Why do I keep popping inner tubes!?
#1
Why do I keep popping inner tubes!?
Lately, I have been going through inner tubes like a madman! I don't understand why; I'm not riding any differently, not going anywhere unfamiliar, no really rough terrain... I primarily ride around my neighborhood and typically within a 20mi radius of my house, mostly on pavement. Occasionally I will ride through some "rough" patches, like an empty field or where rain has made little gullies in the dirt. I occasionally will "bunny hop" to clear curbs as well...
Today I replaced a popped Slime tube from a week ago and went for a ride. I was probably 8mi into it, when I realized that this BRAND NEW Slime tube had apparently popped too! I made it home, took the wheel and tire off and checked for sharp points but didn't find anything. I submerged the tubes in the bath and did not see any sign of bubbles or a leak...
So what is the deal!? This is very frustrating... I've never had this happen to me before. I'm inflating to 60-65psi as the tire sidewall gives a range of 40-65psi and I'm riding mostly on pavement. I'm 5'10", I weigh 175lbs at the moment..... Any other info you want just ask.
Today I replaced a popped Slime tube from a week ago and went for a ride. I was probably 8mi into it, when I realized that this BRAND NEW Slime tube had apparently popped too! I made it home, took the wheel and tire off and checked for sharp points but didn't find anything. I submerged the tubes in the bath and did not see any sign of bubbles or a leak...
So what is the deal!? This is very frustrating... I've never had this happen to me before. I'm inflating to 60-65psi as the tire sidewall gives a range of 40-65psi and I'm riding mostly on pavement. I'm 5'10", I weigh 175lbs at the moment..... Any other info you want just ask.
#2
Zircon Encrusted Tweezer

Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,016
Likes: 0
From: Marshfield, MA
Bikes: Pivot Switchblade, SantaCruz Tallboy, SantaCruz Solo, Specialized Fatboy, Trek ProjectOne Madone, Fuji Altamira CX 1.1, Lemond Zurich
Lately, I have been going through inner tubes like a madman! I don't understand why; I'm not riding any differently, not going anywhere unfamiliar, no really rough terrain... I primarily ride around my neighborhood and typically within a 20mi radius of my house, mostly on pavement. Occasionally I will ride through some "rough" patches, like an empty field or where rain has made little gullies in the dirt. I occasionally will "bunny hop" to clear curbs as well...
Today I replaced a popped Slime tube from a week ago and went for a ride. I was probably 8mi into it, when I realized that this BRAND NEW Slime tube had apparently popped too! I made it home, took the wheel and tire off and checked for sharp points but didn't find anything. I submerged the tubes in the bath and did not see any sign of bubbles or a leak...
So what is the deal!? This is very frustrating... I've never had this happen to me before. I'm inflating to 60-65psi as the tire sidewall gives a range of 40-65psi and I'm riding mostly on pavement. I'm 5'10", I weigh 175lbs at the moment..... Any other info you want just ask.
Today I replaced a popped Slime tube from a week ago and went for a ride. I was probably 8mi into it, when I realized that this BRAND NEW Slime tube had apparently popped too! I made it home, took the wheel and tire off and checked for sharp points but didn't find anything. I submerged the tubes in the bath and did not see any sign of bubbles or a leak...
So what is the deal!? This is very frustrating... I've never had this happen to me before. I'm inflating to 60-65psi as the tire sidewall gives a range of 40-65psi and I'm riding mostly on pavement. I'm 5'10", I weigh 175lbs at the moment..... Any other info you want just ask.
Check your rim tape. Sometimes it slips enough to one side to let the tube protrude into the nipple cavity. It can be hard to spot.
#3
a student and his bike
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: irvine
Bikes: felt brougham
same as above, probably your rimtape or check the rim itself. once i damaged the rim changing a tire and ended up popping tubes left and right. also keep your psi up after evey ride.or maybe take a diffrent route. good luck
#6
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 976
Likes: 0
From: Flagstaff, AZ
Bikes: Marin Pt. Reyes, Gary Fisher HiFi Pro, Easy Racers Gold Rush recumbent, Cannondale F600
Agree with the others that you should check for misaligned rim tape or a sharp spot on the inside surface of the rim itself.
Alternatively, do you have goat heads in your area? They'll repeatedly make short work of inner tubes, believe me. Seems like you would have found them in the tires, though.
Alternatively, do you have goat heads in your area? They'll repeatedly make short work of inner tubes, believe me. Seems like you would have found them in the tires, though.
#8
Inspect the rim again, there might be a very small, hard-to-spot dent or protrusion. Take sandpaper and give any rough areas (even if small) a slight polish or if dented, get a new rim. Try some new tires, too. Doing all of above should fix.
#9
You can inflate the flat tube to see exactly where it is punctured... then check your tire at that spot to make sure you are no missing or failing to catch a thorn or piece of glass. Also check the tube... is a puncture or is the seam splitting? I once bought some Performance tubes that were all defective and split along the seam. Also what size are your tires? Its hard to tell if you are overinflating or underinflating... both can cause pitch flats.
Is there some reason you like those slime tubes? I just use good regular tubes and never flat. If using slime tubes... don't you just spin the wheel and re-inflate the tube? Have you tried that? The tube should stay filled with air if you give the slime time to set. The whole purpose of those nasty messy tubes is to be able to use them over and over again...
Is there some reason you like those slime tubes? I just use good regular tubes and never flat. If using slime tubes... don't you just spin the wheel and re-inflate the tube? Have you tried that? The tube should stay filled with air if you give the slime time to set. The whole purpose of those nasty messy tubes is to be able to use them over and over again...
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#10
Addicted to Dirt
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
From: Socal
Bikes: Stumpjumper Comp 09, Nishiki Prestige (1990)
Run your hands along the inside of the tire casing to make sure there isn't a thorn or a piece of glass poking through. You will keep getting flats if there is and you don't remove it.
#11
Still kicking.


Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 47
From: Annandale, New Jersey
Bikes: Bike Count: Rising.
Are you using a tire lever to put the tire on? If so, there could be your problem. If not, likely tire or rim strip.
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#12
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 546
Likes: 2
From: NorCal
Bikes: 2009 Surly Cross Check Frankenbike
If you can't find the leak, your tube has not "popped". If it goes flat as you ride there has to be a tiny leak somewhere.
Maybe the Slime is the problem. Is the valve closing properly? Try the water test again. Pump the tube up so it is fat and dunk it, then squeeze it hard, make sure you get the valve under water to make sure it is closing.
Also, try turning the tire inside out and wipe it with a cotton ball or a tissue. If you have a Goatshead thorn in there they will break off and hide in the tire, then poke a tiny hole when they roll under your body weight.
Maybe the Slime is the problem. Is the valve closing properly? Try the water test again. Pump the tube up so it is fat and dunk it, then squeeze it hard, make sure you get the valve under water to make sure it is closing.
Also, try turning the tire inside out and wipe it with a cotton ball or a tissue. If you have a Goatshead thorn in there they will break off and hide in the tire, then poke a tiny hole when they roll under your body weight.
#13
Guest
Posts: n/a
I had a tiny piece of glass in my tire I removed when I got my first flat. Being a noob I drove my bike to the shop and they guy checked the inside and found another shard in the inside of the tire he removed before putting a new tube in. Then the new tube off the shelf he grabbed was bad...
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