Classic & Vintage - Anti-Flat Tire Technology: Old vs New

I'm curious about the differences between modern and vintage tires; in particular, how does the anti-flat technology (or hype) that is so prevalent in today's tire market compare to what was used 40+ years ago?

Was maintaining proper tire pressure basically the extent of reducing flats?

What about the use of silk and cotton?

I used to ride wolber Invulnerable tubulars on all of my daily riders in the 80's. I rarely flatted. In fact, I cannot actually remember having to change a tire on a ride with my Wolbers. My spare essentially stayed tucked under my saddle.
Not so with my Continental Criteriums, but damn they rode nice.
The Wolbers used a fine steel mesh for puncture resistance, and from my experience, it did the trick.
Other materials seemed to make it on to the market by the end of the 80's (kevlar seemed to be "the thing") though I never used anything other than my invulnerables.

It seems that the modern tires use belts that provide a "buffer zone" and/or penetration resistant belt, not unlike the earlier formats.
As far as "hype" is concerned, I've had good luck with my Marathon Supremes so far (no flats in 2,000+ miles). I think they're good tires.

Silk and cotton (IMO) don't hold a candle to some of the stronger materials (glass will penetrate a silk barrier far more easily than kevlar or something like it).

I'm about to ride for a solid week, and still haven't decided what tires to go with.
My options:

Tufo C S 33 tubular clinchers, but I only have 2. I'd have to carry tubes and a tire if one flats and can't be fixed.

Continental GP 4000.

Specialized Mondo.

Low-level tubulars, and I have one spare.

Older, dark gumwall Continental Ultra's. They seem thick.

My first bike race was in 1982. I think some people on this forum started racing in the 70's. Every year since then, someone has a brilliant anti-flat or worried about flat tires. Lou Maltese from NYC (google him) and I were in Central Park one very cold morning before a bike race. He started racing in the 1920's I think. Anyway, I was a Jr category and Lou and I were talking. A guy comes up on his bike, nice Colnagao with Clement silks to the start line on Cat's Paw Hill in Central Park. Just seconds before the start of his race, pssssst! pop! His $100 silks pops.
Lou, the guy who practically brought popular racing to America (I kid you not, he's a legend), shakes his head, elbows me and says "with all this technology (this is early 80's tech and he's seen tech since the 20's)....and they still can't fix a flat.

Fast forward to 2011, I'm still riding. Everytime I ride with someone or even when I get a flat, I shake my head, laugh, honor Lou Maltese, and say to myself "will all this technology, and they still can't fix a flat".

Cracks me up every time. I love you Lou! Thank's for making cycling what it is today in America. Truely a legend.

^ Nice story! :D

What about Slime? Anybody still using that?

old technology is better, I had a bike with solid rubber tires, weighed about 20 pounds a piece but lets see you make them go flat!

Speaking of old technology.., I used to use these back in the 70's to help prevent flats while riding sew ups. Still do.
I made these for my bike.
http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee430/slipangle99/tire%20savers/tiresavers2.jpg

The reason I asked about this stuff is because I'm trying to choose which tires to use with my current build. I've used Continental Ultra Gatorskins and Specialized Armadillos without any problems, but I was eyeing Vittoria Open Paves, too. Anyway, I started to wonder about the necessity of the Kevlar-layered tires that are all over the market (necessity, as relates to me).

The Pasela Tour Guards work real well too. I don't have a lot of miles on mine but everyone here swears they reduced flats.

Running your tyres at the proper pressure goes a long ways toward reducing flats as does where you ride... I usually take the lane and stay out of the gutter where road debris collects.

Have never had a problem with flats even when I have had no choice but to ride through broken glass on tyres with no additional puncture protection.

Continental Ultrasports seem to be a very flat prone tyre once they pass a certain mileage limit.. the new kevlar version seems more bulletproof and has a much nicer ride even at higher pressures.

The basic Schwalbe Marathon is a great tyre and as long as you don't have to deal with goat heads should be very good of many many thousands of km and with loaded touring they seem to get 6000-7000 km off the back and the fronts last over 10,000 km.

I have been very pleased with all the Schwalbe tyres I have used as it regards performance and mileage.

I actually like fixing flats. It's very zen. Me, my bike, my pump, and my tool kit out against the hard cruel world.

Have pump and patches -will travel.

What's the big deal?

For commuting I use bombproof Gatorskins. As you note, kevlar works.
My Sunday bike has Continental GP's. A much nicer ride.

There's no guarantees so pick one and look at the rest.

I actually like fixing flats. It's very zen. Me, my bike, my pump, and my tool kit out against the hard cruel world.

Have pump and patches -will travel.

What's the big deal?

Right, no big deal; I may not like fixing flats, but I'm generally more inclined toward this approach.

After much searching, I haven't found many tire makers that eschew Kevlar and other aramid fibers (of course, all tire production involves some level of techno-chemical hobnobbery, so a distinction between 'natural' and 'artificial' tires is artificial itself, but aramid fibers is where I'd like to draw the line).

Given the market, I will probably try out the Veloflex Pave clinchers, simply because they're a small company that still does much of their work by hand (from what I've read).

I have had good luck with the Michelin Krylion for the best balance of reliability, durability and performance in one road tire. :thumb:



Durability in all conditions with more than 3,700 miles of tread life in Michelin tests, thanks to its reinforced black rubber mixture. High-density anti-puncture reinforcement and special overlapping ply design.

http://www.biketiresdirect.com/product/michelin-krylion-carbon-tire

http://www.michelinbicycletire.com/michelinbicycle/img/performancecharts/krylion.jpg
http://www.michelinbicycletire.com/michelinbicycle/img/lgTires/krylion.jpg

Right, no big deal; I may not like fixing flats, but I'm generally more inclined toward this approach.

After much searching, I haven't found many tire makers that eschew Kevlar and other aramid fibers (of course, all tire production involves some level of techno-chemical hobnobbery, so a distinction between 'natural' and 'artificial' tires is artificial itself, but aramid fibers is where I'd like to draw the line).

Given the market, I will probably try out the Veloflex Pave clinchers, simply because they're a small company that still does much of their work by hand (from what I've read).

I tend to draw the line on tires that cost more for a set than I paid for a bike -and I ride cheap bikes ;)

I really can't see spending more than $20 on a bicycle tire.

What about Slime? Anybody still using that?

Slime seems to be extremely polarizing: Either people think it works great or IT WILL HOSE YOU DOWN IN GREEN GOO IF YOU SO MUCH AS LOOK AT YOUR TIRE.

I ride really nasty dirt roads (logging trucks and a nearby sawmill don't help) and I've only had a Slime tube fail once...and had goop dripping out of four other holes in the tire where the tube had sealed previously with no drama.

I'm about to ride for a solid week, and still haven't decided what tires to go with...

I just got through a 600k brevet without a flat on Ruffy Tuffy's.

I was carrying 4 tubes the whole way, to give you some idea of the luck I've had with so many other tires.

I do a lot of riding on a bike lane with lots of broken glass. I've never had a flat on Pasela TGs or Vittoria Rubinos. I've had only one flat on Vittoria Zaffirros which can be had for $15 or less online. I also think being meticulous about pumping up to recommended pressure before each ride is important.

The Pasela Tour Guards work real well too. I don't have a lot of miles on mine but everyone here swears they reduced flats.

When I first used them I had several flats, probably just coincidence rather than the tires. One was a large nail, you can't blame the tire for that, belted or not.

I have had good luck with the Michelin Krylion for the best balance of reliability, durability and performance in one road tire. :thumb:

Had these in 700x23c on my Allez. FAST tire, smooth and great ride. Never a flat, either.

Thinking of getting a pair of 700x25c for my Sirrus. Not sure I will though, I might go conti Gatorskins 700x28c instead. If they made krylion's in 28c, I would go for them!

What about Slime? Anybody still using that?:eek: I can't say it ever got me home once I had a puncture, but it sure does add to the hassle of having and fixing flats. I'm done with Slime, have been for a while.

I've never had a Pasela puncture, that I can recall, but I've had one fail the sidewall, which resulted in a 5 mile walk home. That was before I knew the dollar bill trick, or carried a spare (folding) tire.

When I first used them I had several flats, probably just coincidence rather than the tires. One was a large nail, you can't blame the tire for that, belted or not.
Same here. Since then their performance has been exemplary.

Seems like I flat less as I get older and the more experienced I am. Properly inflated tires is a must, for sure, as are quality tires.
But looking at the road ahead and avoiding common problematic areas seems to reduce flats more than anything, at least IMHE.

I have had good luck with the Michelin Krylion for the best balance of reliability, durability and performance in one road tire. :thumb:These are my favorites as well. Unfortunately, they're discontinued. The silver lining to this cloud is that they're available for $30-$35 each until stocks run out. Their replacement is (I think) the ProEndurance 4, or some such.

I have been using Kenda 27" x 1 1/4" tires with puncture resistant inner tubes for years and never had a flat with that set-up. Of course, this is the tire and inner tube I use for my junk rider. For good bikes, I run lighter equipment.

I used tire savers for a while in the 70s--could never tell whether they helped.

I think with flats when it's you time it's your time.

One day about 10 years ago whilst riding home in a thunder storm, I thought to myself, well at least I won't get a flat because I'm riding Avocet Cross tires with Tuffy tire liners. I kid you not, 5 minutes later the front tire went flat. Pulled over to a sheltered place, removed the tire, and found a thorn that went though the tread, casing, and tire liner.

I rode the same set of Paselas about a thousand miles without flats. Loan my bike to a friend for a double century, and he flats 3 times on the same ride.

And so on.

I'm about due too.

But I've had good luck with Gatorskins, Pasela Tourgard, and Marathons.

My first set of Dunlop tubies lasted a long time.

Old technology , steer around the debris, glass, sharp stones, etc,
when ever possible ,
and stop and check and clean your tires, of said debris, when in Doubt. :innocent:


vs trust in the puncture band to reject the stuff and Plough on through?