Bicycle Mechanics - Kevlar Lined Tires

Does anyone have the kevlar lining between the inner tube and the tire? If so, does it work?

Thanks.

A friend of mine said that over time the Kevlar in his began to disintegrate due to moisture. At that price I wouldn't pay for something that doesn't last.

I use the flexible plastic ones. They're heavy, but for my purposes (commuting) they're more than adequate. I ride over lots of glass on my commute and I haven't had a puncture flat yet, though I've only had 'em 2 weeks.

Here's the sum total of my experience with Mr Tuffy tire liners being ridden on Philadelphia's glassy, trashy streets:

With Mr Tuffy:

Bike 1 (Specialized Nimbus EX 700x35c tires). No flats at all while I owned the bike, and no flats at all since I sold it to my office mate. Total of maybe 4000 miles.

Bike 2 (Avocet Cross K, 700x32c). No flats at all over more than 6000 miles.

Without Mr Tuffy:

Bike 3 (Continental Top Touring 2000, 700x32). No flats at all, over 5000 miles, same routes as Bike 2.

Bike 2 again (Specialized Nimbus EX 700x35c, another pair, replaced the Avocets and this time I left the liners out). 2000 miles, no flats.

Bike 3 again (Panaracer Pasela TG, 700x32c, replaced the Contis). Two flats, one a puncture and one pinch flat, in about 1000 miles.

Conclusion: it's the tire, not the liner. YMMV.

RichC

I've been using Slime liners in my Michelin Cyclocross Sprint tires. I haven't had a flat in 5000 miles. Flats were a somewhat regualr occurance prior to installation.

Specialized offers several kevlar belted tires in the thirty dollar range. They are very tough and have a pinch resistant side wall as well. I have heard of customers getting more than 6000 miles out of them with no failures.

I use Mr. tuffys and yes they work.

Originally posted by Repp5
A friend of mine said that over time the Kevlar in his began to disintegrate due to moisture. At that price I wouldn't pay for something that doesn't last.

I will add that I had the exact same experience; they eventually fell to pieces. I now use kevlar belted Conti tires and Mr. Tuffy.

As Rich mentioned, it may be the tire, but it may also be the liner, or it may be both. . . I'm just afraid to narrow it down so I use the combination.

Bought a new Cannondale last spring ... two punctures in first three months.
Switched to Continental "Gator Skins" ... none since. ( No liners used.) :D

Have used both Specialized Armadillos and Performance Pro Kevlar belted tires for the past five years and have had two flats. One was a rock cut on the unbelted sidewall which I repaired with a dollar bill to get home and the other was a pinch flat from a larger stone (like the one that cut the sidewall). Both were last year along the same section of road where the was a bunch of spilled riprap rock. I no longer ride that road. In over 8K miles I have had these two flats. Nothing like kevlar belted tires for the road.

As Chuck mentioned, the Specialized tires are excellent. We've got a good amount of customers on those with no complaints. I've also had good luck with the Conti Gator Skins and am personally 500 miles into a trial of the new Kendas (185g with kevlar belt)-no flats and the tires are holding up great.

Interesting thread....


A friend of mine said that over time the Kevlar in his began to disintegrate due to moisture. .

Perhaps this explains the blowouts I have experienced with Hutchinson Excels. The rear tire has always failed as a result of casing failure at the sidewall, just away from the bead. I posted on this a couple of days ago
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27153&highlight=Hutchinson+excel
Maybe the journeys in wet weather & winter salted roads are contributing to the problem.

To answer the question, I do find that the kevlar tires (about £15 here) are much better in resisting flats than a similar "basic" tire costing £12 or so.

EDIT
.......Sorry, should have read the post more carefully and then I would realise this was about tire liners. My goof!


Cheers,

Ed

^
D'oh, I missed that too Ed.