Continental Supersonic Tubes - Am I a ham-fisted idiot?

[Mr Will]

Picked up a few of these to go with my new wheels are tyres (Pro-Lite Bracciano and Vittoria Open Corsa Evo CX II) but can't seem to get them to hold air.

Put them in, pump them up - all good. 5 minutes later while I'm putting my shoes on... PSSssssst. Fix the front one, go to put the wheel back on the bike and the rear one has done the same.

After about 6 attempts I managed to get them to work for a 5 minute ride around the block. Get home, taking shoes off. PSSSSSssssst.... PSSSSsssst. Off they go again. I gave up and fitted normal tubes at this point which have been fine since.

Now, is it something I'm doing wrong (likely) or might there be a bad batch? I've tried every fitting method I know to make sure they aren't getting pinched when putting them on. The tyres are very tight but I've still managed to get them on without levers and I've never had these problems before. It's also odd that they are going down with a hiss while the bike is just standing - not a bang while inflating or while they are being ridden.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

[IroningMan]

Are you making holes in them? Or bending the valve cores?

[Mr Will]

IroningMan said:

Are you making holes in them? Or bending the valve cores?

Making Holes

[itsnotarace]

Are they making holes near the valve base

[Mr Will]

No, just normal holes in the tube.

[Gargamel]

Spoke through the rim tape ?

Some un finshed metal edge inside the wheel rim

Pinching from your tyre levers

Something sticking through the tyres.


Take your time, be systematic - my guess is the rim tape isn't think enough and its a spoke end.

[Mr Will]

Gargamel said:

Spoke through the rim tape ?

Some un finshed metal edge inside the wheel rim

Pinching from your tyre levers

Something sticking through the tyres.


Take your time, be systematic - my guess is the rim tape isn't think enough and its a spoke end.

Different places though, which rules out sharp objects as the cause. I have one remaining unpatched tube that I'll use to give it another go at the weekend but it's got me properly stumped. Never had problems like this before in my life!

[yellowjack]

Gargamel said:

Spoke through the rim tape ?

Some unfinished metal edge inside the wheel rim

<snip> my guess is the rim tape isn't think enough and its a spoke end.

I had a load of trouble with my MTB - getting back from rides OK, then the tube would deflate overnight, with only the tiniest of holes in the tube, barely detectable even in a bowl of water. After many frustrating repair attempts, and the discovery that it wasn't always in the same location around the wheel, I removed the rim tape.

Turns out the wheelbuilder (cheapo factory fit wheels) was some kind of biff bag, and couldn't use a screwdriver properly. He/she had chewed up the slot on the top of approx 30% of the nipples, and with age the rubber rim tape had thinned out, allowing the small 'sharps' on the spoke nipples to penetrate the tube. An hour with the wet'n'dry, a nailfile ('er indoors not pleased ) and a wire brush had it sorted.

As I dragged the road bike out yesterday I noticed the same issue with the front wheel of the MTB - looks like another strip down to rectify the same problem again

[Vladimir]

I blew two Supersonic tubes up just inflating them. At that point I realised chasing weight at all costs can be a bit silly.

My Schwalbe tubes seem to resist almost anything short of a pit full of spikes.