Flat proof tires
#1
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Flat proof tires
I have to ride on a road covered with glass everyday and the amount of flats I get anymore is just ridiculous. What would be the best solution for preventing anymore flats? I read a little bit about air free tires but I guess they slow you down some, but never found how much. I bike long distances (150 miles max) but don't ever race.
#2
Senior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 155
Likes: 2
From: Bay Area, CA
Bikes: 1989 Miyata 618GT, 1991 Koga Miyata FullPro ex-Tulip
Well, I don't think they'd be called "flat-proof" but I've ridden over LOTS of glass with my set of Gatorskins, and so far, knock on wood, no flats. Just did a nice half-mile of glass-littered road this morning in Oakland to prove their mettle.
#4
Make sure you don't still have shards of glass embedded in your tire. These will cause repeat flats.
I don't have to deal with such hazards, so I can't recommend any good tires. But whatever you do, DO NOT get airless tires. They are total junk. https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_aa-l.html#airless
I don't have to deal with such hazards, so I can't recommend any good tires. But whatever you do, DO NOT get airless tires. They are total junk. https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_aa-l.html#airless
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 6,682
Likes: 4
From: Above ground, Walnut Creek, Ca
Bikes: 8 ss bikes, 1 5-speed touring bike
you havn't mentioned whether or not you have tried any remedies as yet.
choices are special belted tires, tube goo, tire liners. possibly others.
if you are the belt and suspenders type you could try all three. i think if things were bad enough i might consider all of them, or possibly carrying my bike through the worst of it...
choices are special belted tires, tube goo, tire liners. possibly others.
if you are the belt and suspenders type you could try all three. i think if things were bad enough i might consider all of them, or possibly carrying my bike through the worst of it...
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 8,687
Likes: 297
... But whatever you do, DO NOT get airless tires. They are total junk. https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_aa-l.html#airless
They do ride hard though, and are a bit squirrely on cobbles. But certainly flat proof.
Softer compounds are supposedly worse in terms of rolling resistance. But for a commuter I'd rather take 5 known minutes extra than the unknown hassle of a flat.
#7
Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Southern California
Bikes: Gary Fisher Big Sur, Giant OCR2, Specialized Langster, Felt Z85
I have no experience with flat proof tires but... I swear by Specialized Armadillo tires with Forté Thorn Resistant tubes. I was a commuter for 9 years over some pretty rough conditions. In my experiences, this combination worked best. One stretch I went 2 years without flatting on my commuter. I use this combination on my S/S and road bike now.
Last edited by Knale; 07-02-11 at 05:58 AM.
#8
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,987
Likes: 709
From: Boulder County, CO
Bikes: '80 Masi Gran Criterium, '12 Trek Madone, early '60s Frejus track
As long as a tire involves pressurized air, there is no such thing as a flat-proof tire. With goo, slime, belts, and special tires you're just buying time to find the the cause of a puncture before it causes any damage.
#10
See if you have room to put a wider tire in the frame. Wider tires are naturally more resistant to punctuses. Its a simple pounds of force per square inch thing. Then go for some quality tires with puncture protection built-in. Modern anti-flat protection is tougher than Kevlar!
#11
You might want to consider tougher tires and tire liners (flat sheet of material that is sandwiched between the tire and tube) since they prevent debris from getting to tube. They are reasonably light and not messy (like slime or other tube sealants). "Thorn proof" tubes are usually just thick wall inner tubes that may give you an extra millimeter of material, but seems like a few more rotation of a the object in the tube would eventually pierce the tube. Slime is a semi fluid gel that coats the internals of the tube, so any punctures would be sealed.
The number one defense should be preventing debris from penetrating the tire (consider Continental Gatorskins, Specialized Armadillos or Bontragers "Hardcsae" line of tires)
The second line of defense should be preventing debris from touching the tube (tire liners)
The number one defense should be preventing debris from penetrating the tire (consider Continental Gatorskins, Specialized Armadillos or Bontragers "Hardcsae" line of tires)
The second line of defense should be preventing debris from touching the tube (tire liners)
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Artfahie
General Cycling Discussion
24
06-07-16 09:24 PM







