back tyre always going down...getting peed off with it now!!

accrington guy1
accrington guy1 Posts: 5
edited June 2008 in MTB workshop & tech
hello folks,
I am wondering if someone can put me out my misery ( not like that!)... I have a giant xtc 4.5 ( 2 months old from new) which I ride to work and back - all in all about 16 miles a day x 5 days a week along the canal path which isnt the most flat path in the world, however every couple of days I find my rear tyre goes flat for no reason?...It happened before and I put it in halfords who changed the tube etc, got bike back and within a few days flat tyre again, pumped up the tyre in work on friday there and just looked and its already going soft...really pulling my hair out over this one..can someone please help me out in solving this...I have had the wheel off, no punctures, the valve (presta) is on correctly...it doesnt appear to be leaking,,,

someone help !!!!!!!!!!

Comments

  • wallisdene
    wallisdene Posts: 60
    Check the rim tape is covering all the nipples! Check there is no debris poking through tyre and touching the inner tube.
  • danhx
    danhx Posts: 165
    What he ^ said.

    Be a good idea to change tyres to, generally the stock ones arnt going to be the best for whatever riding you do, maybe get something with puncture protection as canal paths can often get thorns and glass on them. Some slicks might be a good idea if the path is made up and not crappy like Yorkshires.
  • so could someone then recommend me a good set of tyres...the ones that are on the bike are the ones that came with it - which are kendal nevegal 2.1's...I prefer the bigger tyre like that so ..
    thing is the front tyre hasnt been touched only had trouble with the back one..
  • Larok
    Larok Posts: 577
    They're good tryres.

    Any chance someone is letting them down. Do they go flat at either at work or home each time?

    What pressure do you pump them up to? Maybe you get regular pinch flats. Try pumping them up to 40/45PSI

    Also I would have the tyre off and be checking the inside of it with my fingers for any sharp things poking through and also the rims for any spurs of metal etc.

    Have you held the valve underwater to check?

    I'm not sure if you have the confidence/skills to take the inner tube out and tyre off yourself?

    BTW you definately have either a slow puncture, (and the object is still in the tyre/rim) or a leaky valve or someone is letting your tyre down.
  • Father Faff
    Father Faff Posts: 1,176
    In my experience the most likely culprit is a tiny thorn in the tyre. To try and locate it take the wheel off, take the inner tube off remembering its orientation in the wheel, pump up the inner tube a little and stick it underwater in the sink. With any luck you'll find the leak, dry and mark with chalk. Then put the inner tube against your wheel in the same orientation you took it out and check the inside of the tyre carcass near where the pucture in the tube is. With any luck you might feel a tiny thorn sticking though - alternatively look for other sharp things round that area.
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  • as above, a small thorn nnipping into the tube!
    what i do is mark the tyre with the wax crayon in the punture kit to show where the valve was so its easier to find what evers causing the flats when you fint the nic in the tube!
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  • beski
    beski Posts: 542
    I seem to get more punctures this time of year (took a thorn out the rear that was about 10mm long last week!) Bridle paths, tow paths etc maybe have had hedges/ bushes trimmed after the first growth of spring & the bl**dy thorns are everywhere, I had about six on the trot last spring, all in the rear tyre!
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  • dave_hill
    dave_hill Posts: 3,877
    so could someone then recommend me a good set of tyres...the ones that are on the bike are the ones that came with it - which are kendal nevegal 2.1's...I prefer the bigger tyre like that so ..
    thing is the front tyre hasnt been touched only had trouble with the back one..

    If you're only tow-pathing, Nevegals aren't the best choice - along with Blue Grooves, they are REALLY draggy - try a tyre with closer spaced tread like a DMR Moto Digger. Semi slicks such as Maxxis High-Roller Semis are good too.
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  • crud_munch
    crud_munch Posts: 158
    tioga yellow kirin, maxxis larsen tt, or go semi slick with dmr moto rt i use them, very good for canal paths
  • toslow
    toslow Posts: 85
    I got some cheapy slicks from halfords and tubes with that slime stuff in them ,worked a treat haven't had a puncture for a while . Oh sh*t said it now, better take a spare tube and tyre to work tonight.
    To find that tiny thorn or something in that tyre try gently rubbing a piece of tissue round the inside of the tyre it will get snagged on the smallest of things.