What ways are there to reduce punctures?
Discussion
I haven't been out on my bike for a while (playing with the car instead!) and part of the reason is I'd got tired of repairing punctures. Millions of them. One, if not two, every ride.
Are there any ways to reduce the number of punctures besides riding somewhere else?
I tried tyre protectors, but they added a huge amount of inertia to the wheels and they made it very difficult to change the tyre. Any other possibilities? Are some tyre carcasses more puncture resistant than others?
Are there any ways to reduce the number of punctures besides riding somewhere else?
I tried tyre protectors, but they added a huge amount of inertia to the wheels and they made it very difficult to change the tyre. Any other possibilities? Are some tyre carcasses more puncture resistant than others?
What sort of punctures are you getting? Penetrating ones (thorns, nails, glass etc) or pinch ones (where the tyre pinches the inner tube causing a puncture - usually identified by there being a pair of holes)?
I found they were very much dependant on tyre pressure - too low and you get lots of pinch punctures, too high and penetration punctures are more likely. Finding the right balance is tricky.
I found they were very much dependant on tyre pressure - too low and you get lots of pinch punctures, too high and penetration punctures are more likely. Finding the right balance is tricky.
I use Maxxis Highrollers (2.3 on the XC bike, 2.7 on the DH) with Maxxis tubes and almost never flat.
I can only assume that if you're worried about inertia from tyre protectors you prefer the low mass end of the MTB spectrum or even dare I say it road bikes ha ha.
If you're pinch flating alot you could try running a higher psi or even go tubless. If it's just day to day flating you can run a thicker tube or tyre but will add more mass.
I can only assume that if you're worried about inertia from tyre protectors you prefer the low mass end of the MTB spectrum or even dare I say it road bikes ha ha.
If you're pinch flating alot you could try running a higher psi or even go tubless. If it's just day to day flating you can run a thicker tube or tyre but will add more mass.
Trust me, I'm far from low mass! 
Yet, I could still notice a significant change in inertia when I put the tyre protectors in. This was some time ago however, so maybe they're lighter these days (and joking aside, I suppose I was somewhat lighter then).
I've got Continental Pros I believe and some fairly ordinary tubes (I can't remember what make - Specialized rings a bell though)
The punctures mainly seem to be thorns, don't think I'm getting any pinch-punctures.
I think some of it may be debris left in the tyre after I've changed the tube. Obviously, I try and get everything out, but some it snaps off or whatever...
Yet, I could still notice a significant change in inertia when I put the tyre protectors in. This was some time ago however, so maybe they're lighter these days (and joking aside, I suppose I was somewhat lighter then).
I've got Continental Pros I believe and some fairly ordinary tubes (I can't remember what make - Specialized rings a bell though)
The punctures mainly seem to be thorns, don't think I'm getting any pinch-punctures.
I think some of it may be debris left in the tyre after I've changed the tube. Obviously, I try and get everything out, but some it snaps off or whatever...
100psi on my road bike
35 psi on my jump bike with 2.3 Tioga DH tyres and tubes
40 psi on my XC sus bike with 2.1 Michelin XCR tyres and tubes
Very rare for me to get a puncture.
The OP sounds like they are riding somewhere very "dirty" with debris, running the wrong psi, or just super unlucky.
35 psi on my jump bike with 2.3 Tioga DH tyres and tubes
40 psi on my XC sus bike with 2.1 Michelin XCR tyres and tubes
Very rare for me to get a puncture.
The OP sounds like they are riding somewhere very "dirty" with debris, running the wrong psi, or just super unlucky.
snotrag said:
Tried solid tyres some years ago on my road bike, (19 mm tyres I think), problem was they were a tad spongy, and when you hit a bump the rubber would flatten out, and eventually all the rims ended up with lots of dings in when they were hitting the road, honest?.snotrag said:
You didnt click the link, did you?
No tubes doesn't mean no air... !
Tubeless gives you almost immunity to thorn-type punctures, complete immunity to pinch punctures, lower weight, lower rolling resistance and more compliance. I am a convert for life now.
Absolutely correct sir, I must engage brain before attacking keyboard..... tks for that.No tubes doesn't mean no air... !
Tubeless gives you almost immunity to thorn-type punctures, complete immunity to pinch punctures, lower weight, lower rolling resistance and more compliance. I am a convert for life now.
jerwatt said:
Are you sure it's thorns giving you punctures? If you're getting as many as you say it sounds like there could be something on the rim that's cutting your inner tubes and giving you a puncture? Might be worth checking?
also if it was a thorn you have made really sure that it`s not sttill there haven`t you?Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff