Tyre info please !

[LUCKYJIM]

Hi everyone,
Just started biking about 6 months ago and am having real tyre trouble.
Every ride I go on, trail quests, Tollymore, Castlewellan etc etc I get a flat or two !! I have tried several tyres that have been recommended to me, like Continental, but to date still getting punctures. Is it all down to bad luck, bad tyre choice or are tyre pressures that critical ?Maybe my fat ass just too heavy?
Any help would be greatly appreciated as I am close to spending the price of the bike in tubes, tyres and repair kits.
Thanks :banghead:

[Girvan]

What psi are you running?, if problem persists a heavier duty tube might help like maxxis DH tube or even self healing.

[Girvan]

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=7992 - self healing tube, best I tried and not too heavy unlike more popular brands.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=5418 - maxxis DH tube super thick, bomb-proof.

[barry_kellett99]

are you sure the puncture are from pinching or foreign objects penetrating the tires?
Check the rim tape on your rim, make sure there are no sharp bits inside your rim that could be doing it, or protruding spokes.

[Steveb]

First off, what are the wheels, tyres, tubes, PSI and bike?

Next, what weight are you?

Next in which situations are you getting the flats: Randomly, on rocky descents, fast flat sections?

[LUCKYJIM]

Thanks Girvan,
Will have to try the tubes but dont think they would have helped the past couple of times as the tyres were destroyed.
Would tyre pressure be a major factor in stones etc causing punctures as opposed to thorns?
I dont know what pressure I am using as my guage does no work on presta valves. Will have to sort that out ASAP.

:)

[Girvan]

just get an adaptor and pump up with garage air compressor, psi should be about 35 40 ish if the tyres are shredded a dual ply tyre should help again maxxis have top heavy duty tyres high rollers seem to be the do it all fav at minute.

[LUCKYJIM]

Bike- Felt Q720
Wheels- Standard WTB SX24
Tyres Destroyed to date- Kenda ??, Continental Mountain King 2.2 (Not black chili compound), Panaracer Fire Sport 2.1 and a Michelin Wildgripper that I was given.
Tubes- All continental not sure what type.
Tyre pressure- Not sure as I have no guage at the moment that fits the valves.
All flats got randomly cross country, forest trails, downhill.
Weight- Lets just say I am slightly the wrong side of 16 (not kilos or pounds) hence the cycling.

[MrNuts]

Hi Luckyjim and welcome.

Since running high rollers with just normal tubes, i run at 40psi and get no punctures to talk about, i do tolly/rostrevor and xc stuff. I'm now 14st was 16st, but as said abouve check your rim tape, it could be as simple as that.
BTW get a decent track pump for £40, the price of one good tyre and something you never wear out.

[Girvan]

dont put the scud on yourself lol

[MrNuts]

dont put the scud on yourself lol

Thanks;)

[Cyclone]

go out and buy yourself some talcumpowder,pull your tubes out
and give them a good coating aswell as the inside of your tyres
put everything back in place and inflate to desired psi and give it a go.
this gives an extra barrier between tyre and tube on failing that convert
to tubeless!!!

[tony07]

£40 track pump??? Youd get a decent one cheaper than that would you not?

[Cyclone]

you'd get a digital pressure gauage for even less

[ryan]

Talcum? Right enough?

[Steveb]

Bike- Felt Q720
Wheels- Standard WTB SX24
Tyres Destroyed to date- Kenda ??, Continental Mountain King 2.2 (Not black chili compound), Panaracer Fire Sport 2.1 and a Michelin Wildgripper that I was given.
Tubes- All continental not sure what type.
Tyre pressure- Not sure as I have no guage at the moment that fits the valves.
All flats got randomly cross country, forest trails, downhill.
Weight- Lets just say I am slightly the wrong side of 16 (not kilos or pounds) hence the cycling.

Most likely then the problem is too low a pressure or as mentioned, a problem with the wheel.

When you try to squish the tyre with your thumb, how much can you squish it by?

[LUCKYJIM]

I can only squash the tyre about 3-4 mm maybe they are too hard?
What should I be running the tyre pressure at?

[Tiff]

I can only squash the tyre about 3-4 mm maybe they are too hard?
What should I be running the tyre pressure at?

If you can squash it a wee bit with your thumb then it should be about right - are you using the right width of inner tube for your tyre?

if not make sure there is nothing sharp in the rim itself and that there is rim tape

[keyserni]

Probably already been said but check your rim tape, maybe put some thicker stuff on.

[Michael]

Ghetto tubeless maybe help?

[Conor]

No such thing as too soft. Dual Ply highrollers and ghetto tubeless :)

[enthused]

If you don't want to go the ghetto tubeless route you could just get some Dual ply highrollers and fit them with downhill tubes - it'll be noticeably heavier than what you usually run, but dependability, even at low (20 psi) pressures on rocky stuff, is probably more important than a few extra grams here or there.

Make sure your rims are OK first though - just in case there is a rogue spoke sticking through or something...

[Girvan]

I personaly would also switch to schrader valves, presda were nothing but a pain in the arse for me hated them with a passion, just a drill, a file and some emery paper will sort valve hole in rim.

[StiofÁn]

Probably already been said but check your rim tape, maybe put some thicker stuff on.


Aye i can relate to that. I got 3 flats in one week just from dropping of a 4 footer onto concrete. Checked all of the above that has been mentioned to no avail.

The problem turned out to be thin Rim Tape which allowed the eyelet screws to puncture the tube.

Problem solved after i fitted thicker rim tape :)

[Girvan]

I had real rough rims at one point and just bodged with duct tape worked a treat nice n thick and dirt cheap too, student advice to cut the price ;) next up how to feed a family on puff pastry and pedegree chum

[LUCKYJIM]

Hi again,
Put on a new Continental Mountain King Protection tyre and tube.
Set pressure to around 38-40 psi and have done 2 incident free rides to date.
Thanks for the advice. Seem to have been running on too much pressure as the bike does not bounce around as much and is more responsive and comfortable to ride.
Cheers
Mike:)