only 2 flats, so thats 1 flat or less in 10,000 miles!

 

[recumbent]

THe cause for my tube punture was one of the spokes... too much weight + fully inflated tire + pothole

Never heard that before, perhaps you should snug the spokes tighter, but the bike shop probably checked that already.

For those of you that get a flat, don't remove the wheel :? especially if there's a chain wrapped around it and a motor.
Lay the bike down, pop one side of the tire out (always carry plastic tire levers and patch kit) pull out most of the tube, inflate it, patch hole, feel tire & rim for foriegn matter, stuff tube back, re-bead tire, pump more air, and keep on riding takes about three minutes, as was posted above.
I always buy good tubes and tires, it's the only preventative thing, and rarely have a flat. Good luck, sounds like you got it under control now.

 

[mvadventure]

Can't say I've never had a flat as I've had a few over the years. Lately though I carry plastic tire levers, a patch kit, a couple cans of air (they are several years old and I merely expect them to work), wrenches and use slime tubes. So far this has been enough and no flats. Knock on wood. I also try and keep the tires between 60 & 70 lbs at all times but then sometimes I get a little slack. I also try very had to avoid potholes, never jump curbs and to be aware of the road in front of me at all times. But next time I take the tire off the rim, which hopefully will be a long time from now, I'll provide better protection between the spokes and tube. Maybe even use duct tape which on the surface sounds like a good idea.

Mike

 

[kyakdiver]

I like Ypedals idea of putting some tape over the rim seam. I've used emory cloth to sand it down before but the tape idea should work. Most rims are pretty smooth but it sure couldn't hurt!

 

[josh]

What's been said about good puncture resistant tyres, properly fitted, with good tubes at correct pressures & well-taped rims with no protruding spokes, should all prevent unnecessary flats until you get really unlucky.

I'd not heard of maxxis hookworms, but having looked them up I don't see that they have any particular flat-resistance built-in? & downhill tubes - are they stronger/thicker somehow? You might get less (externally caused) flats with a more flat-resistant tyre (with a kevlar/aramid belt for instance) or a virtually flat-proof one like the schwalbe marathon plus, which also roll & handle more easily than my previous Kendas too and will take a standard or thinner tube .

 

[albie]

I normally carry around a tyre repair kit... however with the hookworms... they are virtually impossible to take off. Even the guys at the workshop broke a couple of tyre levers trying to pry it off!

 

[SF1901]

THe cause for my tube punture was one of the spokes... too much weight + fully inflated tire + pothole = tube puncture

I'll fix up the tube and leave it as a spare

Last year, 0 flats. This year=3 flats in one month! I too have the same problem. I took the time to change all my tires to Continentals Town&Country, Mr. Tuffy liner, Slime tire rim. But I had to find out the hard way and had another flat. and troubleshoot and found the flats were from my spokes. My electric bike dealer told me to shave or file the spokes down to prevent further punctures. Hope this helps.

 

[swade]

Maybe even use duct tape which on the surface sounds like a good idea.

I don't know about duct tape. When it experiences wear, all that is left is little bits of glue. I think the sticky parts would then bond to the tire and the rim and this might not be good.

 

[marty]

My brother Joe
http://www.no-flats.com

 

[jha07]

I recently installed Mr Tuffy tire liners on my bike.
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442497941&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302693707&bmUID=1202931832458
They go in between the tube and the tire. I read a few reviews on them and they were quite positive. Much better than slime. I haven't had enough mileage on them to say if they are helping, but it's got to be better with them than without.

 

[iberkt]

If you really don't want to get a flat tire EVER again then you should get this

http://www.airfreetires.com/Bicycle/Legacy/26x20HP.html

It is a solid "air free" tire made of dense polyurethane foam.

 

[Link]

Unless they are really, really dense (read: SOLID), I don't think they'll be very good. I used to have those, and they made it really hard to pedal. It was like riding with a half-flat tire.

 

[D-Man]

I normally carry around a tyre repair kit... however with the hookworms... they are virtually impossible to take off. Even the guys at the workshop broke a couple of tyre levers trying to pry it off!

The "Hank" tire I use just about falls off when no air in it. Don't need tire levers. I just installed a panaracer double thick tube for the rear tire. There not too bulky but just double thick as I once got a flat on the rear tire that wasn't double thick. Weighs 430 grams. I hope it works.

 

[recumbent]

Schwalbe Marathon plus have a puncture proof tire on the market.