thornguards
 

they used to be popular a long time ago, sort of a piece of wire close to the tyre, when a thorn was picked up it caught the wire pulling it close to the tyre which dug in and flicked out the thorn.

is there anything similar around now?

Not lately. I have one that came with an old frame I picked up, and I kept it, thinking I could make a pair using it as a guide. Some stainless steel wire and fish tank pump tubing, vwa-la!
Though, I've read many times you should leave a thorn in till you get home.
Kevlar-belted tires or tuffy strips prevents the problem better.

Tire savers? You can still get them.

http://www.loosescrews.com/index.cgi...id=95894953036

dead spokes a couple pieces of plastic tubing and a pair of round nose pliers ,
and you're there..

thanks all. glad i asked. thats the next job on my list.

Leave the the thorns in if you don't have tire savers, by all means. Thorns usually get picked up by the first revolution, and driven in deep by the second, third, fourth, etc... Tire savers eliminate the second revolution scenario altogether.,,,,BD