Punctures - my fault?

[MrsMiggins]

So, in the last 2 weeks I've been out twice in the rain and had a puncture in the rear tyre each time. No punctures at all in the dry so far. What's going on? Is it just a coincidence or can it be explained by science?

When I replaced the tube the first time I very carefully checked that there was nothing left in the tyre which would damage the new tube. It lasted the grand total of 1 hour.

Bike is a Specialized Allez with OE Flak Jackets.

Is there anything I can do to minimise the risk in future?

[Jimbo.]

When or after it's been raining, all manner of crap gets washed into the roads, hence a greater risk of punctures.

On top of checking the tyre for debris, make sure the rim tape in in place/intact with no spokes pointing through the rim, and that the valve is OK.

EDIT: How many miles have the tyres done? Old, worn, wafer-thin tyres will puncture more than newer ones.

[MrsMiggins]

According to the cycle computer I've done just over 1,000km. Tyres still appear to have plenty of tread. During both tube replacements I was very careful to check that there was nothing on the wheel or in the tyre waiting to puncture the new tube.

I guess I should just be sensible and not go out in the rain!

[SuperNiceBig]

Sounds like your being very thorough. Can only suggest you find where the puncture on the tube is against the tyre, and check that. Dont mind punctures when I know what caused them. You'll get more punctures in the rain as the offending item will be wet and pierce a tyre easier. Keep riding.

[Justayellowbadge]

I found being a little ocd with regard to pressures, as in check before every ride, cut down on punctures considerably.

[MrsMiggins]

Thanks guys. It seems I'm doing all the right things, so I'm just going to chalk it up to experience and buy some more tubes!

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

I copped a pucture on my MTB recently - out of the blue, not had one for a while.

Anyway, we stopped in the local woods where we were, I removed the tyre, checked the inside carefully, was happy it was clear, replaced the tube, pumped up, rode off.

10 yards - psssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Pancake.

This time, took ages to REALLY check the inside of the tyre - and handed it to my two riding buddies as well, who also checked it. None of us found anything. Replaced the tube with a buddy's spare one.

10 yards - psssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Pancake.

No tubes left between us. Walk home



Took the tyre off at home. Turned it inside out. Went over it with a fine tooth comb and a magnifying glass. Satisfied that - nope - there is DEFINITELY nothing inside the tyre to cause a pucture.

Replaced the tube, pumped it up - all fine - replaced in garage.



Two days later. Remove from garage. Ride.

10 yards - psssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Pancake.




Arrrrrgggghhhhhh Motherfker etc!!!!!!




Finally resigned myself to the fact that there must be SOMETHING in the tyre that none of us can see or find, but that is puncturing all my new tubes.

So......new tyre, ANOTHER new tube.

Been fine for years now

[MrsMiggins]

I really, really hope that doesn't happen to me! But I have a replacement tyre ready to go if necessary.

[Gizmoish]

Justayellowbadge said:

I found being a little ocd with regard to pressures, as in check before every ride, cut down on punctures considerably.

Mildly OT... How often should one need to pump up tyres ? I've been topping mine up from 90 (feel a bit squidgy) to 110 (nice and hard) every couple of days.

[itsnotarace]

Gizmoish said:

How often should one need to pump up tyres ? I've been topping mine up from 90 (feel a bit squidgy) to 110 (nice and hard) every couple of days.

Sounds about right.

[anonymous-user]

The only way I could avoid punctures on my roadbike was to switch from the rubbish OE tyres to Schwalbe Marathons. The extra weight made me 0.001 mph slower, but lack of punctures increased the enjoyment and made me faster over time (no longer that hacked off cycllist you always see doing a repair in the middle of nowhere). Proper tyres are the way to go (unless your name is Bradley and you have a support car following you!)

[Jimbo.]

Gizmoish said:

Mildly OT... How often should one need to pump up tyres ? I've been topping mine up from 90 (feel a bit squidgy) to 110 (nice and hard) every couple of days.

It's the cycling gods sending a message: run 'em softer!

But, on hopefully a more helpful note, that sounds OK. Same happens with mine (albeit from 90-95psi), although I only ever remember 2 mins before leaving for a club run...

[DarrenL]

Buy a pair of Specialized Armadillos. 3 years no punctures. Use to ride to work, so rose through everything London could throw at me- glass, tarmac debris, chucks of wood. I swear by them.

[dkturbo]

Hi, I cycle 5,000 road miles a year (as I race). After going through the puncture learning curve I give you this advice.

Two years ago I swapped to Continental brand and after 2 yrs and 10,000 miles I have had only two punctures! Before I was using Michelin Pro race3 and got a puncture every other ride!

Almost everyone I know races on Continental 4000S, best for weight, grip and price. For recreation and winter I suggest use Continental gater skins.

DK Turbo

[gary71]

I had a problem with repeated punctures on my MTB recently and eventually found the rim tape had started to dip into the holes above the spokes exposing the machined edge of the hole to the tube. New rim tape, no more punctures!

[MrsMiggins]

DarrenL said:

Buy a pair of Specialized Armadillos. 3 years no punctures. Use to ride to work, so rose through everything London could throw at me- glass, tarmac debris, chucks of wood. I swear by them.

I've actually got a couple of those sitting waiting to go on the bike, but I don't want to chuck away the existing tyres if there's nothing wrong with them and I've just been unlucky.

[ndg]

Now here's the science bit
The water acts as a lubricant for the glass/thorn/whatever to work it's way into the rubber. Dry car tyres can happily drive over glass all day, wet ones not so much!

[DarrenL]

MrsMiggins said:

I've actually got a couple of those sitting waiting to go on the bike, but I don't want to chuck away the existing tyres if there's nothing wrong with them and I've just been unlucky.

Change em now, if anything goes wrong with them you can go back to the originals

[Raven Flyer]

dkturbo said:

Almost everyone I know races on Continental 4000S, best for weight, grip and price. For recreation and winter I suggest use Continental gater skins.

DK Turbo

GP4000S also have a kevlar band that stops almost anything getting through to puncture the tube. A tiny shard of flint may still get through (most prominent when washed onto the road by rain) but I have not had a puncture in 2 years and many thousands of miles.

Also, when wet, ride in the tracks of car's tyres as this path will have been swept clean.

[Accelebrate]

I never seem to get just one puncture, I can go for 1000+ miles puncture free in all conditions and then I'll get several punctures in different locations and different tyres in the space of a week. Happened a few times now, and it wasn't because the tyres had worn thin.