PUNCTURES!

barry_kellett99

A guy at work is getting constant punctures on his new Ridgeback Genesis bike. Continental Ultra Race Folding 700x25 tyres (puncture resistant belt)

Has anyone used these tires? Their puncture resistant belt may as well be an invisible forcefield belt. I ride the same route on narrower Bonty tires and very rarely puncture and the only times I have is when I haveI encountered broken glass

Any recommendations he should changed to? Specialized armadillo range?

giant_man

Schwalbe Stelvio or Michelin Krylion Carbon for my money. You could try Conti Gatorskins but there are varying comments about them. I used them for two winters and found them no worse than any other 'puncture resistant' tyre. The're better when new of course.

alfablue

I find Conti's generally puncture prone, I think in part due to the soft rubber compound. I have used Specialized All Conditions Pro tyres for 4k miles without punctures. These have puncture protection but are not Armadillos, and I think the handling and grip are better as a result. Having the correct tyre pressure is obviously important - these go up to 125psi, I use 110 (limited by the rim to 113psi).

TheGreatGatsby

I use and have done for about 4 months (4,000+ miles) Michelin Krylion Carbons and haven't had a single puncture with them. They're not too heavy, have a good grip despite looking like slicks and come in a variety of colours so you can match em to your frame

Gats

on the road

Ask him what innertubes he's using, whether they're the extra light or something. I remember years ago I had extra light innertubes and I kept on getting punctures, more then one time on each ride and when I put the old standard innertubes back in I stopped getting punctures, so it could be that the innertubes are either too knackered or too light.

Down the Road

why not recommend him the tyres you use. They obviously work as you ride the same route.

alfablue

Down the Road wrote:

why not recommend him the tyres you use. They obviously work as you ride the same route.

who me? Yes I do recommend them! They are fantastic, light, grippy, puncture-proof in my experience.

barry_kellett99

alfablue wrote:

Down the Road wrote:

why not recommend him the tyres you use. They obviously work as you ride the same route.

who me? Yes I do recommend them! They are fantastic, light, grippy, puncture-proof in my experience.

Because nowhere local sells Bonty tires

I'll tell him to get decent tubes while he is at it.

ademort

Reading the above, there are plenty of suggestions from other members as regards which new tyres he should choose, but before you tell him to buy any type of tyre ask him if he has rim tape on his rims and does he look to see where the punctures occur on the inner tube in relation to the rim itself. I had a colleague at work with the same problem, he bought his very first racing bike, and constantly getting puncture, i asked him if he has rim tape on his rims,"" whats that he said "'I had a look with him during our break and there was no rim tape on the rims, when he got home he checked the inner tubes he still had and the hole was in the same place. All of his punctures where caused by one spoke that protruded out just a fraction too much.

barry_kellett99

I can't believe that ridgeback would ship bikes with no rim tape on the wheels, but I better get him to check just to be sure.
He believes it is the rim side of the tube constantly going, but with the poor reviews I have found on the web for his current tires and their love of puncturing I'd assumed it was them.

Will report back with findings!

ademort

Hi Barry, was it the rim tape after all, or are the tyres just crap as suggested, please let me know. Ademort