Too many punctures!

Bassjunkieuk

Just seeking some advice here after having my 5th or 6th slow puncture in about 2 weeks!
To save on roadside repair time I carry a spare inner tube with me so I can just do a swap over and take the punctured one home to repair in the evening.
After pulling the inner tube out of the tyre I have a feel around the inside to make sure no sharp bits are left in there that could puncture the new tube.
The puncture have also alternated between the front and back wheels and when I come to repair them are at different places each time!

What I really wanted to know is wheather I have just been REALLY unlucky or do I need to start looking into new tyres? I ride a Giant SCR 3.0 with the factory fit Michelin Dynamic tyres on. I've had the bike since christmas last year and probably cover about 400 miles a month, so I wouldn't have expected them to have worn out! I check the tyres each week to ensure they are up solid (more so recently with this spat of slow punctures!) and normally run them around 100PSI.

If new tyres are recommended do any of you have any recommendations? I've looked at the Michelin Pro2 Race tyres as they have come up as being quite reliable on here before but wanted to double check before I go dropping £50 on some new rubber! The bike is used for commuting through town so I normally only have to contend with potholes and the usual road debris, which I am do my best to try and avoid!

dondare

Time to switch to Schwalbe Marathon Plus.

dirk_van_gently

I too went through the hell you are experiencing, and got so fed up with the whole deal that I was on the point of quitting commuting by bike.
A little over 3 weeks ago, I fitted some Vittoria CX tyres, they do run a bit firm, but fast. I have pun(+ured since fitting them, but it was a bit of a freak, piece of razor sharp metal, no bigger than .5cm long. It only just managed to penetrate the tyre, the kevlar belt keeping it at bay, resulting in a slow puncture.

So needless to say that is
My tuppeneth.

karl j

Do you regularly check around the outside for any bits of stones, glass etc stuck in ?

I shouldn't have thought new tyres would wear out in c.2000 miles

if they're pumped to a decent pressure, which you say they are, i'd have to agree with dd and say its time for you to invest in some new tyres. Schwalbe marathon plus's or Specialized armadillo's are pretty well thought of . (you'll need to check the outside of Armadillo's occasionally too - you'll be amazed how much they can pick up)

jairaj

I recently had a similar problem but i had only just changed my tires so didn't want to fork out for some new ones again. So i got some of this instead:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5300003783&N=Panaracer%20Flataway%20Tyre%20Liner

Its just a kevlar tape that you put on the inside of your tires, I don't really notice any more weight or rolling resistance. A bit expensive at £10 per tire but cheaper than new tires? haven't had any punctures so far but have taken a few thorns out that stuck into the tire but not made it through the kevlar.

jairaj

I recently had a similar problem but i had only just changed my tires so didn't want to fork out for some new ones again. So i got some of this instead:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5300003783&N=Panaracer%20Flataway%20Tyre%20Liner

Its just a kevlar tape that you put on the inside of your tires, I don't really notice any more weight or rolling resistance. A bit expensive at £10 per tire but cheaper than new tires? haven't had any punctures so far but have taken a few thorns out that stuck into the tire but not made it through the kevlar.

jairaj

I recently had a similar problem but i had only just changed my tires so didn't want to fork out for some new ones again. So i got some of this instead:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5300003783&N=Panaracer%20Flataway%20Tyre%20Liner

Its just a kevlar tape that you put on the inside of your tires, I don't really notice any more weight or rolling resistance. A bit expensive at £10 per tire but cheaper than new tires? haven't had any punctures so far but have taken a few thorns out that stuck into the tire but not made it through the kevlar.

tomfoolery

dondare wrote:

Time to switch to Schwalbe Marathon Plus.

Seconded. Fitted these to my wife's commuter, then recommended to my mate, and then finally my bike (after the others had checked them for me!) - none of us have had any punctures since (that's many man/woman months later).

Bassjunkieuk

Thanks for the advice so far, I've heard good things about the Marahton Plus's and those Vittoria CX tyres look nice to (especially as I can get a red/black beading to match my bike!)
Gonna have a look over my options this evening and hopefully I might be able to sort something out!

spencer-far-i

Dirk Van Gently wrote:

I too went through the hell you are experiencing, and got so fed up with the whole deal that I was on the point of quitting commuting by bike.
A little over 3 weeks ago, I fitted some Vittoria CX tyres, they do run a bit firm, but fast. I have pun(+ured since fitting them, but it was a bit of a freak, piece of razor sharp metal, no bigger than .5cm long. It only just managed to penetrate the tyre, the kevlar belt keeping it at bay, resulting in a slow puncture.

So needless to say that is
My tuppeneth.

Sorry to (temporarily) hijack the thread!

What do you think of the Continental GP4000 S tyres? I've got a big ride coming up and want something fast AND puncture resistant, these have been getting good reviews. I punctured one of my Spesh Roubaix tryes last week and have lost fatih in them, so I'm keen to make a change soon.

PS. I think I've figured out the quote at the end of your posts. Are you a Stairgate fan?

Belv

I have found no cure, but Marathon +'s were the only thing that improved my situation. The narrowest size they come in is 700x25.
On a positive note, i had less punctures in the summer!

DavidTQ

My Giant SCR 1 had kenda kontenders fitted as standard, after about 2000 miles I started getting a lot or punctures predominantly at the back but a few at the front as well. by 2500 miles I had, had enough. (3 punctures in the last two days on the old tyres...) I couldnt spot why I was getting so many punctures, but then compared my front tyre profile to the rear and realised the rear tyre had a good 2mm less rubber along the edge thats in contact with the ground, it has become square across the section thats incontact with the ground instead of round... the front tyre I realised was also worn but not AS badly.

I replaced the tyres with continental GP4000s's havent had a puncture since.. The bike feels far better in the wet and around corners. I got the tyres on offer from pro bike kit I believe, well worth the money. I dont think puncture proof tyres were what was needed just tyres with a bit more rubber

Bassjunkieuk

Just had a quick look over the outside of my tyres on my lunch break, can only really see about 1/3 of each as I cba to unlock it, but I can see some rather un-inspiring holes!
Is looking like the nice people at wiggle might be getting some more of my hard earned money soon......

dirk_van_gently

Are you a Stairgate fan?

Guilty as charged, Spence, now pay careful attention to the avatar :P

Bassjunkieuk

Just a quick update!
I managed to get my hands on some Shwalbe Marathon Plus's during my lunch break today - courtesy of Bike Plus down in Croydon :-)
They where doing them for £21.99 each or 2 for £38 - which was far cheaper then elsewhere online but more importantly one of the few places I could find that actually had the elusive 25c tyres I needed! So I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Andrew at Bike Plus for his prompt responses to my e-mail enquiries which helped get things resolved before lunch! I'd highly recommend giving them a try, their on the web - http://www.bikeplus.co.uk/ - or just pop into the store in Croydon!

Gonna fit them this evening and will report back on Friday as I won't be cycle commuting for a couple of days now :-( - but should be able to get out for a quick test ride this evening

Keiron Curtis

Hey Bassjunkieuk,
Sadly I can beat those figures, I 've always been unlucky when it comes to punctures, but over the last fortnight, I've managed to get 7, I only made all the way and all the way back, on my commute twice, in 11 attempts. I'm confident about my tyres. They are Continental Contact Safety System, after I changed to them, it was approximately 3 months, till I had another one, cost me £19.95 each, take a look at www.conti-tyres.co.uk. However, at the same time I had a complete new backwheel installed, because of problems with my internal hub gears, Nexus 8. Since then 6 more on the trot, caused by something on the inside of the rim?? Anyway, Halfords, with whom I have a bikecare plan, are at the end of their tether, each time I've had a puncture they have replaced the tube free of charge, that's alot of tubes. Yet they insist that there is no problem/fault with the backwheel, and tell me if I get another puncture, in similar circumstances, I'll have to take the bike, to an independent bikeshop, and get them to provide a report, as to what is the problem/cause.

But I digress, for our streets, especially here in South Wales, you need very robust tyres, I think I have them, by the way, they come with a 12 month guarantee, Continental will replace the tyre and innertube, if punctured in that time.

cntl

>>They are Continental Contact Safety System, after I changed to them (...)

IIf puncture protection is the main criterion, Marathon Pluses are The Only choice. Sorry.

Keiron Curtis

cntl wrote:

>>They are Continental Contact Safety System, after I changed to them (...)


Do the makers of Marathon Plus offer replacement tyres plus tube,if punctured in 1st 12months?


IIf puncture protection is the main criterion, Marathon Pluses are The Only choice. Sorry.

Cheeky Tosser

Conti Ultra Gatorskins get my vote. Fitted 700cx28's to my roadie/commuter and never looked back

Keiron Curtis

Are these made by Continental?

dondare

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

Just a quick update!
I managed to get my hands on some Shwalbe Marathon Plus's during my lunch break today - courtesy of Bike Plus down in Croydon :-)
They where doing them for £21.99 each or 2 for £38 - which was far cheaper then elsewhere online but more importantly one of the few places I could find that actually had the elusive 25c tyres I needed! So I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Andrew at Bike Plus for his prompt responses to my e-mail enquiries which helped get things resolved before lunch! I'd highly recommend giving them a try, their on the web - http://www.bikeplus.co.uk/ - or just pop into the store in Croydon!

Gonna fit them this evening and will report back on Friday as I won't be cycle commuting for a couple of days now :-( - but should be able to get out for a quick test ride this evening

Good luck! I have a technique for fitting SMPs using cable ties; there is another trick but I doubt that you'll find it easy the first time however you do it. At least they are pretty much "fit-and-forget".

jonginge

Keiron Curtis wrote:

Are these made by Continental?

Conti-Continental
The marathon pluses are from Schwalbe:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... lus%20Tyre

You are getting a lot of punctures, probably more than I've had in several years. What sort of punctures are you getting? Sharp debris penetrating the carcass? Spoke or sharp bit of the rim cutting the tube when you go over a bump? Pinch flats (aka snakebites) by running at too low a pressure?

For the former I always check the inside of the tyre for sharp objects when I change the tube. I run my bare finger several times round the inside of the tyre, you can normally feel any sharp stuff. Then I check the outside for cuts or embedded stones, glass, thorns etc

For that number of punctures on new tyres and wheel I would reckon the wheel is probably at fault. Badly installed rim tape, spoke too long or bit of sharp swarf on the rim. You (or halfords, i guess) should be able to tell from the position of the puncture on the tube...

Bassjunkieuk

After managing to wrestle the Marathon +'s into my rims on Tuesday I took them out for a quick ride that evening and they felt really good. Not sure if I was imaging it but they seemed to roll nicer then my old Michelin Dynamics :-)

I got to give them a proper test earlier today tho on my 13 mile commute and all I can say is I'm rather impressed! My average speed for the journey was still up i the high 15's which is about right for me when I'm not pushing it and the ride seemed a tiny bit smoother, with less vibration from the road. Can't say I've noticed the weight of the tyre's, but I'm not sure if this is due to not exactly knowing what effect it should have besides being more difficult to get up speed - I think the better test will be when I try some of the hills nearby my house tho!