neilfein

After my second flat in as many months, I'm getting a little disenchanted with the stock Big Apples on my Curve. They ride smoothly, but changing a tube at the side of the road isn't fun. (I was also spoiled by knobbies - I once went 19 years without a flat.)

Since winter is comign up, it's time for some more agressive tread in any case. Does anyone have any recommendations for 16" tires that are somewhat flat-resistant? Unfortunately, full-out knobbies are probably not gonna work, since fender clearance is somewhat tight. I think.

chagzuki

Knobbies are dog**** magnets.
I've never been a hardcore cyclist, never doing particularly long journeys, but I've never had a flat. Having ridden through glass often enough (people love smashing beer bottles in london) I'm not sure what I have to do to get one.

Bunnyhop onto a piece of wood with a nail sticking out, I guess.

neilfein

Bump. Anybody?

LittlePixel

These only go up to 40psi but are more in the vein of what you describe:
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-S...-305)-1638.htm

I'd do a bit of googling for the ISO 305 size - you might find some great knobbly kids tyres
(in pink with a hello kitty tread pattern if you're REALLY lucky!)

rhm

Neil,

I know a string of flats is discouraging, but seriously, I think you just had bad luck with your two flats. I recently had a whole string of flats, like five of them in July alone, so I ordered new tires. I now have one new tire in the drawer of my desk here at my office, and the other at home, and I'm just itching for the next time I get a flat so I can the tire. But ... well, I know I'm jinxing myself by even mentioning this, but... no flats in the last five weeks! OK, so much for anecdotes.

I don't really think you can beat Big Apples. Put half of a Slime liner in each tire, and keep the tires inflated to the maximum recommended pressure, and you'll be fine. Uh, should be fine, I mean.

Rudi

vincentnyc

where do you order your new tires for your ur curve from and how much it cost? links would be great.

neilfein

LittlePixel, the Duro looks cool. rhm, I'm looking for tires with tread not only because of the flats, but winter will be here soon. I'll go back to smooth tires in the spring; more frequent flats are the price you pay for speed.

rhm

I got my Big Apple tire from Bfold in, appropriately enough, the Big Apple.

This is what I got, but I'd also like to try these, or these.

Dynocoaster 

Schwable has a 1.75 and 1.95 tires https://www.gaerlan.com/bikeparts/par...l/wheel16.html towards the bottom of the page.

Dynocoaster 

The Snake skin looks pretty cool. https://www.thorusa.com/dahon/accessories/tires.htm

vincentnyc

what is the difference between 2.0", 1.95", and 1.75" for the 16" tires? pros and cons?

neilfein

The Marathon Winter tires are tempting, but overkill for the kind of snow we usually get in NJ.

The Curve comes with 16" x 2.0" tires. If I'm swapping in knobbies, I'm wondering if I want to go to 1.75. Will the gain in traction from the knobby tread be almost nullified by the narrower tire?

vincentnyc

so what you are saying is the wider the tires, the better it iss?

brakemeister

tire thread
keep in mind that the contact patch of a bicycle tire is like a penny ..... Now put all the thread you have onto that penny.. that is what holds you ....

If you do have deep mud or snow the contact patch almost stays the same , but the more aggressive thread slings mud and snow from the circumference of the contact patch ...

There is the train of though that a smaller tire has a smaller contact patch, and therefore pushed a higher load than a big tire. therefore a Marathon in 16 x 1.5 should be pretty svelte ......

The durometer ( hardness) of the rubber, and a whole lot other "incredients" in the rubber make much more difference in road-holding ....Schwalbe used great incredients in t heir tires, hence a much higher price than walmart bmx tires ....

I am not aware of 16 inch MArathon Winter ( Spike tires ) as I so far only carry the 20 inch version ..

Thor

neilfein

No, I'm saying I'm not certain about any of this. That said, I get better traction with wider tires, but not as much as you'd think. Tread seems to me to be more important. I'm a heavy guy, though, and that certainly helps.

neilfein

Thor, do you have the Marathon Plus Puncture resistance in 16"?

Dynocoaster 

I believe that is the one that I referred to as the Snake Skin in the post above from Thor's site.

joose

I'm worried about getting a puncture in my rear tyre. Although fixing the front tyre looks to be pretty easy, the rear has the gears etc.

As you can tell I'm a total novice. I have some instructions that came with the bike but seriously, is it going to be hard for somebody with zero mecanical skills?

vincentnyc

why is the big apple tires so easily puncture from the post i gather here...on dahon website..it describes those 16" tires as "kevlars." if i go on small gravels which i have seen in pavement in the park...would the tires get punctured?

SesameCrunch

The Big Apples are VERY good tires. The original poster describes two flats in two months - that's just sheer bad luck. He doesn't state how long he's had those tires without any problems. I've had mine on a Downtube Mini for almost a year now with no flats or any other problems. Big Apples are kevlar lined and high quality. Gravel roads in the park in NYC will not hurt it a bit. Just keep the tire within the inflation limits and you'll be very happy with them.

joose

Hi Sesame

Do you recomend get my bike fitted with tire liners? Can I use larger bike liners and cut them down to fit? Or do you consider this overkill?

Ps, does anybody know if these tires are easy to order from the UK?

chagzuki

Big Apples? £14.50 (20 x 2) from Jejamescycles.co.uk

joose

Thanks chagzuki, just one more thing, (20 x 2) does the 20 stand for 20inch? (as i'm looking for 16)

chagzuki

Oh, yes it does. You'll have to shop around for prices elsewhere, it seems.

chagzuki

I tend to use the same 4 or 5 mail order sites for bike parts that offer free delivery (sometimes with minimum order of a few quid). Chainreactioncycles and jejamescycles tend to have the best prices.

www.chainreactioncycles.com
www.simpsoncycles.co.uk
www.parker-international.co.uk
www.cyclesportsuk.co.uk
www.jejamescycles.co.uk

Oh, and Wiggle seem to be offering free delivery these days.