Tire Liners - Must have for the commuter?
 

How many of you use tire liners? I do and I haven't had a flat for about 2 years. The last time I had a flat it was because of a thorn that went though the side of the tire.

I put a pair of Mr. Tuffy on all my bikes and it believe it is very important especially if your bike is a commuter. These tire liners are cheap and can last for 15-20 years as some people keep on changing them from bike to bike.

Many say that they slow the bike down a bit though I haven't really noticed this nor do I understand why since they practically weight nothing but then again I ride a hybrid/commuter that is always loaded with stuff.

I tried tire liners for a while. Then I just started getting a better grade of tire.

I can't live without tire liners. I ride on some nasty streets. I once tried some Armadillos, but got a couple of flats and eventually gashed 'em well before the tread wore out.

I do have a set of sewups for pleasure rides. I have to remind myself to avoid glass...

I go over the Sepulveda Pass which runs over the Santa Monica Mountains- it is total wilderness between suburbs of Los Angeles- and the road is horrible. Glass, rocks, sheet metal. Grrrrr.

I spent $30 on gators.... flat within a month. I need to get to work- not fix a flat everyday. So I called Scwalbe because their website didn't have much for 23/700 (I know- part of the problem). The guy said they have a new 23 size tire I would like- but they are $75. I have had it for a month and no problems so far.

This is the one for the 25:
http://www.everybicycletire.com/shop...dd-folding-622

I use them on some bikes, not on others.

I'm not touching the wheels or tires on my '66 Raleigh 3-speed. One tire is still original I think. I've run it through all kinds of stuff and not flat yet, knock wood.

I bought a pair for my bike (a Jamis Satellite). I only got around to putting one in the rear wheel. I didn't notice any increased rolling resistance. I strippid the threads on a pedal arm and had to bring it into the shop. Lo and behold the guy there noticed the tire had to be replaced, also. The little slice probably occurred before I put the tire liner in, however. I didn't ask if the tire liner was re-installed, I was just happy to get my bike out of drydock. Performance Bike was offering a buy one item get one 10% off, so I bought a pair of 700x23 Gatorskin tires. They're in my room waiting to be put on!

I use Tuffy liners on three of my bikes and I can say that it has been three years since I can remember having a flat.

isnt it considered bad luck to talk about flats?

oh dear.. now i just jynx'd myself

I've found tire liners to be way more of a pain than they're worth. Granted I'm sure they've changed/improved the design since but I even saw a tire liner wear through a tube once causing a flat...

Personally I'll go for a high quality tire. I've had great luck with armadillos. Not so great luck with Gatorskins. And pretty good luck with Panaracer Pasela Tourguards. I've been riding Schwalbe Marathon winters since about mid-december and haven't had any issues there either.

I haven't had a flat in a few years... *knocks on wood* most of that riding done at 28c Armadillos. :thumb:

I go for high quality tires and tire liners. I mean, what the heck. I hate flat tires. I had about ten or twelve flats in 2008, but none since November or so.

I use the cheapest tires I can buy with no liners and flat no more than once a year or so. it totally depends on your conditions. There are almost no road hazards on my route. For the last 2 years the only flats I've had have been my fault (screwed up the tire or tube mounting it, or used a bad rim strip), not due to road hazard punctures.

So far I've found that my 'dillos and my Hard Case Lites are good enough. But that's only after 3 months (about 700 miles).

My commute is almost all city/suburban streets, but there's occasionally some nasty stuff in the bike lanes.

When I used to live in SoCal I ran the thicker "thorn proof" tubes. And I don't mean those flatless solid foam style tubes, I mean the ones that are just made out of thicker rubber.

I've used tire liners before and learned to not like them. They're a hassle to change a flat with, they tend to slide around to the sides after awhile, and assorted other stuff I've seen while changing tires and tubes that people being in to the shop I seasonally help out at.

Good tires, good tubes, both help a lot.

It really comes down to your personal commute route and how you ride. If tire liners work for you then more power to ya. The only way to really know if to give them a try.

edit to add: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/flats.html
Talks about the thorn proof tubes and also some about tire liners.

I've used them, they help especially when commuting on skinny tires. It still better to have a good quality tire though, especially one w/ a good sidewall.

On another note I rode home due to Mr. Tuffy's once. I dropped my chain and burned a hole in my rear tire, and rode about 10 miles home on the liner and a tube patch!!

I don't like liners myself. I use thorn resist tubes (thicker rubber) and Marathon Plus tires.

Not essential in the slightest. Convenient though. Then again, my record for changing a flat on the road was just under two minutes (and with a frame pump no less), so while it is a hassle, it won't stop me from getting to work.

for what its worth, the first day i had slime self sealing tire liners i got a flat. i just buy good tires and line my tubes with old tubes cut down the center.

I believe that properly installed tire liners are a life saver. The only problem (though I myself have not experienced this) is rolling resistance. I wonder how though since tire liners weight only a few ounces. It would just like haveing a slightly thicker tire, no?

I use them all the time in both the road bike and the mountain bike. In this area we have too many goat heads and it doesn't matter what kind of tire you use, the tube needs some armor or it is going to get a hole in it.

Well, yes AND no...like another poster said the tire liners can slide off center or cut through a tube after awhile. When commuting urban I used them for years. Before that 2 'sliced' old tubes in the rear and one in the front as a tire liner. Then discovered Nu-Teck airless and ran them for about 3 years...but they're really slow. Maybe 2-3 mph and my commute is 40 mi rt and I got tired of the 'grind'. But, I'm still a firm believer in them for 10mi or less urban/mild climb commutes. Tried Schwalbe Marathon Plus and quickly bought 2 more sets. My hybrid still has airless, but is used very rarely. The other 3 are rotated w/1 bike used, primarily.

The SMPs have more 'rolling resistance' than a comparable regular thickness tire, but as I was running airless it seemed to me like I'd been set free. Can't imagine that tire liners would contribute to rolling resistance as they're on the inside and don't affect the tire/road contact point. Would think that has more to do w/psi and tire width.

I've always wanted to try airless tires but I have heard so many bad things about them such as how they feel really mushy and how they are hell to put on even for the LBS. losing 3 mph seem to be quite a lot even for an under 10mi ride and especially for moderate paced riders like me who probably average around 13 or 14mph.

Virtually impossible to mount w/o the 'tool'. The ride is definately different, but any experienced cyclist would adjust quickly. They don't feel mushy as long as one orders a psi rating according to one's weight and riding style. My first set were 700x35mm 110 psi. 2nd were 700x20mm 105 psi. The 3d were 700x28 130 psi. W/the 3d set started breaking spokes and realized I was carrying too much weight for this psi rating and tire width. Had I gotten 35mm, which has the same tread width, but a higher profile I think it would have been ok.

But, this was around the time I gave the SMPs a try and have never looked back. My pacing is 15-18mph, but w/t airless it was more like 13-15mph. My commute took 10-15 mins longer w/t airless(I've got a hilly commute), but feel that I'm a stronger rider now as a result of 'fighting' those tires for that time period. And was 'flat-free' for 3 years. :thumb:

Never tried tire liners, since I only average about 1 flat per year. Low mileage and Continental 4-seasons. As always YMMV

Every bicycle I have had in the past 6 years has had tire liners. On my old Diamond Back the nipples stuck out a little bit so if I ran a really high tire pressure without a liner the inner tube would occasionally pinch the sharp edge of the nipple and get develop a small hole. On the newer wheel sets I have the nipples are either much smoother or recessed a bit so that it is not a problem. I use the tire liner for a little extra security though.

I had a pair on a recumbent but I ended up taking off the back one--I just didn't like the feel when cornering. Fast forward a few years, and I found my recumbent, which had been stolen eight months before, sitting for sale in front of an LBS. That airless tire was still on the front and was looking bad. (not enough evidence to recover because I lost the receipt but I betcha Judge Judy would have given it back!):)