Park Tool puncture repairs, Vittoria Rubino tyre woes

homercles

Hi All

I've been having a torrid time with the p*nct*re fairy since getting back in the bike commuting routine last week - 6 punctures in the space of 8 days (approx 185 miles), which compares with 2 in the previous 4,500 miles.

Main problems seem to be coming on my rear wheel where the relatively new (450 or so miles) Vittoria Rubino tyre is cutting up quite badly already. Lots of little nicks etc in the main tread which are attracting slivers of stone and the like. Has anyone else had experience of these tyres? I bought it as a cheapo winter job (about £10 from Parker) but it's looking like a bad purchase.

Also, having some issues with the Park Tool super patches - I've had two now come unstuck despite doing what I think amounts to following the instructions (cleaning, roughing, etc). Any tips or advice for using them and avoiding this? There are few things more annoying than fixing a puncture only to have the tube give way next time you use it because the patch starts to come unstuck.

Most folks here seem fairly happy with them so it may be me?

whyamihere

Patches are a get you home measure really, especially the self adhesive ones. Tubes cost £2, just replace them...

As for cheap tyres, the very definition of false economy. Yes, they're cheap at first, but you'll end up spending more in the long run because they'll puncture all the time, and probably lose grip causing you to die.

Underscore

whyamihere wrote:

Patches are a get you home measure really, especially the self adhesive ones. Tubes cost £2, just replace them...

Can't agree with that. I carry a spare tube to get me home and then fix the removed tube properly with a decent p****ure repair kit. The only inner tube I've ever thrown away was when I put some new tyres on and noticed a small tear starting next to the valve and I've yet to have a patch fail on any of my bikes.

_

P.S. I also carry a set of the Park Tool patches in case of a second unscheduled deflation in a ride but have yet to need them so can't comment on how well they work...

homercles

Underscore wrote:

I carry a spare tube to get me home and then fix the removed tube.

Agree with this bit - I generally have a new tube in the seat pack and just sling that in, but having had so many incidents lately, patched up tubes have started coming into use as spares. Doesn't seem to be going so well though - maybe I shouldn't bother fixing them.

Surely a single small puncture shouldn't have to warrant binning a whole tube though? The self-adhesive patches can't be that great.

tripwire

I used to use rubinos and didn't really get any more punctures than usual with them. They were a very tight fit on my wheels, though, making them a nightmare to replace after fixing a puncture.

What I did find was that they had pretty appalling grip in wet weather, the back wheel would suddenly start to slide when cornering. I don't know if they're still like this, but they used to be made of a fairly hard "plasticy" compound instead of something softer and more rubbery. After drifting my bike round corners a few too many times I switched to stelvios and haven't had any problems since.

homercles

Sounds like the wheel fitting situation hasn't changed then - they are, without question, the worst tyres I've ever experienced trying to get them on the rims. Real thumb-busters. Several gashes on my hand today from this morning's fun and games testify to this.

I'm thinking is a steel-bead issue though. Or are all Vittoria tyres like this? It's kinda put me off trying any of the pricier models.

biondino

My open corsa KS pro evo wotsits are easy enough to put on and take off, fwiw.

Underscore

homercles wrote:

[...] patched up tubes have started coming into use as spares. Doesn't seem to be going so well though - maybe I shouldn't bother fixing them.

Surely a single small puncture shouldn't have to warrant binning a whole tube though? The self-adhesive patches can't be that great.

I have four tubes for my mountain bike (two on the bike with two spares) with an average of 2 or 3 patches on each. Not had a problem with any of the repairs. FWIW, I use Rema TipTop p****ure repair kits, which I highly rate, plus you can buy just the patches for when you've used all the patches in the kit but have only used 5% of the vulcanising solution. They also do dedicated high pressure patches which would likely be better suited to you tubes than the touring type that I use on my MTB.

... and, no, I don't see why a single small hole warrants biinning an entire tube.

_

Ian.B

Homercles,

I've had the same problem with Park patches and have gone back to glued ones - much better, and it's hardly any trouble to put a bit of glue on and wait a few minutes.

I've used Rubino Pros and am quite happy with them, no problem at all getting them on or off - they are a folding version, different from the Rubino which is a rigid tyre. The Rubino Pro was one of the best buys in a review in a French cycling magazine a year or two ago, scored highly on rolling resistance and grip when leaning at an angle and reasonably lightweight. They cost about £15.

Ian