Mountain Biking - Slime - To use or not to use?

I was recently given a bottle of Slime for a present and i was wondering if it is worth using? The reviews on mtbr.com are so so and a guy i know says its good but makes your bike off balance when it has been sitting for a while. What do you guys think? Should i give it a try? Thanks

Hi,

I use it in both tires. I ride through a lot of stickers and briars and got tired of having to fix flats after each ride - literally! So I began using the liquid slime and the flats stopped. I haven't had to fix a flat in ages. The bike doesn't sit up for long at all so I don't guess I've ever noticed any unbalance issues. :|

So I'm a definite proponent of Slime at this point - at least until a better solution comes along. :)

Thanks
Daf

I would vote against slime. I just take extra tube, levers, and co2.

I would vote against slime. I just take extra tube, levers, and co2.

I've used it in wheelbarrow tires, I wouldn't put it in a bike tube.
They're good for slow leaks.

My wife commutes with slime in her tires, its saved her ass a few times when she didn't have her flat stuff, at least 2 holes in the last 2 months (thorns) have been fixed with slime, no slow leaks, no problem. Its a good solution for a commuter, on a road bike used for recreation where weight is more of an issue than being on time, get some patches, levers, and a pump, I have a Carbone pump that kicks ass, or co2. But yes slime works very well out here in Denver, thorn capitol of the world.

A replacement tube I bought for my son's 27" road bike came with slime already in the tube. Well, I didn't realize he got a flat because he bent the rim - had the replacement tube in and tire back on, pumping it up to 80psi. Then a section of the tire popped out from the rim and out came the tube - all the air pressure really made that thing stick out. I was bending down to let the air pressure out when BANG :eek: the tube exploded and SLIME everywhere, including my face and clothes. I don't buy the tubes with slime in them anymore.

Mark

Slime rocks.

If you're in an area where you need it, you need it.

My MTB tires look like porcupines if you turn them inside-out. I'd seriously be fixing 5+ flat tires an outing without slime.

OTOH, I'd loose the weight if flat tires were only a rare occourance.

One can hardly ride in the Boise area without self-sealing tubes of one kind or another -- way too many nasty thorns called goatheads. I've gotten 15 in my front tire at once, but with Airlock tubes (same thing as slime), I just pulled out the thorns and rode on.

Hmm im still not sure. I would like to try it because it would be a waste just to leave it. I guess i'll give it a try and report back to the forums with my results.

I used slime in my trailbike for ages and it saved my arse from having to push a heavy motorbike for miles and miles many times. I have not used it in my MTB but I can see the value in it.

Hmm im still not sure. I would like to try it because it would be a waste just to leave it. I guess i'll give it a try and report back to the forums with my results.

If you are not prone to flats due to your riding eviroment you will just be adding 4oz of weight to each tire (8oz bottle). It has a pretty good shelf life as I have a partial case of it on the shelf in the garage - been there for over a year.

Just put it up somewhere for when the need arises. ;)

Daf

slime is good in my opinion, just remember that wheneever you fill up or empty the air out of a tire(which has slime) make sure the valve is at the top of the wheel(valve opening facing down) so that the slime will not get everywhere when you fill it up/deflate it

I don't have slime actually in my tubes but I do use the slime liners. Work very well. I used to get 3-4 thorns stuck in a tire on one ride so I was replacing/patching tires constantly. With the slime liners I haven't had a flat in close to 700miles.

screw the slime, just get extra heavy duty tires and u will be set. i havent had a punchure for about 4 months now

and i ride trails all the time

Slime is the greatest since sliced bread. Last night i took a tire apart only to find the slime had fixed the leak before i had a chance to patch the hole. This is the 3rd time this has happened.

My instinct is to take the tube out and patch it. The slime's instinct is to do it for me.

i never even knew that crap existed, someone mind explaining how it works exactly, i understand the liqiud sealant part, i know the chem in it...but how u get it into the tire, through the valve?

I don't have slime actually in my tubes but I do use the slime liners. Work very well. I used to get 3-4 thorns stuck in a tire on one ride so I was replacing/patching tires constantly. With the slime liners I haven't had a flat in close to 700miles.

I've used tire liners (Mr Tuffy brand) with great success, too. Slime in the inner tubes seals a puncture after it occurs. A tire liner prevents thorns from touching the tube. Philisophically, it seems better to prevent an event, rather than patch.

i used to use slime when i had schraeder valves. try patching your tubes after you ride thru a field only to find a dozen goatheads on your tires. i loved slime back then.

but now my wheels are presta and i have not had the same success with slime-filled presta tubes. since you can't put slime into the valve manually you have to get those pre-filled tubes, which have crappy construction around the valves.

so now i carry spares on rides since there aren't any thorns around where i ride.

i never even knew that crap existed, someone mind explaining how it works exactly, i understand the liqiud sealant part, i know the chem in it...but how u get it into the tire, through the valve?
Take the valve core out, attach the tube and squeeze. Takes a few minutes per tire after you have aired them back up.

ahh...ok i get it now, thanks for explaining...sounds kinda cool, not that many thorny kinda of places like that in south ontairo, none ive really seen anyways, i mean i see smal thorns somethimes, but nothing huge..

check out http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Tube/product_23515.shtml for enough opinions on slime to make your head spin. it probably won't help and lead to more indecision, but you will be an expert on the pros and cons of slime!

Yeah i put the slime in about a week or two ago. It seems okay, its lighter than my old "double up" tube set up and there is no inbalance noticeable at all. And, well, i dont know if it works because it might've sealed heaps of punctures- I dont know!