benca1

is this normal? I'm throwing out a Conti4000S because I flatted 3 times on it. First flat was due to rain, fixed it, 2 more flats during the next day 30 mile ride. took it to a shop who couldn't locate the little turd embedded in the tire.

So now a new one? The tire only has 1000 miles or so on it.

This happened earlier in the year with Vittoria Diamentes - but with both tires. I ended up trashing both tires and replacing with the Conti4000s.

When I use 20 dollar tires, they last and last. My original tires I still have for the trainer.

Is this normal?

I gotta ask, because when I started cycling I blew all of my money on a crappy Cannondale (thanks to them for my 750 gram fork in my six-5 frame) and spent nothing on bike shorts.. sweet jesus did I ever start getting taint problems when i sat down.. then someone said I should upgrade my shorts. 300 dollars later.. my taint is just doing awesome, but my wallet is lighter. I didn't know one should spend about 100 bucks on shorts and get 3 to 4 pairs.

same thing? rough lesson for a broke newb? Plan on a new tire for 1 out of 3 or 4 flats?

Suggestions for a bomb proof, rain friendly tire? Just toss in your opinion after you flame me for not searching and for bashing this pig cannondale

thanks!

Grumpy McTrumpy

I've had new 80 buck tubulars shredded after two races


armadillos are what you are asking for

hao

Clearly not as often as you do.

hao

Was it raining nails?

AngryScientist 

flats happen, its more luck than anything else.

and for the love of $$, order tires online, you should be paying around 70 for a PAIR or tires, not per tire at the lbs.

benca1

Where can you find a pair of 4000s for 70 bucks? The cheapest I can find is PBK for 50 each.. before shipping.

StanSeven

+1 The last time I brought 4000S theyy were $60/pair but the exchange rate increased.

Actually I find that I have fewer flats with more expensive tires.

taos07

Gatorskins. 2000 miles no flats.

znomit

He must have gotten the factory seconds which are made of sugar.

StanSeven

PBK always has free shipping

midgetmaestro 

I've trashed "$60" tires. It was painful, but I got over it.

CPcyclist

working at the LBS rainy days bring the flates in... big reason is the water lets things stick to the tire longer and lets them work in from the tread... but there is also the water that enters through the valve and spoke holes. If the tire doesn't dry out is can cause issues with the integrity of the tube so some of the flats may not be tire issues.

will second the Gatorskins but remind you that they are a stiffer tire and with a stiff bike like the c'dale even with padded short you may revisit the issues from when you started to ride.

cocycle

Here you go https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/roa...re/CONTTYRF321

Takes a little time for delivery, but worth it

benca1

From the UK?

Not sure how long it takes to ship something for free from the UK to cali.. I won't be finding out either I guess.

Will G

If you mount your tires with some easy to locate feature on the tire next to the stem, i.e. the max air pressure or the logo, you can backtrack a hole in the tube to a location on the tire an find whatever difficult to find sharp object that is causing your flat. I have used the GP4000S for a couple years now and love them.

midgetmaestro 

Week and a half usually.

benca1

Thanks for all of the helpful replies. Someone suggested poking the small cuts/holes throughout the tire with a sewing needle to pop out the miserable piece-of-shift driving me nuts.

It sounds to me like it's no surprise and either be prepared to do some extensive troubleshooting for a flat, or buy new tires.. from the UK or wherever.

<sigh> just like work and married life; get used to dissapointment. The spending part is obviously more married life like than work life, but you get the gist.

revolator

I've had my current Conti 4000S for 6,000+ miles with 2 flats w/in those miles.

benca1

Thanks. In other news I've never lost 25 cents, even though thousands of quarters pass through my fingers annually. If you ever lose one, I'm sorry you're not as lucky as me. Keep in mind no matter how down you might get regarding this fascinating fact, many of us do not have your tire karma.

znomit

Oh, theres your problem. GP4000s aren't suited for those conditions, you want better protection.
Though oddly things should go better in the wet.

scirocco

No. Something sounds wrong. If neither you or the shop can find anything causing the flat and yet it is still recurring I doubt it is anything to do with whether the tire costs $20 or $60. Specially if the same thing happened before with the Vittoria's.

Have you checked the rim tape to make sure it's not the wheel itself puncturing the tube? How's your fitting technique - are you accidentally pinching the tube as you install it?

robncircus

Serfas Seca RS. Cheap. relatively light, bombproof. i've had the same issues you are having with the 4000 series. If you want to go Conti, I liked the force/attack set best.

kayakdiver

Sometimes I wear a GP4000 to the cord without flatting.... sometimes I don't. Luck has just as much to do with it as anything. You my friend have had some bad luck.

banerjek

3 flats in 1000 miles is nothing and unless you hit something that sliced that tire wide open, it still has lots of life in it. Hell, I've had 2 flats this week on different bikes. One was in the front on gatorskins, the other was on the rear with hardcases. Sometimes you just get unlucky.

Rain does not help because it hides crap so you can't see it as well, makes it stick to your tires, and then lubricates it as it's forced in. Add darkness to the mix and it just gets worse. If you're broke, the 4000s might not be the tire for you.

If you're looking for flat resistant tires in the rain, gatorskins, hardcases, marathon plus, and armadillos are your primary choices and I'd choose them in that order. All flat resistant tires are heavy, slow, and give a miserable ride. Of the tires I mention the gatorskins would be my first choice as the ride, traction, and speed are fair while cut and flat resistance are very good. Next choice would be the hardcases which have similar traction, and not quite as good ride and speed, decent cut protection and very good flat resistance. They are also cheap. The marathon plus has the best flat resistance of any tire I've ever ridden, though they are also the slowest but ride is mediocre. 'dillos have the worst ride and traction of any tire I've ridden. Cut and flat resistance are very good.

kudude

OP sounds angry.

If you're throwing away a tire b/c you got some flats on it but can't find a hole......you are your own problem.

Something caused the flats. Find it. Are they snakebites? pump up your tires. Is there a pinhole? trace it back and remove the glass.

If you're not mechanically competent to deal with it on your own, then $$$$. But in that case it's your problem, not the fault of the tire.