Punctures and tyres

danfelt
danfelt Posts: 5
edited November 2013 in Commuting general
Dear cycling aficionados

I keep getting punctures lately. I'm thinking this may be because my tyre tread has worn down a lot. I have a Felt QX90D bike with Felt QX Cross design 700x37, 60tpi, wire bead tyres.

1) Am I getting punctures because of the bald tyres?

2) Should I replace them, and if so, any advice on new ones? Maybe puncture resistant? Could I 'upgrade' or are tyres much of a muchness? If I should get ones roughly the same, what do I actually look for - the tech specs etc.?

Any help much appreciated! :)

Comments

  • thespanishadam
    thespanishadam Posts: 341
    If it's mainly road riding I'd be buying these. Vittoria do make some great tyres, I've just replaced a 3 month old Schwalbe marathon rear tyre with one of these. Touch wood everything seems to be good so far.

    http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/TYV ... lding_tyre
  • MickTheMove
    MickTheMove Posts: 98
    Are they pinch punctures or from a foreign object? if they are pinch, then ensure you get your pressure high prior to every ride
  • danfelt
    danfelt Posts: 5
    Thanks spanish adam it is mainly road riding, I'll take a look.

    Foreign objects mick, I always keep the pressure right up (perhaps making them more susceptible to punctures?). I also wonder whether this time of might mean there are sharp thorns etc from trees/bushes on the ground.
  • bedraggled
    bedraggled Posts: 140
    If puncture resistance is the only concern then there's only one choice Schwalbe Marathon Plus.
    Difficult to install and extremely heavy but as close to puncture proof as you will get.
  • danfelt
    danfelt Posts: 5
    bedraggled wrote:
    If puncture resistance is the only concern then there's only one choice Schwalbe Marathon Plus.
    Difficult to install and extremely heavy but as close to puncture proof as you will get.

    I just ordered those very tyres prior to reading your post... looks like I'm going to have fun installing them!
  • anewman
    anewman Posts: 70
    They're easier than people make out. You just have to make sure you push the bead down into the rim to give enough wriggle room to get the rest on. There's a video on youtube illustrating how. I had no problems and this was my first time fitting a tyre!
    http://www.strava.com/athletes/2552679
  • danfelt
    danfelt Posts: 5
    Cool thanks for the help I'll check out the vid
  • tomawest
    tomawest Posts: 10
    +1 for the marathons plus. Ive only had one puncture in the 6 months ive had them and that was an extremely sharp steel flint that had just managed to make its way through the tyre in the same way a drawing pin would.

    Installing them the first time was pretty difficult however they get a lot easier with a little practice.
  • MickTheMove
    MickTheMove Posts: 98
    November is the month that many farmers do all the hedge cutting, as they get no growth over the winter, it does appear a lot of people are suffering at the moment! esp on night rides as the cuttings are harder to see.

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