Bad case of cracking Mr. Tuffy led to flat
#1
www.theheadbadge.com
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Southern Florida
Posts: 28,513
Bikes: https://www.theheadbadge.com
Mentioned: 124 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2422 Post(s)
Liked 4,395 Times
in
2,092 Posts
Bad case of cracking Mr. Tuffy led to flat
Got a cut in my front tire in one of my machines a few weeks ago. Only got a chance to check it tonight, and found a pair of 1-1/2" laterall cuts in the tube at the tread center.
On inspection, I found no foreign objects that had poked through the tyre, but found that the Mr. Tuffy tire liner had cracked in two at that very spot. I pulled out the liner, and realized that it had similarly formed cracks, and additional ones forming down 70% of its length. There is no question that the flats were a result of the cracks in the Mr. Tuffy liner.
Incedentally, the tyres in question are 700X25C.
My question is just how frequent Mr. Tuffy may fail in this fashion (previous forum posts seem to indicate this as being highly unusual, if not undocumented), and if it is actually worth it to shell out the money for another pair. Personally, I have never used Mr. Tuffys except for this particular bike (was equipped with 'em when I changed the tires - the liners were in fine shape then) - all my other machines run with the bare tube in a cheap Nashbar/Chen Shing 700X25C, or a Kenda skinwall 700X25C, and I have yet to have a problem since - until I used the liners (go figure, eh?).
Take care,
-Kurt
On inspection, I found no foreign objects that had poked through the tyre, but found that the Mr. Tuffy tire liner had cracked in two at that very spot. I pulled out the liner, and realized that it had similarly formed cracks, and additional ones forming down 70% of its length. There is no question that the flats were a result of the cracks in the Mr. Tuffy liner.
Incedentally, the tyres in question are 700X25C.
My question is just how frequent Mr. Tuffy may fail in this fashion (previous forum posts seem to indicate this as being highly unusual, if not undocumented), and if it is actually worth it to shell out the money for another pair. Personally, I have never used Mr. Tuffys except for this particular bike (was equipped with 'em when I changed the tires - the liners were in fine shape then) - all my other machines run with the bare tube in a cheap Nashbar/Chen Shing 700X25C, or a Kenda skinwall 700X25C, and I have yet to have a problem since - until I used the liners (go figure, eh?).
Take care,
-Kurt
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 658
Bikes: Diamondback centurion. Home built tandem
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
2 Posts
Well, if you want to get another set of Mr. tuffies I would go for it. It also sounds like time for a new (better) set of tyres. I like the michelin Pro-races myself.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,329
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Funny thing about Mr Tuffy's is that the company claims "One pair of liners will last a lifetime" but on many online store websites, you'll read in the product description: "Guaranteed for 1 year"...
Personally, I think it's like anything else and one has to do a periodic check, maybe once or twice a year, to inspect the liners. It's only a polyurethane strip and many "local environmental factors" could cause them to dry out and start cracking or fall apart. Could just consider/add tire liner inspection as part of your regular maintenance schedule.
There are a few commuters I know that prefer Panaracer's Flat-Away Tire Liners since they are adhesive backed and don't float around the tire...which they claim less wear on the inner tubes from the rubbing effects. But they change them once a year.
Personally, I use kevlar belted tires and just deal with the extra weight of thorn resistant tubes. At least for me, it's the best compromise for the conditions on my commute...others may want or need extra flat protection, whether it be tire liners and/or tire sealant with flat resistant tires like armadillo or...
Personally, I think it's like anything else and one has to do a periodic check, maybe once or twice a year, to inspect the liners. It's only a polyurethane strip and many "local environmental factors" could cause them to dry out and start cracking or fall apart. Could just consider/add tire liner inspection as part of your regular maintenance schedule.
There are a few commuters I know that prefer Panaracer's Flat-Away Tire Liners since they are adhesive backed and don't float around the tire...which they claim less wear on the inner tubes from the rubbing effects. But they change them once a year.
Personally, I use kevlar belted tires and just deal with the extra weight of thorn resistant tubes. At least for me, it's the best compromise for the conditions on my commute...others may want or need extra flat protection, whether it be tire liners and/or tire sealant with flat resistant tires like armadillo or...
#4
Full Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 324
Bikes: Steve Bauer Whirlwind, Nishiki International, Rocky Mountain Element 30 1984 Cinelli Super Corsa w/Campy 50th, Surly LHT.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Mr. Tuffy
Hate the things!
#5
www.theheadbadge.com
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Southern Florida
Posts: 28,513
Bikes: https://www.theheadbadge.com
Mentioned: 124 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2422 Post(s)
Liked 4,395 Times
in
2,092 Posts
Originally Posted by bassplayinbiker
Well, if you want to get another set of Mr. tuffies I would go for it.
Essentially, I am fishing about here to see if anyone with experience with the Tuffys has a convincing argument that may change my opinion on the subject - before I simply rip out the Tuffy, and install the tube 'bare' in the tyre, the way I've been doing it for the last 2 years.
Originally Posted by bassplayinbiker
It also sounds like time for a new (better) set of tyres. I like the michelin Pro-races myself.
Originally Posted by Sci-Fi
Personally, I use kevlar belted tires and just deal with the extra weight of thorn resistant tubes. At least for me, it's the best compromise for the conditions on my commute...others may want or need extra flat protection, whether it be tire liners and/or tire sealant with flat resistant tires like armadillo or...
Originally Posted by toolboy
Hate the things!
-Kurt
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,487
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 140 Post(s)
Liked 162 Times
in
89 Posts
Originally Posted by cudak888
That's another thing I've been trying to figure out. How in hell does a different bead material (Kevlar VS wired) improve tyre puncture resistance?
-Kurt
-Kurt
#7
www.theheadbadge.com
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Southern Florida
Posts: 28,513
Bikes: https://www.theheadbadge.com
Mentioned: 124 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2422 Post(s)
Liked 4,395 Times
in
2,092 Posts
#9
www.theheadbadge.com
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Southern Florida
Posts: 28,513
Bikes: https://www.theheadbadge.com
Mentioned: 124 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2422 Post(s)
Liked 4,395 Times
in
2,092 Posts
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,819
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I stopped using tire liners a few years ago because of the very same thing. I lived in Orlando then, so maybe it's the Florida heat that makes the plastic compounds bittle and fracture. Can't recall the time line between original purchase date and the time I started getting the liner caused flats. But I figure if a product starts causing the very problem it's supposed to prevent, then it's time to put it in the trash.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,487
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 140 Post(s)
Liked 162 Times
in
89 Posts
Originally Posted by cudak888
For 12 months, I've been reading "Kevlar belted" as "Kevlar beaded." I'm sure you can see where my confuision comes from.
-Kurt
-Kurt
#13
www.theheadbadge.com
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Southern Florida
Posts: 28,513
Bikes: https://www.theheadbadge.com
Mentioned: 124 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2422 Post(s)
Liked 4,395 Times
in
2,092 Posts
Originally Posted by unkchunk
I stopped using tire liners a few years ago because of the very same thing. I lived in Orlando then, so maybe it's the Florida heat that makes the plastic compounds bittle and fracture. Can't recall the time line between original purchase date and the time I started getting the liner caused flats. But I figure if a product starts causing the very problem it's supposed to prevent, then it's time to put it in the trash.
-Kurt