Recumbent - Recumbent tire blowout, pressure?

My wife has a Cannondale Recumbent, loves it, and has had a series of unexplained rear tube blowouts. No hole in tire, just tube. Nothing stuck in inside of tube. These tires recommend 110 psi. Does any one think the tubes for this high pressure should be special? Bike shop is using regular bmx tubes. Does anyone know if higher pressure tubes even exist? Thanks, Eric

Is it just a hole in the tube, or is the tube actually blowing out, like with a bang?

A few seasons ago, I had a recurring flat tire. What ended up being the cause was a tiny piece of debris stuck in the rubber of the tire. It was impossible to detect during a normal examination of the tire, but once under pressure and rider weight, it would "poke" out just enough to puncture the tube.

I solved it by replacing the tire. Perhaps you're experiencing something similar?

It's very easy to get the tube caught under the bead when inflating the tire, and the blowout it causes doesn't necessarily happen right away. Inflate the tire to 5-10 lbs, and work your way all the way around both sides of the tire, pushing the bead in and looking between the tire and rim. If you see tube, that's bad. Fix it and try again.

There may also be a metal burr on the rim somewhere. With enough pressure on it, the burr could eventually cut a hole in the tube. Take off the tire and tube and inspect the rim for burrs and other debris.

There may also be a metal burr on the rim somewhere. With enough pressure on it, the burr could eventually cut a hole in the tube. Take off the tire and tube and inspect the rim for burrs and other debris.
You've gotten plenty of good advice here. Bad batch notwithstanding, it won't be the tube that is at fault. There is a problem that is affecting the tube and someone has to find it. If you don't fix things, go to the bike shop and invite yourself to observe as the mechanic goes over every possible spot that could be a problem including the install technique for the tube.

Chip
recumbenttrikestore.com

Chip, those are some wild bikes you got on your site there, especially the tandem! :eek:

I'd imagine those trikes are quite an experience going down 10% grade descent.

My wife has a Cannondale Recumbent, loves it, and has had a series of unexplained rear tube blowouts. No hole in tire, just tube. Nothing stuck in inside of tube. These tires recommend 110 psi. Does any one think the tubes for this high pressure should be special? Bike shop is using regular bmx tubes. Does anyone know if higher pressure tubes even exist? Thanks, Eric

Like other have said, check the rim. But also: do you have rim tape? Some bikes only come with an inside rubber strip. Replace it with canvas tape. Bike shops carry it. It is like called "fond de jaunt" or something like that.

It's called Velox and it's GREAT!

Like other have said, check the rim. But also: do you have rim tape? Some bikes only come with an inside rubber strip. Replace it with canvas tape. Bike shops carry it. It is like called "fond de jaunt" or something like that.
Actually, on a trike and running those same tires, I had to replace the rim tape with rubber strips because at lower pressures the tape was sawing holes in the tubes. If the tires were squirming (likely only at low pressures) on a two wheeler similarly, then the same thing could happen. I didn't mention it earlier because tires behave very differently on trikes and on two-wheelers. I not expect this issue to occur on the Cannondale. Thorough examination of the tube will point to the cause whatever it is.

Chip
recumbenttrikestore.com

Chip, those are some wild bikes you got on your site there, especially the tandem! :eek:

I'd imagine those trikes are quite an experience going down 10% grade descent.
High speed down hill on a good trike is quite a combination of scary and fun! I recommend it.

Chip