"Flat"-Out Frustrated.
 

After suffering through two flats in a 3-day period while commuting to and from school last week I decided to replace the OEM Kenda tires that came on my Schwinn with a decent puncture-resistant pair. My 2nd favourtie LBS had a set of Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires in stock for $65 CAD a piece. My experience with the Marathon Winters this past season leads me to believe that this is probably a good tire, but the exorbitant pricetag made me balk. I asked them to price me out a set of Panaracer RibMo tires - and they want $55 a piece for those. I told them I'd think about it, which I did, but today I found myself at my 1st favourite LBS and they had a set of Michelin Pilot City tires in stock for $35 a piece. Sold! I did a search here on BF to see what folks had to say about this tire and so far I haven't read anything negative, except for the weight. That being said they seemed to me to be about the same as the Schwalbes; a check on each manufacturer's website confirmed that they are within 50 grams of one another. Since I'm no weight weenie and a Clydesdale myself this was a non-issue anyway.

My only gripe so far is that they were a real PITA to install compared to the OEM tires. This came as no surprise as I've read similar threads concerning puncture-resistant tires. That being said, I must have pinched the tube with the tire lever because after getting the first tire seated I couldn't get any air into it. At first I thought that there must be something wrong with my pump, so I tried it on another tire and it worked fine. After a few choice words I took the first tire back off, found the hole in the tube, and got out my patch kit. While the glue was setting I mounted the other tire without incident. Once I finally had both mounted I took it for a spin around the block - what a difference! The OEM tires are 38s and have a semi-aggresive tread pattern (meant for light trail riding, I suppose.) The Pilots are 35s and their slick profile made the bike feel smoother, faster, and more responsive. I'll put some real-world commuting kilometers on the bike soon and report back on my experience.

In the meantime, does anyone else run the Michelin Pilot City tires? What has your experience been like? Oh, and I'd still like to try out those RibMo tires someday so I'd like to hear about those, too.

buy the expensive tires. they're worth it in the long run of tubes and patch kits you'd have to buy.

bought two specalized armaillos and havent had a flat in about two months when i used to have 2-3 per month.

*knock on wood*

The RibMo's rock.

Thanks for mentioning the Michelin Pilot City...I didn't realize Michelin had something similar to a Marathon Plus.

I went through the same thing, but I ended up with Marathon Plusses. That was about a year and half ago, I think. I may have had one flat since then. I'm curious to hear about your experience with the Pilot City tires, but even at twice the price I have a hard time imagining not getting another set Marathons at this point when my current tires wear out.

You're welcome. Michelin's car tires receive good ratings from Consumer Reports; hopefully they've put the same amount of R&D into their bicycle tires.

Here's my take: http://www.biketofeel.com/main-blog/...eneral-public/

I would take the Michelins sp and get the marathons They are great for flat protection.

I have the Marathon Plus tires and I am impressed how they rolled over a bike lane completely covered in broken beer bottles for nearly a block. I whimpered but the tires said "what glass?". They were $70.00 CAD a piece. I'm glad I bought them but learning of less expensive tires that are as flat resistant is great.

Gads, this is why I refuse to buy tires @ my LBS. They mark up tires by a crazy amount.

I have the Marathon Pluses.....just got a flat today. I've had them on for maybe 10 trips...at 400 miles...or so. I'm convinced nothing is invincible..save for a solid wheel on my route....

I run my Marathon Pluses with Mr. Tuffy tire liners. I haven't had a flat since last spring, before I got the Marathons. When I need to replace them, I will, with more of the same. Well worth the money IMHO.

Were you able to find them in Maine? My LBS doesn't carry them. I am in the Bangor area but pass through Portland and Disgusta frequently.

I read your blog and agree. Nothing as deflating as a flat (pun intended). Sometimes I feel like a "flat magnet." I can fix flats fairly quickly but prefer not to obviously. I am going to go with some Marathon Supremes as soon as I find a place to get them. I did actually join this forum years ago with my first post asking about airless tires.........So, I guess I would really prefer not to fix flats. What I have done to decrease maintenance is move to a single speed. I am slower but it gets the job done......so really the only other issues are brakes (center pull MTB style) and wheels (touring specific with lots of spokes-I am not a wheel builder)..............trying to make the bike as bomb proof as possible...............because I prefer to ride rather than tinker...........

I had my first flat with my Marathon Supremes today. It was a little (skinny and sharp) piece of wire maybe a centimeter long. I'm pretty sure it would not have caused a flat on my Armadillos or Marathon Pluses. But I had a little over 1000 miles on these tires so I don't feel too bad.

I also found several small pieces of glass that hadn't caused any flats. I think they would have flatted any of the other tires I've had (except the Armadillos).

No tire is flat proof. You have to choose the tire that gives you the right amount of protection for your circumstances. Two or three flats a year is okay with me, six is over the line. Your number may be different than mine and your route may be tougher than mine.

I love the ride on my Supremes and the wet grip is awesome (got to experience that today too, what is it about rain and flats?)

What did you run over that punctured an SMP? I pulled a carton staple out of mine once without getting a flat. I just assume you'd have to run over a land mine to flat one of those tires.

Over the last few months, I've had two Michelin City (700x32c) tires rip at the sidewall allowing the innertube to push out and pop (sounding like a gunshot going off under the back of the bike).

Just something to keep in mind.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=148454

I've been running continental touring plus 700x32 for a few months now and I am very happy with them. They only cost about $ 42 CND each. They are very flat resistent and the only flat I've had so far was a big industrial staple. Glass and stones and other crap has never been a problem for these tires. What I also like about them is that they are very easy to install/ or take off the rims which is very important if you have a flat in bad weather conditions. Before that I was running Panaracer pasela tourguards and never had a flat with them, good value and performance for the money.

It was a nasty little piece of metal, curved with a sharpened end...wiggled it's way in between the tread blocks and got the tube.....I have a particularly nasty section of US RTE 1 that is full of crap on the shoulder.

Ooooh... Thanks. Going to check my Transworld City set now...

Check your brake pad alignment. Multiple sidewall rips near the bead, and that even looking trace-line of sidewall cut around the entire bead, is indicative of a poorly adjusted or worn down brake pad cutting into the tire.

Bicycles and bike parts are marked up horrendously in Canada. Ordering them from tire warehouses isn't any better - the cost to ship them makes the LBS's prices comparable.

Sorry about your luck. The Michelin City is a different tire than the Pilot City. The Pilot has puncture protection on the sidwalls as well as under the tread. Also the Pilot's 5mm of "Protek" should hopefully offer more protection than the City's 1mm.

+ 1 on the RibMo's - - -not the plushest tire in the world, but plenty sturdy and a perfect commuter tire IMNHO. . .run through curb-side crap without blinking. . . .

Have the RiBMo's on my LHT. So far no flats since I bought them back in August (i'm a year round commuter). The true test however comes up during the summer months when there seems to be a lot more debris on the road.

FYI: on my way back from Hanover NH, stopped into Bath Bike and Ski and they had them!!!
got em at a LBS!!!!! no flats yet (though have not ridden them yet :_)
tomorrow for a 40 miler..........