Which tyres to help avoid punctures?

SkyBlueKangaroo

First time post, so hello everyone! I've been reading the forum for a few weeks and seems a great place for advice, so I'm looking for some now....

I don't know if I've just gotten real unlucky recently, but after riding a my new Kraken since November with the fitted Tiogas without a punture, I've had a total of 5 on my last 3 rides - all thorns.

I ride half ashphalt, half trail at the moment.

I ride both tyres at 50psi - is this too high? Can anyone suggest a solution to reduce the number of times I have to push the bike home? Different pressure, different tyres, self-sealing tubes, protective tape outside the tube and/or over the rims, tubeless, there seems to be a lot of possible answers. What works best for you guys?

Not too bothered about weight (well I am really, trying to lose some off my own hulk!!) because I'm trying to improve fitness rather than race.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Anonymous

I ride at about 35psi. Not really sure why it could be happening to you. The only thing i could suggest is not to put the tyre back on using tyre levers. And make sure you have some decent rim tape down.

SkyBlueKangaroo

Thanks. How do I put the tyre back on without tyre levers?

S_J_P

I suffer with thorns during the autumn/winter too, my record being four punctures on a single ride

Take a couple of spare tubes with you, and a puncture-repair kit for those rides on which you have more than two punctures.

There should be no reason why you can't fit a tyre without levers (unless it's a particularly tight DH tyre), just read-up on the technique, but if you're concerned take two plastic levers with you too.

I use a large (2 l) saddle-bag in which I keep two tubes, a CO2 inflater and three cannisters, a puncture-kit, and a multitool and this has seen me through even my worst nightmare thorn-ride (I also have a combined shock/mini pump which is attached to the bottle mount)

Just recently though I've gone tubeless, which is the ultimate in puncture-free riding and so far I've not had a single puncture. I still take the tubes with me just in case though

The tubeless conversion isn't cheap (around £40 for both wheels) but should be well worth it if you suffer with a lot of punctures. Just read-up on the installation technique and watch the Stan's video before you start, and it shouldn't take you more than an hour.

BTW, 50psi is quite high. I've always gone for 45psi maximum (commuting), with 40psi the norm for mixed on/off road trails.

dav1

ever considerd slime tubes?

omegas

Or tyre liners ,they work well. (feather the edges though before you fit them)

S_J_P

You could also look at dual-ply downhill tyres, or the semi-slick armoured commuting tyres coupled with downhill tubes. Either would give better puncture resistance!

I'd still advocate going tubeless though, it would be a similar cost, but lighter and more flexible.

Anonymous

Just push the tyres back on. It probably is that if you are using the levers.

Can be difficult with some tyres but you get used to it after a while.