Bicycle Mechanics - Unrelenting flats

I am currently running IRC XC 2x10 tires. I am continuing to get flats despite the fact I have:

-Made sure all tubes were correct size
-Used puncture proof tubes
-Followed closly the P.S.I range for my tires
-Thouroghly looked at the inside of rim to check for anything that can cuase a puncture.
-cut old tubes and put inside tire as extra protection (only tried once. didn't make a dif.)

When I ride with my friends, they don't have this problem. I am riding more downhill, yet its still single track, and its on dirt. I ride way more all out then my friends do, yet it doesn't seem like that is the only problem. The one thing I have noticed is these ruts that cross the trail, they aren't big, but if you hit them wrong, your tire will hit rim.wtf? They are not big ruts so I don't understand why this happens.
Generally the leaks are slow. I will go for a ride, come home, hang up the bike. I come out to the garage to get something, check my tire and wammo its flat agian.

Someone help me. Any tips? I really don't want to buy new tires. I know I posted about getting new tires, but really they arent needed as these tires are not even warn.

What pressure are you running on downhill runs? What are the punctures like? Are you getting pinch flats from running too low pressure? What side of tube is punctured? Are the punctures in the same place each time or distributed all around?

What kind of rim strip are you using? If it's not an adhesive cloth (Velox) strip, consider replacing your rim strip.

Something tells me you are running minimum tire pressure and are getting pinch flats.

perhaps when you are using the tire lever you accidently cut the tube on installation. Just enough to get a slow leak.

My suspicion is the same as supcom's - frequent pinch flats.

When you do real mountain biking, the faster you go the more susceptable to pinch flats you are going to be. I used to sponsor a few mountain bike racers before the day of tubeless tires and one of my surprises was the frequency of flat tires for the good guys. OFTEN the outcome of a race was determined by who got the fewest pinch flats. When tubeless systems came out, they were such an unfair advantage for the pro and expert class racers that everybody had to get them. It didn't seem to make as much difference for the sport class guys because they don't go as fast.

Try adding 5 psi to your tires on each ride until the frequency of flats drops to a level you're willing to live with. If that does the trick, start saving up for a tubeless wheelset so that you can drop your air pressure again.

Another suspect: Your pump. What kind are you using? I had a solid minipump, and I kept getting flats. I noticed that I was damaging the stem with the pumping motion when I replaced a tube on the road. I got a frame pump with a flexible nozzle. The only flat I've had since then is when a nail went through my tire. Nothing would have stopped that.

Thouroghly looked at the inside of rim to check for anything that can cause a puncture.

You looked at the inside of the rim, but, just to be sure:
you looked at the inside of the TIRE too, right?

You looked at the inside of the rim, but, just to be sure:
you looked at the inside of the TIRE too, right?

Hahaha, that one is good! How many haven't made that mistake :D

I have tried w/ the max pressure the tire recommends and I still get flats but not as prevelant. The thing I hate is that when I run like this I lose traction, and find myself getting really sloppy. I decided today I am going to buy a DH bike so it looks like I should make sure whatever I get is tubless...

When you do get a flat with tubeless, how hard is it to replace?

Hahaha, that one is good! How many haven't made that mistake :D

Yes I make sure to look now, but that one happened when I first got my bike!

I think everyone has done this at least once...

Tire levers are obsolete. Nashbar i believe sells an automotive-style plastic rotary hand tool that easily breaks & reinstalls the bead. I was skeptical at first because it looks cheesy & is inexpensive, but mine has held up well for years.