A few questions on tire liners, because I get a lot of flats.

The two I have found are Mr Tuffy, and Stop Flats 2.

What are the negatives on using them?

Do they ride softer, harder?

Effect on handling? (stopping, starting, turning, leaning, traction)

Effect on speed?

Any problem with heat buildup from added friction?

If your tire falls in between sizes, do you buy wider, or narrower? (my case 700X45C)

Can they be installed in flat resistant tires?

Do they really work? (my usual flats are very small stones, or flecks of glass, occasional splinter, once a wire)

Man, do my tubes have a lot of patches on them.......

Do not bother with them . Just get better tires. Schwalbe, Specialized . . .

Thank you.....

Modern flat resistant tires with kevlar belts designed for touring or commuting are the way to go. Just for record, I used Mr. Tuffy's back in the early-mid 90's and the only flat I ever got was an odd situation where I rolled over a large staple like they use to close heavy cardboard boxes and it flipped up on the end like stepping on a rake and puctured the sidewall of the tire where it wasn't protected. Just bad luck.

Tire liners = waste of money, waste of weight, waste of time.

I used them, some years back on the MTB's I had.

The main negative I remember was that the end of the tire strip can rub a hole in the innertube if the strip's end isn't shaped right. The edge needs to be cut to a "blade"-type bevel, not cut 90-degrees (like it would be if you trimmed it off with scissors).

They weigh a bit more. I haven't heard of any "heat buildup" problems. I guess they do ride harder, but you can lower the air pressure a bit to account for that. They can be installed in flat-resistant tires, but then, you are less likely to need them if you use flat-resistant tires.

----

I use Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires on my city/commuting bike. They have no flats so far but are quite heavy and slow, but then,,, any method of increasing the flat-resistance of tires is going to make your tires heavier and slower. Slime tubes, tire liners or flat-resistant tires all add weight.
,,,,,,,
Some people will have you believe that a lightweight paper-thin tire with a paper-thin layer of kevlar will do wonderous things for flat-resistance. I have tried them and found otherwise. You can spend your money as you please, but I use a pair of thick heavy tires.
~

They do work for people who will be riding tires until they are falling apart. I have rode tires where I could see Mr Tuffy through the gashes. Are you that stupid and cheap, then buy Mr tuffy like meeeee.

There may be a problem with holes where the tube hits the strip, I am not sure if it is the strip, the installation, or bits of glass making it through the tire (in my case very worn) and traveling around the strip to the tube.

In theory they add mass exactly where you do not want it, on the outside of the rim (read up angular momentum). On the other from your posting I assume the "Tour de France" is not what you are up to.

If you are getting a lot of flats:
1) Inspect your tires every 3-5 mi and pick out the glass.
2) match the hole in the tube to the place on the tire above it. Check that area very carefully, you might have something tiny like a mini staple embedded there.

I have stop flats on my 700x38c wheels and have not had a flat since they were installed almost 2 months now , I am up the curb to the road to the median to the road to the median all over the place stickers , glass, bolts you name it and so far not even a pound of air added. I haven't noticed any diff but I am usually thinking about whats coming at me

I have been using Mr Tuffy for years now.
Even my Panaracer Pasela TG's were getting flats pretty often. Threw in some Mr Tuffys and haven't flatted since. I ran over a huge brad the other day. Went through the tire but looks like it got deflected by the tuffy as it exited the side wall.
You can run a kevlar tire like the Panaracer TG or Conti Gator Skins and add in the tire liners and still have less weight (and arguably more protection) than the schwalbe marthons. Those suckers are heavy!

Better off with thorn resistant inner tubes the real thick ones(if you can get your size).I have those thorn resistant tubes and only one flat(hit a nail) in 1000 miles.The thorn resistant inner tubes mainly stops penetration of those tiny pieces of glass that produce a pinhole(enough to cause a flat).

But you must dig out any glass when you check your tires for glass.

Tires liners do work, some claim that they make the wheels feel heavier but I think the difference is very small.
You need to use a ligher or candle to heat the end so it softens and loses the hard edge which can cut a hole in the tube if left as is.

Also the liners do not last forever, should be replaced after a year or so since they will eventually crack along the length and rub a hole in the tube.

Quick update on my liners. I have put almost 200 miles on my tires since I made my comment , and I am proud to say that my liners are working great for me no flats yet knock wood . My 700x38c wheels are not any heavier and I still keep the same kick count per minute ... I like not having patches all over my tubes

Just to update I have now 382 miles on these tires with liners and have had no trouble. The first two weeks of this trail to work had 4 flats , since the liners not one flat . Just wanted to inform ...