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

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.

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...

Mr. Tuffy
 

Hate the things!

I don't think you understood my point. I am not particularly in the mood to get another set of Mr. Tuffys after this experience, combined with the fact that I've done pretty well without them.

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.

Not when one is aiming for a vintage tread & skin sidewall appearance. I don't mind the cheaper skinwall tyres, I can live very well with the minute loss of performance on most of these machines. When I want optimum performance, I hop onto my 1983 Peugeot PSV-10, outfitted with FSA RD-80s, Specialized Mondia 23Cs, and an early '90s Shimano 600 STI group.

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?


Pretty much answers my question in the first place ;) . Seriously though, I would like to solicit a few more opinions before I mount the tubes once again.

-Kurt

Kevlar is put beneath the tread in the tire's casing on lots of tires for puncture protection, whether the bead is kevlar or wire. These are usually referred to as kevlar-belted tires. Kevlar beaded tires use kevlar for different reasons: weight savings and foldability-

http://www.gsn.com/buzz/images/smilies/pissed.gif http://www.gsn.com/buzz/images/smilies/BangHead.gif http://www.gsn.com/buzz/images/smilies/pissed.gif

12 months to figure this one out.

-Kurt

???

For 12 months, I've been reading "Kevlar belted" as "Kevlar beaded." I'm sure you can see where my confuision comes from.

-Kurt

I've had a set of Tuffies for at least 12 years and they are still supple.

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.

Ah, got it- :)

Answers my question. Out they go.

-Kurt