Pi$$ed off with Punctures

[cjs]

For the 3rd time in as many weeks my weekend ride has been spoilt by a puncture. I'm on a MTB and do on/off road stuff through the woods etc. Punctures are being caused by thorns and by some glass this weekend! So how do I go about reducing my punctures, I don't mind sacrificing some weight for an easier life!

My current tyres are WTB and are worn so I need some new tyres soon, any recommendations? Maybe want to go 2.1" I would rather go for something robust to avoid punctures.


What about tubes? I use Specialized Thin from my local Shop, are there any better tubes I should look at? What about these slim filled tubes, do they work?


Cheers!

[WildCards]

It's only a puncture mate. View it as a forced 5 minute break then get on with your ride.

[cjs]

I can accept the odd puncture, it's par for the coarse, lately I'm getting one very time I ride. I just want to cut this down a bit hence the question. If better tyres or tubes will reduce the amount of punctures then it has got to be worth looking at.

Edited by cjs on Monday 21st April 12:44

[sjg]

I specifically DON'T buy "lightweight" or "thin" tubes and puncture once in a blue moon. They're one of the things it's not worth saving weight on.

[WildCards]

cjs said:

I can accept the odd puncture, it's par for the coarse, lately I'm getting one very time I ride. I just want to cut this down a bit hence the question. If better tyres or tubes will reduce the amount of punctures then it has got to be worth looking at.

I know what your saying, I went through the same thing during January. If it's predominatly thorns giving you issues, have you tried tubeless?

[mat205125]

sjg said:

I specifically DON'T buy "lightweight" or "thin" tubes and puncture once in a blue moon. They're one of the things it's not worth saving weight on.

Cheap and nasty ones are the best to go for. Carry a couple on a long ride. Dispose as necessary. Usually nice and thick too, and rarely have any problems. Joy!

[Vipers]

Have you thought of SOLID tyres, not sure if you can get them for the MTB, but I had some only a couple of years ago for my road bike, 25 mm width.

And if you stick with tubs, carry a CO2 cannister thingy to pump them up, and even one of those spray cans which contains sealant and air as the same time.

Stating the obvious I know. Incidently for those reading this, dont do as I did, had a puncture on the bike a few months ago, first in yonks, put new tub in out of my saddle bag, wouldnt inflate, had been in there so long, it had gone porous, live and learn, fortunately only 2 miles into my 20 mile ride.

[dubbs]

I've just converted to tubeless on the new Ibis build - have been sceptical and is only a couple of weeks in but the theory goes they should be better than my tube'd tyres (which never had much of an issue anyway)

Great thing about tubeless is supposedly a slight weight saving whilst also sealing the tube with gunk that will instantly plug any hole made by thorns or the like.

You also run lower pressures so get more grip - for example I'm running Stans ZTR Flows with a Stans tubeless kit; Maxxis Minion 2.35 on the front and Maxxis High Roller 2.1 on the rear they run at 38 psi front and 40 psi rear when running max pressure.

[cjs]

Never really looked at tubeless, I'll have a browse, do they fit on standard rims? Don't really want to change my wheels.

[AstraVXR]

I use "slime" inner tube protectors, you can get them from most bike shops, they take 5 mins to fit and since I fitted them last year I have only had 1 puncture! You can also buy slime inner tubes but i have never personally tried them.

Available here:
www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=12565

[WildCards]

I'd say proper UST tubeless is alot better for a weight saving, but using the Stans method (amongst others) you can convert normal rims & tyres to run tubeless, and it's just as effective as Mavic's UST (minus the weight saving advantage).

Edited by WildCards on Monday 21st April 15:52

[gbbird]

Tis a bad time of the year for punctures - trees have been shedding branches etc, plus foarmer have been cutting the hedges. I personally use slime filled tubes, and always carry a puncture repair kit with me. I also try to but decent tyres, or art least those that say they are puncture resistant or hard to puncture - i don't particualry care about tyre weight, so if they are heavy that is not a problem so long as they don't puncture

This weekend i purchased some glueless patches - almost want to get a puncture just so i can try them out

[pdV6]

This might fall into the category of egg-sucking, but make sure you thoroughly check the tyre for thorn/glass debris before refitting a new tube; sometimes they're embedded in the tyre and take a while to work their way into the tube.

I've managed all winter commuting without picking up a puncture and then had 2 last week.

20 minutes with needle-nose pliers revealed a large pile of small glass fragments buried in the tyre.

[snotrag]

WildCards said:

I'd say proper UST tubeless is alot better for a weight saving, but using the Stans method (amongst others) you can convert normal rims & tyres to run tubeless, and it's just as effective as Mavic's UST (minus the weight saving advantage).

Not neccasarily so. The rim strip/20" innertube method is heavier. But, if using proper ZTR rims its a lighter setup than UST. Because you don't have to use UST tires which are heavier than normal.

I am very, very pleased with my ZTR setup. Lighter than I expected, rolls great, not punctured yet.

[Pesty]

Have a look at continental tyres with puncture protection Very good IMO if a little more heavy than a standard tyre not by much though

[westy04]

If your running car type valves on your tubes, then just but 80ml of this stuff into them by removing your valve and squirting it in.

http://www.no-flats.com/products.php?cat=35

I run this setup on my commuter hard tail bike (which consists of 4.5 miles canal 5.5 miles road each way) and haven't had a puncture yet in about 800 miles.

On my Stumpy I run the Joe's no flats tubless system (similar to Stans only cheaper) again with the sealant. Again I've never had a puncture. As stated already it allows you to run low pressures and saves weight. The weight saving meant I could go for a larger volume tyre without adding weight over a tube and smaller volume tyre.

Joe's No Flats

http://www.no-flats.com/products.php?cat=32

CRC sell it.

[coleo]

AstraVXR said:

I use "slime" inner tube protectors, you can get them from most bike shops, they take 5 mins to fit and since I fitted them last year I have only had 1 puncture! You can also buy slime inner tubes but i have never personally tried them.

Available here:
www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=12565

I use those slime tubes, and I've had 0 punctures since fitting them "famous last words"! So well worth a try!

[Moose.]

coleo said:

I use those slime tubes, and I've had 0 punctures since fitting them "famous last words"! So well worth a try!

I use them too, and last time I boasted this happened:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Third post down

[coleo]

Moose. said:

coleo said:

I use those slime tubes, and I've had 0 punctures since fitting them "famous last words"! So well worth a try!

I use them too, and last time I boasted this happened:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Third post down

My apologies I was speed typing! But I meant to say slime tyre liners - my bad! I too used slime tubes and they developed a puncture, so the tube is pretty useless in my opinion but like I said the liners for the tyres seem to do the job.

Edited by coleo on Tuesday 22 April 20:18

[Parrot of Doom]

Get knobbly tyres. No more punctures then.