Slime tire liners give you flats

[auraslip]

I've had two flats in each wheel, front and back, since installing slime tire liners that I purchased at wal-mart.

The ends where cut, even though they are rounded, still have enough of an edge to dig into the tires.

The fix is simple. Either wrap the ends in tape, or sand/file down the edge.

In these pictures you can see the filed ends of a slime tire liner, and the damaged tube being patched.

I've been using slime for as long as I remember, but honestly the fact that you couldn't spend the extra pennies per product for quality control says a lot about your products.

The fact that this has been reported before on amazon.com, and you didn't recall them says a lot about your company.

Not only is getting a flat horribly inconvenient for someone who commutes on their bike, but it can be dangerous.

regards,
shelby

I wrote this e-mail to slime. Hopefully I'll get at least replacement tubes. Those Big DH 2.5 tubes can be pricey.

 

[nomad85]

I just bought some of those. Although I didn't use them for the intended purpose. I cut one down and used it as rim tape, my velox had worn through and I got a flat, I thought this might last longer 2 came in the pack, but I couldn't get it to stay in my 2.5" tire, seems like I was lucky not to have made it work

 

[drewdiller]

Thanks for the reminder, I forgot to buy some Stan's Solution.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_BsT8D9JYY

I asked one former bike shop employee buddy about it, he said it works. I wouldn't run a tubeless tire though.

 

[spinningmagnets]

When an older tube that had been patched a couple of times went flat again, I bought a thorn-resistant (thicker rubber?) tube. Also, at the spur of the moment, I decided to take the old tube and slice a one-inch wide section from all the way around the inside diameter, and then use the outer shell that was left as an additional "skin" over the OD of the new tube. Don't know if it helps, but I was going to throw the old one away anyhow, so it was free additional rubber thickness.

The one-inch wide rubber strip (with valve stem) is now being used as a cargo bungee.

 

[amberwolf]

I've been using them for years, with no problems caused by them except for when I improperly installed one (I was in a hurry).
I've had many otherwise horrible flat situations prevented by them.

In most of the cases I have seen problems caused in friends I've helped, they werent' installed quite right and had folded against the tube/sidewall, allowing rubbing to occur. This is what caused my one problem, and the flat happened in only a few miles as it sawed thru the sidewall of the tube. If I had been careful and paid attention to ensure the liner was fully centered in the tread area, it'd've been fine.

Another problem I've seen is that people trim them down, cut them shorter, etc.--you're not supposed to, so if you do the ends are no longer smooth like they are from the factory, and that can cut the tubes. It specifically says on the directions not to trim the liner.

Last problem I've seen is related to the first--using them in tires far too narrow for them, which can do the same sidewall rubbing as before.

FWIW, the only time I did have a problem with one, a roofing nail went right thru it dead center on the rear tire (I couldn't avoid them all as they spilled out of a truck). I emailed them and they replaced not only the rear liner, but the front one as well, *and* both tubes with thorn-resistant pre-slimed tubes. They didn't want the old ones back.


It's possible that some of whatever "new" version of them they're using is causing a problem, but none of the ones I have from about 2 years ago and before have caused flats, and the ones I've helped others with only caused flats from their misinstallation, as no problems *with the same liners* occured after I reinstalled the liners for them. In the cases of the liners they cut/trimmed, the results were with new liners as I didn't think they should reuse the cut ones.

 

[auraslip]

Thanks for the info amberwolf. That's good advice.

I didn't trim them and I installed them in the right size tire. I always checked between the tire and the tube before seating them on the rim to make sure the tire liner was in the middle.

The problem with the tire liners occurred because the rounded tip/end wasn't "rounded enough". The plastic had been sloppily cut and was not only sharp, but had a few pointy spots.

I wish I had taken pictures of the tubes and liners so you can see what I mean. You can see sort of in the picture how the tube has indentations from the rounded end of the tire liner.

Since the tire liners aren't on slimes website maybe they stopped making them, or perhaps they allow wal-mart to brand a generic brand as "slime". Either way from now on I'm gonna buy down hill tubes or thorn resistant tubes.

 

[amberwolf]

They do still make and sell them:
http://www.slime.com/product/211/Slime-Tube-Protectors.html
They're actually two bucks cheaper than they used to be when I got my last ones, though, so they must have done something to make them cheaper. Labor spent on properly cutting them, or on maintaining the machines to cut them, is probably the main place from the sound of it.

Either way, the best solution is to get better tires, so they don't allow nails and thorns thru in the first place. THen it doens't matter what tubes are in there.

Since I use whatever junk I come across for the most part, that doesn't usually include anything better than a $5 tire, the liners were a good enough investment for me.

 

[dogman dan]

Looking at them in the store, I thought those looked like putting knives in the tires with your tubes.

 

[amberwolf]

If put in wrong, that's exactly what they're like.

Also running underinflated tires wil do it, because they'd be able to shift around inside at first. After a little while, maybe a month or so, the mineral oil they coat them with goes away and the liner sticks very well to either the tire, the tube, or both, as long as you have high enough pressure to keep things from deforming during that time.

If you remove the mineral oil, they'll stick even better and not shift at all. It's only there to keep them from sticking to themselves in the packaging. I remove it because I figured that it might make the patches not stick well to the tube if I ever did have to patch something, but I have not had to test that either way.


Then again, I also keep tubes that have several patches on them. Until it actually ruptures along a seam, the valve stem comes off, or a dog chews on it, I can still use it for a tube, so it stays in the spares pile. Precious precious spare parts.... :lol:

 

[auraslip]

I love patching tubes. Turning something worthless into something roadworthy.

 

[auraslip]

An update:

Still no word from slime. I guess they just ignore safety complaints.

Compare this to easton-bell sports. The rear black burn mars light I had from them broke at the clippy thing. It was attached to my trunk bag, and had no strain on it. They sent me a new clippy thing for free.

6 months later the clip broke again and I lost the light and a set of nihm. No problem as I already had a light.


I wrote them anyways because losing a rear light can be dangerous. They sent me a new light no questions asked.

 

[amberwolf]

An update:
Still no word from slime. I guess they just ignore safety complaints.

That's wierd. I got an immediate reply when I advised them of the only failure I ever had. Check your PMs for an email address you can try sending to directly.

 

[auraslip]

With the edges filed down I still got another flat of the same variety.

I called slimes quality control and a nice guy name shawn is sending me a new tube and liners. He advised me that some of the liners come from the factory with sharp edges. He says he sands them down like I did. This means they KNOW they are selling defective products. Jesus, that is a bad policy. Remember the problem ford had with those tires that would blow out, and how much trouble they got in? I wonder if any one has had blow outs because of this. IMHO this is a MAJOR safety issue, and the fact that they are aware of it is a grossly negligent. What regulatory board should I contact? These need to be recalled and slime needs to be fined.