Commuting - Tires full of glass

My Schwalbe Delta Cruisers have never had a flat, but there are numerous small shards of glass and bits of metal embedded in the rubber. I can't get them out with tweezers. Should I just leave them be? :notamused:

You could try sticking some packing tape/ duct tape to your tires and see if that will pull the shards out.

I would pull out any larger pieces. They could eventually work there way through and cause a flat. If they're tiny, I ignore them.

I periodically pick them out with the tip of a knife, because:

" They could eventually work their way through and cause a flat."

I find that regardless of thickness, it is the tread compound that does the most to resist this which is why Scwalbe tyres tend to come so highly rated.

The addition of a protective belt in the tyre does the most to prevent the tiny shards from working their way to the inside and the tube although larger shards and pieces of debris can still penetrate most puncture resistant tyres.

I have tyres that have gone over 10,000 km and never had a flat and these also have a high degree of resistance at the outer layer and just don't pick up debris... Schwalbe CX Compes and Hurricanes (26 inch) have provided me the best service over the past 5 years and my Marathons have also been very good. Did have on Marathon flat on me when a thick shard of glass the size of my thumb caused a slow leak.

Have been using Delta Cruisers for a little while and have some Silentos on my primary commuter which have seen quite a few thousand km since their install and have nod had issues with these and do ride through some glass minefields fairly regularly.

If you do find shards of glass and debris in your tyres it should be removed regardless.

Let the air out of your tires, then pinch the sidewalls until they touch. That will open the cuts and cracks so that you can flick out the glass shards and rock chips with an ice pick or the tip of a razor knife or a small screwdriver. Worthwhile to do it every 1000 miles or so. Takes awhile to work your way around the tire, so probably best done watching soccer or hockey or the like on TV. Vacuum or sweep the floor when done.

Vacuum or sweep the floor when done.

And don't do it barefoot (or cook bacon in the nude).

Yes, I've done both of those things.

I periodically pick them out with the tip of a knife, because:

" They could eventually work their way through and cause a flat."

+1 and then usually only when I'm working on the bike for some reason.

I generally use a small sewing needle. Sometimes a knife can make a small slice in the tire a larger slice which invites more debris. Never hurts to inspect and pick your tires once a week, especially this time of year.

Pick it out now in the comfort of you home, or later while fixing the flat it causes at the side of the road.

Let the air out of your tires, then pinch the sidewalls until they touch. That will open the cuts and cracks so that you can flick out the glass shards and rock chips with an ice pick or the tip of a razor knife or a small screwdriver. Worthwhile to do it every 1000 miles or so. Takes awhile to work your way around the tire, so probably best done watching soccer or hockey or the like on TV. Vacuum or sweep the floor when done.

Last time I did it was in downtown Seattle. Sitting cross-legged on the curb, with a pocket-knife in my hand, a couple of blocks from where the SPD shot a wood carver! I wasn't sure what caused the flat until I found a piece of wire, but by that point I had already worked my way halfway around the tire picking glass out. Definitely much more pleasant to do at home!

I examine my tires every 100 miles or so and pick out the glass etc with a paper clip that I have partially straightend. Just remember to use eye protection because sometimes the little shards come flying back at you.

Great advice. One more chore.

I wasn't sure what caused the flat until I found a piece of wire, but by that point I had already worked my way halfway around the tire picking glass out. Definitely much more pleasant to do at home!
I run my hand around the inside of the tire until I find something sharp. Rarely had any trouble finding the thing that caused a flat. A wire might be an exception, I'm not sure I remember picking up any wire. I have occasionally have to blow air into the tube to find the general location I'm looking for, I'm relatively careful to leave the tire clocked properly to the wheel. Changing thousands of tubes in a bike shop leaves you with some ingrained habits.

I run my hand around the inside of the tire until I find something sharp. Rarely had any trouble finding the thing that caused a flat. A wire might be an exception, I'm not sure I remember picking up any wire. I have occasionally have to blow air into the tube to find the general location I'm looking for, I'm relatively careful to leave the tire clocked properly to the wheel. Changing thousands of tubes in a bike shop leaves you with some ingrained habits.

I carry a cotton ball or two in my patch kit, which will snag on anything sticking through the tire, including the little bits of wire from steel-reinforced car and truck tires.

Those wires will get you. That's the only flat I have had this year - a tiny piece of wire less than a quarter inch long and thinner than a hair wotked its way into one of my tires and caused a slow leak. The hole was so small I had to use soapy water to even find it.