MTB tyres for puncture resistance

MTB tyres for puncture resistance

Author
Discussion

macp

Original Poster:

4,106 posts

190 months

Sunday 3rd March
quotequote all
I commute almost everyday on my Trek hardtail and getting a bit brassed off with multiple punctures from hawthorns in the last couple months. Bike is currently fitted with 29er Bontrager XR3 comp tyres. Apart from going tubeless any recommendations for a more puncture proof tyre.

Master Bean

3,990 posts

127 months

Sunday 3rd March
quotequote all
Scwalbe Marathon Plus but won't have the off road grip like a knobbly tyre.

macp

Original Poster:

4,106 posts

190 months

Sunday 3rd March
quotequote all
Master Bean said:
Scwalbe Marathon Plus but won't have the off road grip like a knobbly tyre.
Thanks just been re reading reviews on the XR3. And it seems like combined with the constant rain and later cutting of the hedgerows, that I have just been unlucky.

InitialDave

12,214 posts

126 months

Sunday 3rd March
quotequote all
When I last fitted tubeless tyres, I had some goo left over, so I tried putting it in some tubed tyres on another bike just to see if it helped, and I did later find a few thorns where the holes that had been seemingly plugged by the goo.

Anecdotal and not what the stuff is meant for really, but it seemed to work better than I expected.

paddy1970

801 posts

116 months

Sunday 3rd March
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Previously, I experienced more than five punctures annually while mountain biking in the forest. However, since installing tyre inserts two years ago, I have not encountered a single puncture.


Fusion777

2,343 posts

55 months

Sunday 3rd March
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Continental with the ProTection system (kevlar layers).

GravelBen

15,884 posts

237 months

Monday 4th March
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The Bontrager XR-prefix tyres do have quite a thin casing for MTB tyres, I never liked the feel of them for MTBing.

You could try something with a burlier casing, though you probably still want a fast-rolling tread pattern not a chunky one. Maybe look at a Specialized Fast-Trak with 'Grid' casing?

speedking31

3,635 posts

143 months

Monday 4th March
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https://www.schwalbe.com/en/technology-faq/punctur...

I found puncture protection tape to be cheap and fairly effective.

DangerMonkey

589 posts

223 months

Monday 4th March
quotequote all
macp said:
Master Bean said:
Scwalbe Marathon Plus but won't have the off road grip like a knobbly tyre.
Thanks just been re reading reviews on the XR3. And it seems like combined with the constant rain and later cutting of the hedgerows, that I have just been unlucky.
That does sound to be the case. I've been using variations of the XR3 for years and haven't had much in the way of issues. Maybe just stay away from the hedgerows!

Is tubeless really a no go? I've found them comfortable and reliable for commuting. It's satisfying getting home and then spotting a thorn sticking out, knowing that you would have been otherwise stranded at the roadside.

Dynion Araf Uchaf

4,652 posts

230 months

Monday 4th March
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how much tyre pressure do you run with them. I've always found that the softer they are ( within reason) the more puncture resistant they are.

lufbramatt

5,423 posts

141 months

Monday 4th March
quotequote all
Tubeless is amazing for making thorn punctures a non-issue


President Merkin

4,297 posts

26 months

Monday 4th March
quotequote all
The answer is go tubeless. The answer is always go tubeless.

YorkshireStu

4,418 posts

207 months

Tuesday 5th March
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Dunno why the hesitancy for tubeless. No puncture in 4 years since going down that route.

Just yesterday I fitted a new pr of Maxxis tyres on my MTB.

1. Old tyres off, clean rim, make sure rim tape is good, no bubbles, tears etc.
2. Fit new tyres. Use tyre lever to partially seat the tyre at the edges of the rim. Slide lever halfway one side, repeat opposite side.
3. Valve core out, use syringe to inject 90-100ml sealant.
4. Valve core back in, inflate tyre. I use an Airshot bottle and handheld Bosch electric pump.

Alternative if no Airshot: leave valve core out, use footpump to seat tyre fully before injecting sealant.

Easy. No mess. I have done this for 6 wheelsets in the last year.


macp

Original Poster:

4,106 posts

190 months

Monday 25th March
quotequote all
So im thinking of going with something like the Continental Double Fighter. Or Schwalbe Hurricane because im also interested in decreasing my rolling resistance. Anybody tried anything else ?

Zio Di Roma

411 posts

39 months

Monday 25th March
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macp said:
So im thinking of going with something like the Continental Double Fighter. Or Schwalbe Hurricane because im also interested in decreasing my rolling resistance. Anybody tried anything else ?
We live in a hawthorn forest and my wife used to get one puncture per ride at one point, two sometimes. Slime products did the trick. Latterly it has been the tubes. She has not had a puncture since on her MTB or road bike.

Not as cool as tubeless probably, but an easy fix.