Tire Savers for fenders. An inspiration.

[rootboy]

Thanks to member Alex Moll for the inspiration to make these tire savers that fit bikes with fenders. Based on some old ones he found with that amazing find he discovered a while ago with the Harrison and Holdsworth bikes, and all those cool old parts. Thanks Alex. Here they are mounted to my Frejus with its 44 mm wide fenders. Any interest? Please step over to the C&V sales page. Thanks!

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

How do they differ from regular old tire scrapers?

[that_guy_zach]

How do they differ from regular old tire scrapers?

They go around a fender.

[Captain Blight]

Angles, and they're noticeably wider. That's a nice hack.

[ThermionicScott]

I'm a n00b; do those things actually do much? Anyone made a video of tire savers in action?

- Scott

[jbkirby]

I can't say I have ever seen the original thorn pullers on my 1972 International pluck something our of my tires, but I can vouch for 1,100 flat-free road miles in my so-equipped bike. I just ordered a set of each from rootboy since they look so much better than the coathanger and vacuum tubing knockoffs I fabricated! Besides, I want these on my bike with fenders and to replace and retire the 40 year-old thorn pullers in my International without fenders.

[seedsbelize]

I also used them with great success, back in the 70s. I really should put some on my current bikes, as I feel very fortunate to get through two weeks without a flat. I'm learning to embrace the flat though, as i once learned to embrace the hills.

[rootboy]

There must be a veritable cornucopia of thorny stickers and such on the Yucatan, Seedsbelize. Mr. Natural would definitely "embrace the flat", but I have a feeling Flakey Foont might employ some tire savers on his ride.

[rootboy]

Angles, and they're noticeably wider. That's a nice hack.

Thanks Cap'n. Yes, I made them longer and a bit wider in order to accommodate fenders. Funny, I had seen these before shown on some vintage parts sites but never put two and two together. But, I obtained my first bike with fenders just a year ago.

[noglider]

I'm a n00b; do those things actually do much? Anyone made a video of tire savers in action?

- Scott

There's no proof either way, so it's a matter of faith. I doubt they help much. They go in and out of style. I used them many years ago.

[rootboy]

I'm a n00b; do those things actually do much? Anyone made a video of tire savers in action?

- Scott

You mean, like a high speed camera shooting a super slow-mo video of these gizmos actually plucking an offending sharp object out of a tire? I'll get right on that.
Nah. There's no empirical evidence that they actually work. None that they don't, however. Those of us who have tried them and seem to notice a reduction in the incidence of flat tires tend to keep the faith though. But then, I'm biased. I make and sell the danged things.

[Puget Pounder]

How often are you guys getting flats!? I seem to never get any...

[Fred Smedley]

There's no proof either way, so it's a matter of faith. I doubt they help much. They go in and out of style. I used them many years ago.

They definitely knock off Goatheads before they are driven in. Living in Goathead country, that is enough for me. They work best with a smooth tire like a Michelin due to noise.

[rootboy]

How often are you guys getting flats!? I seem to never get any...

Seattle is too clean. Soft things up there. The streets are regularly washed with rain

[Alex Moll]

Scott did a great job with these. Bob and I discovered the originals amongst the spares with the Holdsworth/Harrison find. Later, I found them listed in the 1955 Holdsworth "Aids to Happy Cycling" catalog. They are listed as Carlton Tyre Savers - and notice the penciled arrow pointing at the "for use with guards" version.


Here's a pic with Rootboy's repro, and the vintage original:


I'm not entirely sure these work either - but they are neat, and still a lot of fun to me. I would think they might work during goat head season, and also for larger shards of glass. Most also experience more flats when it's wet (lubrication) - so it might be worth a shot if you commute in the rain. Doubt they'd work with small flints, and not Michelin wires, either.

I'll post some pics after I install some on a bike, or two.

[auchencrow]

+1 Rootboy did a terrific job with these - (truly authentic little accoutrements for your C&V ride) - and around here, the wizened, gray-bearded roadies I've chanced to meet attest that they rode with tire scrapers for countless flat-free miles.

They've given me the courage to go tubular again for my next build.

[Drillium Dude]

How often are you guys getting flats!? I seem to never get any...

You just put a hoodoo on yourself there, PP

Since I had to remove my first pair (from the OP) from the Mondia to install my new-old fenders, I think I'll skip on over to the For Sale thread!

These look great - thanks to Alex for the inspiration and Rootboy for the production!

DD

[ThermionicScott]

You mean, like a high speed camera shooting a super slow-mo video of these gizmos actually plucking an offending sharp object out of a tire? I'll get right on that.
Nah. There's no empirical evidence that they actually work. None that they don't, however. Those of us who have tried them and seem to notice a reduction in the incidence of flat tires tend to keep the faith though. But then, I'm biased. I make and sell the danged things.

They are cool, either way. There's the guy who had a fancy camera setup to capture the Cambio Corsa and Paris-Roubaix shifters in action, so you never know...

- Scott