New bike, few punctures, need tyre advice!

BintanMan

Hi,

I've had my new FS MTB for a couple of weeks now and so far averaging a puncture every other ride - three times from a towpath, one from the forest. Mostly in the rear tyre but front too.

The bike came with Nobby Evos (non snakeskin) and they do seem rather thin. I have tried increasing the pressure for towpath rides and I thought it helped but I don't think it really did.

I'm not ready for tubeless just yet. Does anyone have any thoughts on a different tyre to try. A couple of friends use Maxxis and say they are great. On my previous HT I had Panaracer Fire XC and never had a puncture!

I am on the heavy side (100kg) so bike weight isn't going to make a massive difference to me at the mmoment. I am a novice rider. I ride a mixture of towpath, forest (Epping) and the occasional trip to Afan. I'm learning fast!

Cheers all,

BM.

zx6man

I always run armoured versions of tyres. The extra weight to me is better than having puncture after puncture.

The Rookie

2 punctures in the last 2 years...

What cause of puncture, thorns will go through almost anything, pinch flat is 90% pressure versus riding 10% other factors.

Repeat punctures in the same place is not fixing the root cause!

MTBUK

Tyre pressure is important as above...... Pinch flats and the likes.... Also.. Lower tyre pressure leaves a bigger tyre foot print so increased surface area available for thorns...... One thing worth noting, this time of year bushes, hedges etc are being trimmed back for nesting. Particularly on tow paths fields and bridle ways etc. so more thorns! Try some slime sealant tubes.... Works for me.

BintanMan

I presume most of the cause is thorns (I only found one still in the tyre whilst washing). The latest one was a very slow puncture and quickly dunking it in water showed up nothing, maybe due to the tube having very little pressure in it at the time.

kevinharley

I've run Panaracer Rampage Folding PR (Puncture Resistant) for the last 14 months ... they were a bargain when I got them (£19 ea down from £38 ... not seen them recently at that price). Its a good allrounder tyre ... and have not had a puncture in all that time, despite at least weekly rides in all sorts of conditions.

Have just swapped over to Nobby Nic snakeskin, but yet to ride, so don't know how that will fare ... but given my experience, the Panaracers come recommended ...

I did run Panaracer Fire XC Pro's on a previous bike ... can't recall whether they were PR ... can't recall many punctures, but think I probably had a couple.

My wife's and son's bikes have the stock Conti MK II's ... avoid! Regular punctures, and not really a very good tyre!

MTBUK

I'm 95kg.... I run my tyres at about 45 psi.... Unless extremely wet and boggy. Go to halfords and get some slime tubes about 6.50 each... Worthwhile!

BintanMan

MTBUK wrote:

I'm 95kg.... I run my tyres at about 45 psi.... Unless extremely wet and boggy. Go to halfords and get some slime tubes about 6.50 each... Worthwhile!

45psi, wow!! I must admit mine have been as low as 30 but usually 35. I need to go to Halfords to look at roof bars and bike racks so will pick up a couple of slime tubes.

Nice one. Thanks!

zx6man

before spending your cash at halfords... best roof rack by far and cheapest place

http://www.fordonlineparts.co.uk/produc ... 698518-450

tarbot18

ive got nn evo front and a snakeskin back and havent had a puncture for months (doh) i run them at 37 back and 33 front
and a full suss but then mine only plays at trail centres or mountain routes.

BintanMan

zx6man wrote:

before spending your cash at halfords... best roof rack by far and cheapest place

http://www.fordonlineparts.co.uk/produc ... 698518-450

Cheers for this. The cycle racks look cheap, but it looks like they specialise in roof bars for Ford cars. I might contact them and ask if they do roof bars for other car makes.

pilch

It's hedge trimming time so my advice would be avoid riding where they have obviously been cutting, keep an eye out for what you are riding over, sometimes it's just about being a bit more vigilant and not riding over stuff.

Other than that slime tubes... although i've never found them to be that good, they also do a tyre liner that may be of help. Personally I prefer tubeless, its pretty much fit & forget if you do it right.

The Rookie

Not used them myslef, but a chap I ride with used Halfords slime tubes - once, 2 thorns, 2 flats and 2 tyres full of white shite that had failed to do anything about keeping air in, stick to Dr Slime if you must.