The Goathead Conspiracy

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09-15-15 | 12:57 PM

martslc

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The Goathead Conspiracy

I’m sure this has been asked plenty but as I’m looking around the web and the bike forums on the best performance/goathead resistant tire all I can find is older posts from 10 years ago. I live in Salt Lake City where goatheads conspire to take me and my 700x23 clinchers out. I only ride on roads, not paved paths intentionally to avoid them but maybe a good tire might help.

Question: In recent years is there one tire that stands out to provide a good compromise between mid-lightness and thorn resistant toughness, a good trainer basicly to provides some help on those freak’n goatheads? -- Continental Gatorskins, Specialized Armadillos and others???

Opions??

Thanks!

Last edited by martslc; 09-15-15 at 12:58 PM. Reason: spelling

09-15-15 | 01:13 PM

fietsbob

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From: NW,Oregon Coast

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get some of those wire things that scrape stuff off the tires so the thorns wont work their way in.

Schwalbe marathon plus tires works for me..

But, I leave the Road bike hung from the Rafters most weeks. daily rides all have wider tires.

09-15-15 | 03:19 PM

SpeshulEd

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From: Phoenix, AZ

Gatorskins have a good reputation, but I haven't tried the armadillos.

I run GP4000s and latex tubes and don't seem to have any more issues than anyone else in Phoenix.

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09-15-15 | 03:31 PM

Darth Lefty

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From: Folsom CA

Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem

Maybe this is an excuse to shell out for tubeless

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09-15-15 | 04:09 PM

DrIsotope

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From: SoCal, USA!

Bikes: Nekobasu, Pandicorn, Lakitu

Continental Gator Hardshells. Only have about 500 miles on my pair, but have pulled 20+ goatheads out of them in those few weeks, zero flats. It's goathead season here-- only we've always called 'em bull thorns.

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09-15-15 | 04:14 PM

dagray

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From: Boardman, Oregon, USA

Bikes: Orbea Orca,Raleigh Talus 29er, Centurion Le Mans 12 speed

I live in Boardman, OR and Goatheads are as plentiful as some of the cash crops.

I went tubeless with the Schwalbe Pro 700x23mm tires.

not only does the sealant in the tire seal small punctures say from goat heads, but no tubes mean no pinch flats for me if I go slowly over a railroad track or hit a bump.

I love the ride quality of these tires too.

09-15-15 | 05:12 PM

Nermal

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From: Farmington, NM

Bikes: Giant Cypress SX

Quote:

Originally Posted by fietsbob

Schwalbe marathon plus tires works for me..

Works for me too. In any case, the goathead solution seems to lie with the tires; not the tubes.

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09-15-15 | 07:23 PM

avidone1

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From: still above ground

Bikes: 2016 Specialized crosstrail comp disc

I'm a New YOrker transplanted to florida, and I never heard of goatheads.
So I googled them, and good God almighty those are some evil looking stickers.
All praise to the tires that can stand up to them.