Folding Bikes - Tyres and Inner Tubes on Dahon

I recently bought a Dahon Speed D7 2006 model. I have been cycling it for 3 weeks now and in that time I have had 2 punctures (Flats). First one happened the second day I was cycling and it punctured the Front wheel. The second was this week on back wheel.
Are the Dahon Tyres and Inner Tubes no good. Do you think I should replace my inner tubes or my inner tubes and tyres
Thanks for your help

2 punctures in 3 weeks isn't that bad. What tyres do you have? Did you identify what caused the punctures - glass, metal, flint, etc?

If you want a tough tyre, go for the Marathon Plus.

As I recall (my grown daughter has one, muggins does the maintenance) the tyres are a budget skinwall with no puncture protection and the tubes a budget Chinese. These tubes are often oversize, first thing would be check they're not being pinched or twisted when replacing the tyre. Check the rim tape and that nothing such as spoke ends are damaging the tube. Beyond that, the tubes should be ok, replace the tyres with something more robust and puncture resistant such as Schwalbe Marathons.

2 punctures in 3 weeks isn't that bad. What tyres do you have? Did you identify what caused the punctures - glass, metal, flint, etc?

If you want a tough tyre, go for the Marathon Plus.


Not bad?? I've been running the same stock Kenda Kwest up front for about a year and a half -- including daily commutes and a near-metric century (95km) -- and haven't had any punctures. I've had a few flats in the rear... maybe two or three total (I realise I've now jinxed myself). How often do you get flats, and what tires are you running?

Edit: By the way -- and not to hijack the thread -- are Dahon Roulez tires rebranded Kwests? I ask because the Boardwalks sold in China come with Kwests, but Dahon's Web site says the choice is between Roulezs and Marathons.

How often do you get flats, and what tires are you running?

I would guess that I average a puncture every 3 weeks... 90% are in the rear. I run various combinations of tyres. Currently set up with marathon slick/primo comet on the fixed and Scrocher TR/Stelvio on the geared Trek.

I recently bought a Dahon Speed D7 2006 model. I have been cycling it for 3 weeks now and in that time I have had 2 punctures (Flats). First one happened the second day I was cycling and it punctured the Front wheel. The second was this week on back wheel.
Are the Dahon Tyres and Inner Tubes no good. Do you think I should replace my inner tubes or my inner tubes and tyres
Thanks for your help

It's probably the rim tape. Try replacing it with Velo rim tape. I have gone almost 2 years of daily riding with only 1 flat.

Normally there are a few possible reasons for a flat:
#1 You run over a sharp object that causes the flat
#2 You have low tire pressure which causes a pinch flat (when you impact an object)
#3 Bad rim tape will cause a flat on the rim side of the tube
#4 Improperly installed tubes which are pinched by the tires....these cause flats very quickly
#5 Worn tires

Thanks,
Yan

I would guess that I average a puncture every 3 weeks... 90% are in the rear. I run various combinations of tyres. Currently set up with marathon slick/primo comet on the fixed and Scrocher TR/Stelvio on the geared Trek.

Wow, you must have the patience of a saint. If I experienced that kind of puncture rate, I would have given up cycling on those roads.

I recently bought a Dahon Speed D7 2006 model. I have been cycling it for 3 weeks now and in that time I have had 2 punctures (Flats). First one happened the second day I was cycling and it punctured the Front wheel. The second was this week on back wheel.
Are the Dahon Tyres and Inner Tubes no good. Do you think I should replace my inner tubes or my inner tubes and tyres
Thanks for your help


Had my share today of flat on the rear tire on the same model bike (Dahon Speed 7). Took it to the LBS and had the inner tube replaced. I also inquired if I should replace all tires, and was told to keep the tires few more months as they look still fine. It was a very nice ride this morning for me when the flat took place and had to walk over a mile home and rushed to the LBS. I just hope tomorrow would be a nice sunny day like today. It was my first flay since I got the bike and just hoping it won't be a regular occurrence.

If you don't care about fast riding, the Schwalbe Marathons are great advice; the best damn near bomb-proof tires known to wheels and man.

Wow, you must have the patience of a saint. If I experienced that kind of puncture rate, I would have given up cycling on those roads.

I can't - it's my commute route (100 - 125 miles a week). As I don't go for the most robust tyres on the market (and I sometimes ride in the gutter when filtering), I don't complain too much. I can also mend a puncture by the roadside in 5 mins or so. Debris accounts for nearly all of my punctures though, so maybe I am bit stupid for not investing in a liner or Matrathon +s.

Thanks everyone. Maybe I have just been unlucky...very unlucky!!! My bike is brand new. Im not sure what make the tyres are...They are prob just the standard ones. My Wheel are pumped up very hard all the time. When I inspected my inner tube after the punctures there were small tears. I was thinking from Glass etc. Im totally paranoid now and would like to replace my tyres and inner Tubes anyway. I will get the Marathon tyres.