I just got yet another flat due to the overlap of the tireliner. The part that overlaps is a bit thicker and the edge of this tears the tube. I tried cutting it down but cut off to much leaving a gap that would cause the same problem so I just took it out. Anyone else have this problem? To bad I can't just buy some steel belted tires like cars have but spending more money on a peace of bike equipment means lighter and more breakable.

I use Armadillo and Ultra Gatorskin tires with no liners and rarely get flats.

I've been using liners on my fast road bike tires for over a year, only got twice a flat.
Right now I have the Diamante Pros with liners in it with no problems whatsoever.
Corsaire

Never had that issue, what pressure and width tires are you using? We only have part of the equation here.

It's a MT bike with fat tires(26 I think), at 60 psi. I can see the outline of the liner on the tube and the tears are right on it. This is the third or fourth time it's happened. On the rear tire I cut it just the right length so there's not much gap but one side has a rounded end so there are gaps on the side, hopefully it won't be a problem. I took it out of my front tire but the front is easier to deal with anyway.

I've never had a problem with any tire liners on multiple bikes. 15 years without any flats since I installed them.

It sounds to me like maybe the tire liners aren't the problem. My hypothesis is that maybe your tire is shifting on the rim, and pulling the tube with it over the edge of the tire liner. Did the valve stem on the tube show signs of shifting (not perpendicular to the rim)? Were you riding in unusually severe conditions or in a manner that might have caused this to happen? Locking the brakes on a steep downhill, for example?

It is the liner, maybe I'm not being clear. The liner was to long so part of it was double thick. Where the double thick part ends it leaves a very clear inprint on the tube in the rounded shape of the end of the liner. The part where it's double thick pushes the tube down farther than these rest. Maybe the liner is just to thick to use with the PSI that high. I've used these before on different bikes and never had this problem.

hmm, maybe try thorn-resistant tubes.

All liners double over a bit like that at the end, and I don't think 60 psi is that high. The doubled over end of the liner might leave a mark, but it shouldn't cut the tube, unless it's really stiff material and has a sharp edge. I'm thinking those fat tires (what are they, 26 X 1.95 or 26 x 2.25?) have more of a tendency to move around on the rim, particularly if they are under-inflated, as opposed to over-inflated. Alternatively, are your tubes of poor quality?

So, are you talking about the lightly adhesive fabric rim strip that covers the spoke holes? I have never had a problem with that, and mine always overlap a couple of inches.

If you are talking about tire liners like Mr. Tuffy someone at an LBS showed me how to smooth the edges by gently heating with a lighter until you can smooth and feather the edge with your fingers.

Keeping tires properly inflated minimizes the slip-slidin' that can cause some of these problems.

I do the same. I used a belt sander to bevel the ends I think.

I've been using Mr Tuffy for years and years too. Way less flats, especially on the mtb. Any road flats have been outside the Mr Tuffy on the sidewall. I wish I would have bought slightly wider liners. But I've since been using a kevlar belted tire w/o the liner with complete success. Time will tell.

I've been using Mr. Tuffys since they came out and only had the liner wear a hole in the tube once. I've used them on mountain bikes at 40 psi and on road bikes at 120 psi. But if you are using the ones make by Slime (bright ugly green), I had those wear several holes in tubes on rather short rides before I figured out that it was the tire liner. Tuffy's are okay (and needed here in the Goathead Capital of the World) but the Slime brand I'd avoid.

Stuart Black

I put roughly 4000 miles on my Tuffy's last year and had no problems in a road tire at 120 psi. They are designed to overlap, and I didn't do any additional smoothing or triming. They come in different sizes, do you have the right size for your tire?

btw they definately worked. I was getting around 1 flat per week in my Conti 3000's and I put those in and had one flat since ... a stick maybe 1/4" in diameter hit perfectly on the tire to go through and pierced the liner.

I have been using them since 1997 and have not had one flat since then, despite removing more than a few large pieces of glass from the (kevlar belted) tires.

Since I have never had a problem with liners I don't know what makes the difference in them cutting the tube, but I am meticulous in installing them as tight around the inside of the tire as possible; meaning, I make them as long as possible inside the tire before putting the tube in.

You mentioned you cut one, and if I remember the packaging recommends against doing that.

When I read that they can cause flats I started installing them in the rear tire only, since in all my years I've never had a front flat. That might solve at least some of the trouble, if you drive on reasonable roads.



Joe

Exactly what brand of liners do you have?

There are a few different types. It sounds to me like you have Spinskins? They wear out after a couple thousand miles and need to be replaced. They also say to not go below 40 psi in you tires. I found out that going down to 25 psi wears them out faster. BUT, I have never had a flat using thin semi slicks with the Spinskins.

Is the liner sort of yellow with a white edge on it?