I've gotten 3 flats within 1200 miles on forte (performance brand) tubes and I think it's time for a change.

I am running them with Continental 4 season tires.

Michelin ProComps are great & they are pretty light, too. Performance has them for $7 and if you get it on sale, it's a good deal. The only flat i've got was from riding on grooved pavement & bombing downhill @40 & hitting a huge pothole, which tore a 5mm hole in my rear tire and caused a flat on both front and back.

Uhhh, wouldn't it be the tires that suck? I've use Conti Gatorskins and they suck! Never used 4 seasons though.

Agreed. I would think you would want to switch tires and not tubes. As stated above, gatorskins are tough. Armadillos are supposed to be pretty tough too. Check your tubes to see where you are flatting to make sure it's not in the same spot each time. and pump up before every ride.

Pinch flats anyone?

I got exactly one flat during the 2900 mile life of my rear tire, a Conti 4-Season 700x25 w/ Performance tubes.

My front tire is at 4000 miles with same tire/tube and zero flats.

Try using standard tubes, no lightweight tubes.. I have had good luck with Pricepoint tubes, they are cheap so stock up.. I also think it may be pinch flats.. I have used the 4 seasons and they have always been a good reliable tire.

https://www.pricepoint.com/detail/174...--Set-of-5.htm

If you need long valve, the IRC tubes have worked well for me, not lightweight but reliable..

https://www.pricepoint.com/detail/144...Valve-Tube.htm

Did you determine the cause of the flat the first time and devised new practices to avoid it? There are many things that cause flats and the tube is the least likely to be at fault.

how can I tell if it's from a pinch or otherwise?

If your punctures are on the inside of the tube you probably have rim tape issues. I use velo plugs.

I've had no problems with forte.

I tried the Fortes a while back--total garbage.

Michelin Airstop Butyl--hold air well, quality tube. They are not the lightest (around 95g) but that's not what you are going for.

Also, I recommend re-taping your rims with Velox cloth tape.

Flats happen. I went the first +7000 km this year with none. Over a period of 2 weeks +600 km had 5. 2 ended the life of the tire, one had less than 200 km. All same brand of tire and tubes.

Don't use Kendas. Had a bunch after the 3 flats during the Pelotonia, nothing but crap. Hell, yesterday, twisted off my cap to pump up before my ride and the whole damn valve tip came off Pshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....


At 6:45am when you are all geared up for chilly ride in a warm house? Nice.

Unless the flats are being caused by valve failures.

Don't switch to Forte Lunar Light's no matter what you do....I sent my wife to pick up some tubes for me and she bought those because she told the guy I sometimes hung out on WW and had a road bike. You can hardly get the tires on with ripping a hole and even if you do they seem to lose like 10-15% of their air per hour....

I have used Performance Forte tubes, including the LunarLight tubes. I don't think they are any more flat-prone than other brands. Yes, you do have to be more careful when installing lighter weight tubes. Absolutely do not use tire levers. Learn to use your palms instead of your finger tips.

Yes, lighterweight tubes do lose a couple more PSI per day than heavy tubes, but most people I know pump up their tires everyday anyway. 10% per hour is just ignorant.

If you need more flat protection, I think flat resistant tires do a much better job than heavier tubes.

I think you'd be looking for tires that flat less, not tubes.

I have the Panaracer TServ Messenger tires and they've worked well - no flats on the outside of the tube since I got them.

If you want the ultimate in flat protection, certain versions of the Schwalbe Marathon tires have the best reputation, though they're heavier, not as nice of a ride, and cost more. Last forever though.

From my experience / reading around here,

- Armadillos provide a REALLY harsh ride but are indestructable (heard, never ridden on these)
- GatorSkins are less harsh, have just as good resistance (have these)
- GP4000S is a good balance between the two (heard, plan on getting these once my tires wear out)

Slightly OT: At how many miles should you rotate your tires ?

0.

Use until rear wears out. Put new tire on front, old front in the rear. Buy tires in triples instead of pairs.

Ah, hmm ok.

You can do whatever you want. Do a search if you don't believe me...

Oh yeah, and if you are really cheap like me you will keep the old tires and use them on the trainer until the rubber is almost entirely gone.

Then use the that leftover for emergency tire boots...

I've heard the GP4000s are either on the same level or below the Gatorskins. The GP4000s are a more expensive, more racing oriented tire.

I've heard the same about the Armadillos, but I've also gotten the impression that the Schwalbe Marathons provide the same nearly-flatproof protection while have a better ride than the Armadillos.

Yeah, the GP4000S (from what I've heard) is a good balance in that they provide a better ride while offering nearly as good puncture resistance. They're my choice for when I need to replace my tires.... whenever that is haha

Also, flat protection has a lot to do with luck and proper maintenance.

You should always pump up the tires every time you ride to the appropriate psi based on your own weight and riding conditions. (more is not necessarily better).

Also, you are just going to get flats if you ride a lot, especially depending on the conditions. For example, when I ride in the rain I basically expect at least one flat just because I know that the bike gods want to upset me...

I had a Maxxis "Lite" tube that randomly exploded on me on a brand new bike. In general I avoid lite tubes because of my weight.

I really like the Innova inner tubes. I tried ripping out the valve stem by hand on an old tube and that thing wouldn't budge.