flat proof tires?
#1
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 8
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From: Los Angeles
Bikes: Tarmac, Retrospec
flat proof tires?
I'm looking for tires that are impossible to puncture. That can ride over nails, glass, thorns ect. I want some bulletproof, flat-resistant tires. Here my quick story. I live in LA roads can be nice at time but its rare, i mostly ride on paris-roubaix like roads in the gehto with bombs like no others. After rough portions I enter the LA River down to griffith which has lots of debris and stuff. I really hate getting flats I know how to fix them but sometimes I pinch the tubes and them I'm stuck 20 miles away from home
. Also with the daylights saving and school, im usually riding in the dark wich can make it hard to fix flats. What are the best and I mean the best 700 x 23cm -25cm flat proof tires and when I mean the best, I mean the best. Also I have a budget of $60 and maybe even $70. Also I really dont care for weight or speed or comfort or any other factor just protection since I will be using this for training only. The Schwalbe Marathon Plus 25c seem good or the Continental Ultra Gatorskins 23cm, and how about the Hutchinson Atom Comp, also im not doing tire liners or better tubes or going tubeless.
. Also with the daylights saving and school, im usually riding in the dark wich can make it hard to fix flats. What are the best and I mean the best 700 x 23cm -25cm flat proof tires and when I mean the best, I mean the best. Also I have a budget of $60 and maybe even $70. Also I really dont care for weight or speed or comfort or any other factor just protection since I will be using this for training only. The Schwalbe Marathon Plus 25c seem good or the Continental Ultra Gatorskins 23cm, and how about the Hutchinson Atom Comp, also im not doing tire liners or better tubes or going tubeless.
#2
Optically Corrected
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 586
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From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Bikes: 2012 Specialized Sirrus , 2012 Specialized Roubaix Comp
#3
Gunner.
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Santa Clarita, CA
Bikes: Giant TCR, Spooky Skeletor, Pivot Mach 6
I have always done well with Serfas Seca RS. Cheap, relatively light, and good lifespan. I went over 2k miles on 1 set without a flat. I've raced them too and they're a great all-around tire IMO.
#5
Should Be More Popular




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From: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 429
Likes: 22
I've had gatorskins and they're not great to be honest. I got two punctures on the first weekend using them after around 2000 miles I had a nasty sidewall blowout rendering the tyre useless. I'd go for the marathon pluses in 25. They're very heavy but pretty much bombproof. The 25s are exceptionally difficult to get on the rim so maybe get your LBS to change them if you're buying from them otherwise look up the youtube video and hope for the best. My LBS stopped selling them because he said they were impossible to get on! I have 28s and got them on with a bit of difficulty, but the 25s are meant to be in another league.
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 243
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From: loudoun County, VA
Bikes: Iron Horse Warrior Expert, Dahon MU P8, Bacchetta Giro 26, HP Velotechnik Grasshopper
Unfortunately, over your budget ....I don't have personal experience with the durano plus but I do have experience with other schwalbe "plus" tires and they are seriously puncture proof.
https://www.schwalbetires.com/bike_ti...es/durano_plus
https://www.schwalbetires.com/bike_ti...es/durano_plus
#10
The space coyote lied.



Joined: Sep 2008
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From: dusk 'til dawn.
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None were as dependable as Mr. Tuffy.
Wipe your tires often and that helps reduce flats quite a bit. A piece of glass can slowly work through a belted tire or a Mr. Tuffy but if you wipe it off before it has a chance to dig then you'll save yourself a flat.
Be careful when you replace tubes. Make sure you get the offender out of the tire. And go around the tire squeezing it before inflation, making sure you can see rim strip when you squeeze it. If you see tube, try wiggling tire back and forth to see if you can get the tube all the way in the tire. Try putting a little air in there, then wiggling a little more, deflate, wiggle, another blast of air, 'til you cant see any tube under the tire bead.
I sometimes do a 100 mile ride with about 80 miles freeway. If you've ever been on a freeway shoulder you'll know that trip is hell on tires. I bring a patch kit, two spare tubes and a spare tire on that one, just in case.
Last edited by LesterOfPuppets; 01-23-12 at 08:04 AM.
#11
#12
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Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Rocket City, No'ala
Bikes: 2014 Trek Domane 5.2, 1985 Pinarello Treviso, 1990 Gardin Shred, 2006 Bianchi San Jose
Air Free tires
https://www.airfreetires.com/shopping...trial-622.aspx
Wal-mart used to sell some hard foam bicycle tubes but I can't find them anymore. I guess Slime and Stan's sealants have replaced that.
Some company was working on some semi-solid tires to be used in Africa. I remember a picture of one with thorns stuck through it in several spots but the bike was still rideable.
https://www.airfreetires.com/shopping...trial-622.aspx
Wal-mart used to sell some hard foam bicycle tubes but I can't find them anymore. I guess Slime and Stan's sealants have replaced that.
Some company was working on some semi-solid tires to be used in Africa. I remember a picture of one with thorns stuck through it in several spots but the bike was still rideable.
#14
Should Be More Popular




Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 46,194
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From: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
I think the OP needs to clarify whether he wants Flat Resistant tires that still ride nicely (eg. Gatorskins, Armadillos, etc), or if he really wants to eliminate flats, which would require the Mr Tufffy Liners, the no-air tires, or solid rubber.
If he wants "the best" in performance and "the best" in flat resistance, the answer is nothing.
Sorry kid, that's life....it's all a tradeoff.
If he wants "the best" in performance and "the best" in flat resistance, the answer is nothing.
Sorry kid, that's life....it's all a tradeoff.
#15
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 8
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From: Los Angeles
Bikes: Tarmac, Retrospec
+1. I've tried several belted tires. Armadillos, TourGuards, etc.
None were as dependable as Mr. Tuffy.
Wipe your tires often and that helps reduce flats quite a bit. A piece of glass can slowly work through a belted tire or a Mr. Tuffy but if you wipe it off before it has a chance to dig then you'll save yourself a flat.
Be careful when you replace tubes. Make sure you get the offender out of the tire. And go around the tire squeezing it before inflation, making sure you can see rim strip when you squeeze it. If you see tube, try wiggling tire back and forth to see if you can get the tube all the way in the tire. Try putting a little air in there, then wiggling a little more, deflate, wiggle, another blast of air, 'til you cant see any tube under the tire bead.
I sometimes do a 100 mile ride with about 80 miles freeway. If you've ever been on a freeway shoulder you'll know that trip is hell on tires. I bring a patch kit, two spare tubes and a spare tire on that one, just in case.
None were as dependable as Mr. Tuffy.
Wipe your tires often and that helps reduce flats quite a bit. A piece of glass can slowly work through a belted tire or a Mr. Tuffy but if you wipe it off before it has a chance to dig then you'll save yourself a flat.
Be careful when you replace tubes. Make sure you get the offender out of the tire. And go around the tire squeezing it before inflation, making sure you can see rim strip when you squeeze it. If you see tube, try wiggling tire back and forth to see if you can get the tube all the way in the tire. Try putting a little air in there, then wiggling a little more, deflate, wiggle, another blast of air, 'til you cant see any tube under the tire bead.
I sometimes do a 100 mile ride with about 80 miles freeway. If you've ever been on a freeway shoulder you'll know that trip is hell on tires. I bring a patch kit, two spare tubes and a spare tire on that one, just in case.
#16
The space coyote lied.



Joined: Sep 2008
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From: dusk 'til dawn.
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It was back in 1994 when I tried Armadillos but unless they changed a lot since then, a nice tire with Mr. Tuffy rides just as nicely as Armadillo.
I'm rollin' cheap 28s with Mr Tuffy Lites on one of my bikes and I have to really concentrate to tell the differnce between with/without liner.
I'm rollin' cheap 28s with Mr Tuffy Lites on one of my bikes and I have to really concentrate to tell the differnce between with/without liner.
#17
John Wayne Toilet Paper
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Roanoke
Bikes: BH carbon, Ritchey steel, Kona aluminum
Check out the new "Plus" series tires from Continental. I doubt anything else mentioned in this thread (aside from airless tires) will have the flat resistance of them.
https://www.conti-online.com/generato...t_plus_en.html
https://www.conti-online.com/generato...t_plus_en.html
#18
Two-Wheeled Aficionado
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 4,903
Likes: 5
From: Wichita
Bikes: Santa Cruz Blur TR, Cannondale Quick CX dropbar conversion & others
I cannot speak for the road bike Plus tires, but I can unfortunately say that the Conti Cyclocross Plus, despite being very heavy, is nowhere near puncture proof. Goathead thorns go right through the casing.
Installed Mr Tuffy liners, no problems since. The ultra-light road liner is 30g (per, 60g total front & rear) which is not that bad. They're also under $20 a set, which leaves a lot of budget to use any mid-grade tire or the OP might keep using the tires he already has.
The ultra-tough tires I know of also happen to be premium models and I doubt you can get a set for $70 or less, even on ebay or buying from the UK. (Schwalbe Durano Plus or Ultremo DD.)
Nails and large pieces of glass will puncture any road tire with air in it. So in the conditions the OP described, nothing is going to be 100% effective.
Installed Mr Tuffy liners, no problems since. The ultra-light road liner is 30g (per, 60g total front & rear) which is not that bad. They're also under $20 a set, which leaves a lot of budget to use any mid-grade tire or the OP might keep using the tires he already has.
The ultra-tough tires I know of also happen to be premium models and I doubt you can get a set for $70 or less, even on ebay or buying from the UK. (Schwalbe Durano Plus or Ultremo DD.)
Nails and large pieces of glass will puncture any road tire with air in it. So in the conditions the OP described, nothing is going to be 100% effective.
#20
2 Fat 2 Furious
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,996
Likes: 2
From: England
Bikes: 2009 Specialized Rockhopper Comp Disc, 2009 Specialized Tricross Sport RIP
I think the OP needs to clarify whether he wants Flat Resistant tires that still ride nicely (eg. Gatorskins, Armadillos, etc), or if he really wants to eliminate flats, which would require the Mr Tufffy Liners, the no-air tires, or solid rubber.
If he wants "the best" in performance and "the best" in flat resistance, the answer is nothing.
Sorry kid, that's life....it's all a tradeoff.
If he wants "the best" in performance and "the best" in flat resistance, the answer is nothing.
Sorry kid, that's life....it's all a tradeoff.
Something like Schwalbe Marathon Plus seems like a good halfway house. They've got a good plastic liner and seem all but indestructible (I've ridden mine over general road debris, gravel etc on a tricross and the MTB version over all sorts of pointy things without anything going through). But on the downside they are heavy, they make a ride more jarring if you hit anything, and they've got a bit of tread on them that an all-out roadie might prefer not to have.
I'm pretty sure you can get them as narrow as 700x25 and maybe 700x23 although they'll test your tyre fitting skills. I had enough trouble fitting my 700x32 to the tricross.
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#21
Check out the new "Plus" series tires from Continental. I doubt anything else mentioned in this thread (aside from airless tires) will have the flat resistance of them.
https://www.conti-online.com/generato...t_plus_en.html

https://www.conti-online.com/generato...t_plus_en.html

I found it amusing that they mimic'd Schwalbe's "Plus" idea, and even used the same name for it.
#22
Two-Wheeled Aficionado
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Wichita
Bikes: Santa Cruz Blur TR, Cannondale Quick CX dropbar conversion & others
The Conti plus series has been around since 2009 if not earlier. That particular tire, the Super Sport Plus, is new for 2012.
I think the Schwalbe Marathon Plus in 700x25 and 28 is new for 2012. I am pretty sure that tire used to go no smaller than 32mm. But whatever--
You have the Marathon Plus 25mm if you really want a tank of a tire-- 580g. Then there's the Durano Plus 25mm available in wire bead (530g) or folding (380g). And finally the Ultremo DD which is 245g but then you're into the protection of a tire like the Conti GP 4000S.
I can't figure why someone would refuse Mr Tuffy Ultra-Light liners at 30g each, but would consider a >500g wire bead tire.
I think the Schwalbe Marathon Plus in 700x25 and 28 is new for 2012. I am pretty sure that tire used to go no smaller than 32mm. But whatever--
You have the Marathon Plus 25mm if you really want a tank of a tire-- 580g. Then there's the Durano Plus 25mm available in wire bead (530g) or folding (380g). And finally the Ultremo DD which is 245g but then you're into the protection of a tire like the Conti GP 4000S.
I can't figure why someone would refuse Mr Tuffy Ultra-Light liners at 30g each, but would consider a >500g wire bead tire.



