Punctures and slime filed tubes

[cjs]

Punctures are becoming a pain! At least 1 a month if not more, has anyone tried these slime filled inner tubes? They are about 3 times the price of a normal tube however it will be worth it if it saves me a few punctures. I'm a MTB rider and do a lot of woods and trails, most punctures are from thorns etc.

Chris.

[Moose.]

I asked about this a couple of months back and was recommended to get some of those thick plastic liners for between the inner tube and tyre. I ended up buying these:

www.slime.com/product.php?product=SL-f1

and not had a puncture since

[gbbird]

Ooh must try those plastic liners - I am fed up of getting punctures

Also, does anyone know where one can buy just the puncture repair patches rather than the whole kit? I appear to get through patches much quicker than i do the kit, so i need to stock up on them.

[Locoblade]

What kind of punctures are you getting? If its predominently pinch flats then the tube protection tape like linked to above won't help at all, and I suspect the slime inner wouldnt work very well on a large pinch either.

[4WD]

Everyone say's slime doesn't work!

[snotrag]

Punctures are an inevitable side of mountain bikingm but you should never have enough for it to be a problem.

The most common kind are snakebites, this happens when the tube in pinched 'twixt tyrewall and rim. Punctures from thorns etc are rare, and these are the only type slime will fix. Even then, its only temporarily.

If your suffering lots of pinch flats, you need to look at the tyres and tubes your using, the pressures, and the state of your rims.

[4WD]

Just keep tyres pumped up and spare tubes and co2 gun in your camelback.

[cjs]

All my punctures have been from thorns or nails, I may give the plastic liners a go, a friend has recommended them as well. If not I may replace my ever so thin but very good tyres with something a bit thicker! I know replacing a tube is not a huge job however it can really spoil a good ride, if you do have to swap one sods law says its the rear tube!

[Matthew C]

That's funny, I've never had a pinch flat, they've all been thorns, drawing pins, glass, etc. TBH I don't mind fixing a puncture too much, it has a kind of enjoyment of it's own. But then I don't use it as a means of transport and I'm wierd.

[gazzab]

I have had about 10 punctures in last 6 months - all from thorns. Never had a pinch etc..

[graemep]

I seriously think it has a lot to do with the tyre make up / compound etc. I have been riding off road trails for around 5 years now, and there is always 1 or 2 of the groups I ride with that tend to suffer more than others (usually blackthorn is the culprit). I tried asking them to switch tyres, and one guy was so bad I stopped riding with him, 7 punctures in one ride each time a new piece of thorn found in the tyre and tube - I kid you not!!!!!!!

Go for a decent kevlar based tyre (panaracer and michelin have always been my choice)and keep your tyres fairly well inflated, you should be ok.

I agree, it can be a pain when you get in to a nice flow and then have to stop to fix.

[burnt]

4WD said:

Everyone say's slime doesn't work!

I don't, it works perfectly for me....it does, however, depend on what you are riding on.
Thorns and forest trails it will handle easily, flint and stone...not a chance.

When I change between summer and winter tyres my tubes are covered in small green marks, each of which would have meant a stop out on trail to change the tube.

I also believe there is a silicon based material for tubeless tyres which I might try this winter.

[gbbird]

All my ounctures are from thorns and nails too. I have specialized tyres - i though these were meant to be good quality?

[4WD]

No, horrid.

[Scraggles]

got some slime tires,. they work fine, i needed to get a refill after forgetting they were slime filled and some squirtted out, but cant remove the screw in thing in the valve

front tire has multiple thorn marks and needs a pump up every few weeks, otherwise is fine

[Locoblade]

If you want to reduce pinch flats I'd heartily recommend trying Panaracer Cinders, most of my riding mates use Conti Verticals and on average must have had at least 2-3 pinch flats each over the summer, but Ive not had any even though I run them quite soft

[Rednut05]

I've had slime and it does work on the hole but you still have to let the tube get mostly flat so it fills the hole if it's a bad one, so therefore you are still having to pump it back up etc...

I would recomend A good set of tyres, ones with a good amount of Kevlar and then maybe some Downhill inner tubes if you want the extra protection. If they are good enough for Downhill racing and bombing about then they should do for you.

The tubes can be 2mm+ thick.

Slime can settle unevenly in the tube but I guess that'll only bother you if you want your bike setup tip top.

So I recomend good tyres and good tubes.

[beyond rational]

Out of interest, anyone know how slime copes with cold weather?

[Trooper2]

beyond rational said:

Out of interest, anyone know how slime copes with cold weather?

Slime's freezing point is -34.4C.

[beyond rational]

Crikey, thats precise!