Comments on: Flat Tire Repair – Constant Punctures on My Rear Wheel

By: The Lost Packet

The Lost Packet — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:45:24 +0000

I’m a cruiser nut, and hate punctures. Hence, way back when I was a kid and had my first BMX the first thing I did with it was inject slime into the tubes. I’ve done this to every single bike I’ve ever had since, and to this day (twenty eight years of riding) I’ve yet to suffer an on-the-road puncture. Offroad is a different kettle of fish…

By: Eric

Eric — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:32:27 +0000

I ride a Giant SCR3 with 700X23c Kevlar tires.I’ve had two punctures in less than forty miles with these tires. The amount of broken glass on our meager bike paths is serious and with Autumn leaves the glass is often covered. I’ve discovered that having the necessary equipment to replace tubes on the road is the only remedy for not having to carry your bike home.

By: martin Greene

martin Greene — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:30:20 +0000

Hi, all I can say is that I purchased an OCR2, I trained on it and did around 2000 miles in the first year, i then rode from london to paris the following year, and did the same ride,then sold the bike to a buddy who did the same ride and between us we only had two flats! so about 6000 miles and three trips through france to paris

By: Keith Gray

Keith Gray — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:29:15 +0000

I ride a marin san rafael and fitted puncture prevention strips from Halfords.While riding to work along country roads I suffered a puncture after 5 miles I changed the tube and cotinued after 12 miles I had another puncture . Looking at the tube it showed splits 60 to 80 mm long I think the tube was cut by the puncture proof strips

By: Dick Caley

Dick Caley — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:28:50 +0000

This is the expensive solution. I purchased the Shimano tubless rims and Huthinson Fussion Tubless tires. The set up includes the sealant. You can run these at 85 psi. I have 1,000 miles so far and no flats. I used to average 2 flats per month while riding about 500 miles per month. Not cheap but very reliable.

By: i.b.frank

i.b.frank — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:27:44 +0000

I’ve had as many as 25 flats in a year (they gave up sweeping streets years ago here). I used to use liners, but I found that from time to time a liner itself would cause a flat by pinching the tube. For years, I used Continental Gatorskins, tough tires. But when they do go flat (everything does eventually), they are difficult to replace on the wheel. For the past year and a half, I’ve gone to Bontrager Race Lite tires inflated to 110 psi (about 10 psi under the label) on advice of my mechanic. I have had but two flats — which is awfully good in this area — and one of those was because I rode the tire to death (it started shredding at about 3,500 miles).

By: emil

emil — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:26:11 +0000

Hi-over the years we,ve had rim liners from tape, rubber or plastic and even cloth.If the flat is repeatedly on the underside of the tube and no sign of spoke penetrating through,I would strongly suggest that you switch to regular tubes and put aside the lightweight racing tubes for racing day cause that’s why they’re so very light and thin and not for everyday use.Otherwise, try a different store ,sometimes they might have gotten a batch of defective tubes and are not willing to take them off the shelf until they are all gone.Finally, it has been mentioned befor, locate the spot of the flat on your tire and check the spot for anr particle that might have penetrated from the outside, you’ll be surprised how small a thorn or glass or pin can hide in the rubber so well …

By: Frank Keeley

Frank Keeley — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:25:04 +0000

Here in Scottsdale, Az. we use ‘goop’ inside the tubes (inserted thru the valve stem). It looks like Elmer’s glue, and seals the holes causing the flat.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:22:08 +0000

It does sound like a rim issue. When going with entry level rims they don’t tend to be as well machined, etc. Having had this issue myself….. I resolved it with rim tape and a rubber rim strip over the rim tape (makes for a heavier wheel, but I don’t know that many people that can tell the difference in a few ounces. Sounds like your getting the puncture from the spoke or possibly the nipple. Likewise, have the spoke tensions checked. I know it sounds crazy, but if the tension is too loose on a few spokes… a good bounce can push the nipple, etc into the tube (rim tape won’t save it). If that doesn’t work, I would upgrade the rims to Velocity Arrowheads or Mavic Open Pro’s. Before doing any of this I would mark the location of the hole and see if it’s facing away from the nipple or toward the nipple..(Away from the nipple = tire or road… toward the the nipple side of the tube = rim). Usually tire strips are adequate for tire punctures from thorns but if worse comes to worse I guess you could get Slime for the tires and make it into a snot rocket. However, the tire is pretty entry level. Hutchinson makes better tires (which could be the problem). Me… I usually go with Michelin Lithion, which a very good, or Panaracer T-Serve (I suggest 25c) for my work bike. Good Luck… Personally, I think if you throw a thick rim rubber rim strip over your rim tape you should be alright.

By: Andy Palermo

Andy Palermo — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:20:14 +0000

You didn’t mention what type of hole is being found in the inner tube. If it is 2 holes in one location, then’s it’s snake bite. Clearly a symptom of not enough air pressure. Check the tire pressure before every ride. If it’s just one hole at a time then have the tire and wheel dismantled to see if the location of the hole can be lined up with the point on the rim. Check the area for any foreign object or sharp area. Here’s my favourite trick….1. Get a good quality rim strip and 2. Use lots of talcum powder (or baby powder)and ensure the inner tube and inside tire casing are coated completely, then reassemble. If the inner tube is sticking to the inside of the tire casing the chances of flating just seem to go up.3. Run with good pressure all the time.