Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Best tire to avoid pinch flats - aggressive riding

I'm looking for a tire that is good against pinch flats when riding aggressively, but that still offers reasonably low rolling resistance and doesn't weigh a ton. I looked up Panaracer's website and they rate the RibMO as best in avoiding pinch flats as well as puncture protection. Fyxation also claims very good pinch flat protection, but they are very expensive, nearly $50 apiece. I'm looking at between 700 x 28c and 700 x 32c for size. Currently the bike has 25c Kendas rated at only 90 psi, and I've already managed to get a pinch flat on the rear. I'd like your opinions/experiences on these 2 tires and any others that you think would be a good choice for this type of riding. Thanks.

Pinch flat protection? Appropriate PSI or tubular tires

I have RibMO 25mm on my fixed gear and it's pretty tough, no punctures for the whole life of the rear tire. I've been running of PSIMET's advice and have been without pinch flats

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?410701-Psimet-s-tip-of-the-Day
Tire Width=20: Pressure(psi) = (0.33 * Rider Weight in lbs) + 63.33
Tire Width=23: Pressure(psi) = (0.33 * Rider Weight in lbs) + 53.33
Tire Width=25: Pressure(psi) = (0.33 * Rider Weight in lbs) + 43.33
Tire Width=28: Pressure(psi) = (0.33 * Rider Weight in lbs) + 33.33

Tire Width=32: Pressure(psi) = (0.17 * Rider Weight in lbs) + 41.67
Tire Width=37: Pressure(psi) = (0.17 * Rider Weight in lbs) + 26.67


Example: You are 150lbs running 28's

Pressure (psi) = (0.33*150) +33.33 = 82.83psi (rear)
Front Pressure = .9*Rear Pressure = .9*82.83psi = 74.55psi front

Tubeless are the best bet.

Yeah, tubulars for sure, but this is a cheap urban FG that has sturdy clinchers that I don't want to change, and of course will not accept tubeless. I weigh 140 lbs, so based on the chart, I should be running 90 psi in the rear with 25c tires, which I was, but quite frankly I was messing around and got a pinch flat anyway. That's why I'm thinking of going either 28c or 32c. I don't ride my other bikes this way, so it's not a problem.

@hairnet - do the RibMOs run large, small or true to rated size? My experience with the Panaracer Pasela TG is that it runs small, such that a 32c is more like a 28c and a 28c is more like a 25c. However the 35c on my Kilo WT is exactly 35c.

I run max pressure 100 psi, regardless of tire and conditions. I figure if it leaks slowly it'll get to the optimal formula pressure. Never had a pinch flat, rolling resistance is minimized, no wasted energy and effort, the tread on either side of the road contact area never gets worn, but it's there for leaning turns. It's never going to get worn anyway. Brake pads do the stopping not the tires and are considerably cheaper and easier to replace than the tires.

I guess just run higher psi, TT. What were you doing when you got the flat? The last time I really hit a bump hard I banged a flat spot into my rear rim but the tire stayed inflated, so I'm curious what you did.

I guess just run higher psi, TT. What were you doing when you got the flat? The last time I really hit a bump hard I banged a flat spot into my rear rim but the tire stayed inflated, so I'm curious what you did.

Well, I was at the max rated pressure for this tire (Kenda 700 x 25c), which is only 90 psi. I have a Conti Grand Prix 4000 25c on another geared wheel, which is rated at 120 psi max, so perhaps that tire would have fared better. As to what I was doing at the time, I was messing around in the parking area of a large mall, and tried to jump down from a walkway to the parking lot while clearing six steps, but didn't quite clear it and my rear wheel hit the edge of the last step, which caused an instant snake bite pinch flat. I have done this sort of stuff with an old rigid MTB that has 26 x 1.5" (38mm) hybrid tires on it w/o any problems, but this is the first time I've done it on such narrow tires. I have gotten pinch flats before on high pressure 700 x 23c tires on the road when I ran across rough railroad tracks or bad potholes. Anyway, regarding the RibMOs, what is their max rated inflation pressure, and do they run smaller, larger or the same size as rated? Unless, someone chimes in with something else, I think I'll get these, just can't decide if 28c or 32c.

Get wide rims and big tires, if your frame will accommodate. The longer the 700c trick thing evolves, the wider people seem to be going. You can't jump six steps and expect nothing to happen. You're on a road bike.

My 25mm Ribmo is 25mm


Well, I was at the max rated pressure for this tire (Kenda 700 x 25c), which is only 90 psi. I have a Conti Grand Prix 4000 25c on another geared wheel, which is rated at 120 psi max, so perhaps that tire would have fared better

ehh I never really pay attention to that stuff

armadillo 700x23 at 120 psi. no flats ever.

As to what I was doing at the time, I was messing around in the parking area of a large mall, and tried to jump down from a walkway to the parking lot while clearing six steps, but didn't quite clear it and my rear wheel hit the edge of the last step, which caused an instant snake bite pinch flat.

Aren't you like 60 years old? And you're jumping 6 sets? That's pretty badass.

Aren't you like 60 years old? And you're jumping 6 sets? That's pretty badass.

I didn't think trejano was that old, but regardless my thoughts were similar

armadillo 700x23 at 120 psi. no flats ever.

wrong kind of flats



Aren't you like 60 years old? And you're jumping 6 sets? That's pretty badass.

I had that image in my head, but I couldnt get it through

armadillo 700x23 at 120 psi. no flats ever.
Excellent, excellent tire but a bit heavy and ~$50 each, so probably not exactly what Tejano is looking for. However, in my opinion, I can agree that this absolutely is the best tire for flat protection (in terms of regular riding).

Aren't you like 60 years old? And you're jumping 6 steps? That's pretty badass.

Hey, thanks for the props man. They were rather shallow steps, so it was maybe only a two foot drop and it's a piece of cake on my rigid mtb with phat tires. I am indeed 64, but not your typical oldster, and there are guys my age and even older that do fun stuff like this. Age is just in your mind.

Woah, really? I just sort of assumed that you were 30-40ish. That's damn badass. :thumb:

Like, totally rad, bro.

Like, totally rad, bro.
Dude, that's like, TOTAALLY my line, man.

EDIT: I mean dudette.

TT is amazing......

anyway, never rode the RibMo tires, but I run panaracer paselas and they are pretty nice tires so I totally vouch for panaracers.

Dude, that's like, TOTAALLY my line, man.

EDIT: I mean dudette.
:lol:

Don't sweat it, brah. (Does that make me a brah-ette? Hm . . . )

Schwalbe marathons, but they run "big"