So Many Flat Tires - Advise on New Tires?

[NolaGray]

I live in Salt Lake City. I have a Specialized Como. I love the bike and I would like to ride it everyday. The problem is every time I take a ride I end up with a flat tire, and I mean that literally. I have the goo that is intended to seal leaks while riding, I have tube protectors between tube and tire. but I keep getting flats. I watch the road and try to avoid debris and stay in the center where it is cleaner. But nothing seems to help. What can I do? Do I need to pick out new tires ... if so what would be my best bet?

 

[Sierratim]

Others speak highly of the Tannus Armour tire inserts. They basically change a pneumatic tire into a foam filled tire with a pneumatic inner core for ride feel and handling. I don't use them but others report being able to ride them with flats and no tire damage. You would need new smaller sized tubes with these inserts.

I am surprised at your situation. I don't use a tire sealant but do use tire liners/thorn strips with very good results. Do you carefully check for thorns, tacks, and other tire punctures when you repair a flat? Missing even one of these punctures will guarantee another flat on your next ride. I run my fingers around the inside of the tire casing twice and then inspect the tire tread just in case I missed something. Threre's almost always somehting waiting to be found.

 

[ElevenAD]

check and make sure your rim liner is perfectly straight all the way around the rim, one of your spoke ends could be exposed and slicing through your tube because no one should get a flat every time they ride, thats some really bad luck, you would have to actually run over the Black Cat crossing your path for this level bad luck.

 

[Katysax]

i agree with the others. My Como had a flat day one even with tire liners. Had a flat day 2 and found a piece of glass that was missed. Siince then 1200 miles no flats. In my experience riding bikes tens of thousands of miles, recurrent flats are usually caused by messed up rim tape. Another possibility is that in changing the tire you are not seating it properly. There is nothing inherently flat prone about the Como tires.

 

[steve mercier]

Tannus Armours inside Schwalbe plus tires with a high flat protection rating and Slime smart tubes. Another possible cause of flats with Slime is if the tube gets stuck in the open postion allowing a slow deflation. If you inflate tires with slime be sure to halve the valves between the 9 and 3 o'clock postion to avoid clogging. https://tannusamerica.com/pages/tan...9Ax7k-relLpet6biFYVD5H8pgndPXUzwaAqptEALw_wcB. https://www.schwalbetires.com/tech_info/puncture_protection

 

[AHicks]

Have you tried running a little more goo? If the tube doesn't have enough, protection may be a little sketchy....

 

[ruffruff]

Have you tried running a little more goo? If the tube doesn't have enough, protection may be a little sketchy....

No offense but more goo isn't the answer. You need to find out the source as to why this is happening.
More goop is akin to putting a bandaid over a bandaid.

 

[Tars Tarkas]

Maybe it depends on what kind of goo you're talking about, and while I agree that it may not be a panacea, more goo -- Slime in my case -- really does seem to help. I didn't go crazy, but I overdosed my tubes with Slime and I haven't had a flat in a year and a half. I haven't checked, but I'm sure I've had plenty of punctures -- just none than weren't immediately clogged with Slime.

TT

 

[AHicks]

No offense but more goo isn't the answer. You need to find out the source as to why this is happening.
More goop is akin to putting a bandaid over a bandaid.

Unless you know something I don't, the proper amount to do the job correctly is not widely publicized. It's pretty easy to underestimate the amount that should be in the tube to coat the interior properly.

So with all due respect, my bet is you don't use the stuff, and therefore have no experience regarding what you are talking about?

 

[Mike TowpathTraveler]

On my fat tired Haibike, yes, there have been days of consecutive flat tires. Where I picked up the flats was diverse, from trail rides and locust tree thorns to road riding to the trails and all manners of nails, screws and even a male high voltage plug's 4 inch long terminal that went through the tire while I was paying mind to something else rather then the road directly in front of me.

And yes, I tried everyting. Mr Tuffy Liners. Tubeless and now, Tannus Armour. The jury is still out on the T/A.

Tricks learned along the way: On the trail, don't run over any sticks laying in the middle of the trail. On the road, careful riding on the shoulder, where all the debris from motorists, settles, waiting for you to ride by. Anymore I tend to ride on the white line that accompanies most shoulders, but of course, in heavily traveled roads that may be out.

When repairing a road side flat, you have to run your fingers inside the tire to find the culprit, or you are just going to flatten your new repaired tube a few miles down the road.

Situational awareness is key when road riding. It's hard, but you have to keep an eye on the road 10 feet in front of you to spot potential trouble. It's hard, but it can be done. Even at that, you will miss stuff....

 

[ruffruff]

Unless you know something I don't, the proper amount to do the job correctly is not widely publicized. It's pretty easy to underestimate the amount that should be in the tube to coat the interior properly.

So with all due respect, my bet is you don't use the stuff, and therefore have no experience regarding what you are talking about?

Actually I do!

My point is no amount of goop is going to fix a tire that has some issue that is causing it to go flat.
There is something wrong with the rim or tire.
Pretty basic troubleshooting. You don't bandaide a problem unless it's a last resort, you fix it right.

We probably think differently but goop is an emergency measure to get you home. Not to fix a major tire problem.

Ask the OP how that goop is working for him.

 

[AHicks]

Here's what I know. Previous to finally installing/using using Slime, against the advice of several I talked with about it, I had to add air to my tires weekly. I found that pretty frustrating. Made no difference what brand tube, or what it cost. This happened for MANY YEARS! Fast forward to me ignoring advice and installing Slime, NO MORE WEEKLY AIR ADDING REQUIRED. I can now go months!

Bonus is pretty decent flat protection while in use.

I have noted that on a couple of occasions that I did not install enough Slime on the initial install, and simply added some when the tire went low a week or 10 days later. Then it magically stopped leaking!

Use it if you like, believe me that occasionally you may need to add to your initial application if you like. I don't care what you do. Just sharing what's worked for me. Not talking about something I have no knowledge of.....

 

[Tars Tarkas]

Actually I do!

My point is no amount of goop is going to fix a tire that has some issue that is causing it to go flat.
There is something wrong with the rim or tire.
Pretty basic troubleshooting. You don't bandaide a problem unless it's a last resort, you fix it right.

We probably think differently but goop is an emergency measure to get you home. Not to fix a major tire problem.

Ask the OP how that goop is working for him.

Is goop a brand name? Because if you are talking about Slime or Slime-like products you are absolutely wrong. You can put Slime in your tires and ride for two years (not just to get home) and never remove a goat head or a piece of glass from your tire. (They just wear away.) The holes are filled with Slime as soon as they happen and you never even know about your tire/tube damage.

As I said earlier, Slime isn't a panacea that protects absolutely, but it works pretty durn well as a flat preventative. It could, I suppose, be used as an emergency measure, after a flat, but if it's already in your tires, you won't have a flat. (Again, that is not an absolute statement.) (There is, however a brand of sealent that the military uses in their tires in combat zones that plugs bullet holes.) (And the soldiers don't stop, get out, pour goo in the tire, blow it back up, and then go. The stuff is already in the tires.)

My guess is that the OP doesn't have enough "goo" in his or her tires.

TT

 

[ruffruff]

I understand what sealants are and what they do, but I personally would want to find the root cause.
If it's road debris, no doubt sealant will get you home.

If it's rim tape, poorly seated valve stem, spokes, etc. I would want to fix it.
If it is just not enough sealant, easy fix.

Maybe I'm reading the OP wrong but it sounds like he tried a lot of options.
Find the root cause of the flats.

 

[ki11a]

Tire sealant is a great lifesaver, some already comes in the Lectric tires...some sort of orange sealant but it works wonders. Have already had a few small nails gone thru and the sealant plugged it right back up.

 

[Tars Tarkas]

Okay, well, actually, I guess I agree. If I have a flat, yes, I'm going to investigate and fix the problem. But with tubes with sufficient Slime in them, I don't get flats. If/when I do, even with the Slime, I will fix it on the road, and then, only because my tires and tubes are two years old and the tires are about bald, I'll probably go ahead and replace everything at the next convenient opportunity.

So, if I'm the OP, getting flats every day, yes, check for and fix any problems, but then pump a load of Slime in the tubes and go.

TT

 

[AHicks]

I understand what sealants are and what they do, but I personally would want to find the root cause.
If it's road debris, no doubt sealant will get you home.

If it's rim tape, poorly seated valve stem, spokes, etc. I would want to fix it.
If it is just not enough sealant, easy fix.

Maybe I'm reading the OP wrong but it sounds like he tried a lot of options.
Find the root cause of the flats.

The point I'm trying to make is that with an absolutely perfect install of a brand new tube, or numerous brand new tubes of various brands and qualities in my case, that tire is going to go down to the point air must be added once a week. You seem to be missing this point, or you aren't experiencing it. Which is it? Are you able to go months without checking/refilling your tires? I was not.....

Slime fixed that issue.

There are NO REPAIRABLE LEAKS or installation problems in the situation I'm describing.....

That's why I'm suggesting there a good chance theres nothing wrong with the OP's tires. He just needs to add more Slime....

 

[Luto]

It is pretty simple. What is the source of the puncture? Find that and fix it. Is it a fast or slow leak? That helps to know where to look also. Same place? That helps. Multiple places? I have seen tubes that are systemically breaking down on the seam and needed to be replaced. Hope that helps.

The other Como user has an OEM defect so you might have the same. Best of luck!

 

[steve mercier]

It is pretty simple. What is the source of the puncture? Find that and fix it. Is it a fast or slow leak? That helps to know where to look also. Same place? That helps. Multiple places? I have seen tubes that are systemically breaking down on the seam and needed to be replaced. Hope that helps.

The other Como user has an OEM defect so you might have the same. Best of luck!

Yes ,I have replaced our grandkids stroller tubes 3 times in the past year. None of them were punctured. All three tubes had leaked at the seams. So now I will not buy another Bontrager tube if I can help it.

 

[kirsten konopaski]

No offense but more goo isn't the answer. You need to find out the source as to why this is happening.
More goop is akin to putting a bandaid over a bandaid.

I’ve heard adding True Goo to a one size larger diameter tube will give better results? I wonder why???