Yet another query on puncture resistant tires

SionnachOghma

I realise there are quite a few of these threads already, but as the answers usually vary depending on the bike and conditions, I thought I'd be better off posting a new one.

I'm on a hybrid - a Felt QX70 - and sprung my first puncture this morning. My commute is from Leixlip (up Captain's Hill) to City Quay, about 19/20 kilometers each way. I haven't been cycling long enough to be very confident on the roads, so if there's a bike path I use it, despite the awful state some of them are in.

I already have Panaracer Crosstowns on my bike, and in fairness they've lasted three solid months. But I had my first puncture this morning, which apparently was bloody tiny as I couldn't find it and had to walk the rest of the way, and will be spending my lunchbreak in the basement with a bucket of water. I was 90 minutes late for work in the end, and this is an experience I'd like to avoid repeating for as long as possible. My boss would appreciate it too.

Any recommendations on puncture resistant tires? Also, maybe I've heard wrong, but are there also tubes that are meant to be a bit tougher?

Tonyandthewhale

I use panaracer rimbos and I find them excellent, not to heavy, decent grip and they last a hell of a long time. Gatorskins are also supposed to be good from what I've heard although I think they're somewhat heavier and apparently not very good in the wet.

Do you not carry a spare tube as well as a puncture repair kit?

nak

I use Gatorskins on my commuting bike, they are fine in the wet and I rarely get punctures.

If you cycle you will get punctures. I always carry at least one spare tube, and spent time practicing changing them when I started cycling so I don't waste too much time at the side of the road. All you can do is check tyres regularly for tears and small bits of glass, use good quality rim tape, and inflate your tyres to a high enough pressure to avoid pinch flats (>80psi on 25mm road tyres for me cos I'm wee).

spoonface

I used antiplatt inserts for years and they saved me a lot of punctures. I even went through a pint glass in a deep puddle, broke it and kept on going without a puncture. Good stuff.

blorg

Three months is not bad going. The tyre is the primary barrier to punctures; the tube doesn't make a lot of difference if something gets through the tyre. Carry a spare tube and with practice you should be able to fix it in 5-10 minutes. I would stick with the tyres you have until they wear out; they sound OK to me.

Fingalian

I had Maxxis Columbieres with regular tubes and I was getting a puncture roughly every 400-500k. I switched to Schwalbe Marathons with Slime Tubes and I've put 6000k on them with no punctures. They don't ride as nice as the Maxxis but beats getting punctures.

07Lapierre

Carry a spare tube and check ur tyre pressure regularly. IMO The correct tyre pressure is the best way to avoid punctures.

fletch

I'm riding on a Schwalbe Marathon Plus on the rear and a Bontrager Race Light on the front and I really don't want to say this but I am well over a year now without a puncture (commuting ~160km a week)! Previously I had Continental Gatorskins and was getting on average a puncture a month.

dquirke1

+1 on Slime. I've used it over the winter without a single puncture. When I went to change the tyres there were 8-9 bits of glass and thorns stuck in the tube with a little green dot around all of them. I hadn't even noticed picking them up.

cdaly_

nak wrote: »

I use Gatorskins on my commuting bike, they are fine in the wet and I rarely get punctures.

Ditto here. I've noticed they've picked up a lot of gashes without puncturing.

BostonB

I've got Specialized Armadillo's slick's on my MTB. Hardly any punctures. The two I got were from serious shards of glass. One I repaired roadside. The other I happened about 2 mins from journey end. I keep the pressures quite hight though. I usually carry a spare tube. I was thinking of not bothering tbh, because I've never needed it and MTB tubes are quite bulky.

daragh_

Beware Armadillos. I've had one on my commuter for the last 8 months with no punctures. But it's not very grippy and I've had a few slips on manhole covers.

tomasrojo

I used Armadillos for years, despite the slipperiness in the wet. I got very few punctures, but I had to stop using them when I got a new bike, as I found it nearly impossible to get Armadillos onto the wheels. I switched to Continental Gator Skins, and I've got one puncture in about eight months (the day after I first put them on, funnily enough).

BostonB

I don't really have much to compare them with tbh. I go pretty slowly anyway.

ClareVisitor

I was getting a puncture every other day there for a while on the tyres that came with my bike. I switched to Schwalbe Marathon Plus on the front and the back and haven't had a puncture since. You do notice that the rolling resistance increases a bit (I just used that as an incentive for extra fitness!) and they are tricky to get on (there's a video on YouTube to help with that), but they have done a great job.

goldencleric

+1 for conti gatorskins

I was initially sceptical as I heard they weren't great in the wet but I have found this to be completely untrue. I have only had one puncture since I got them (don't think any tyre can protect against panelling nails).

gaffmaster

I have an Armadillo on the front and an old Vittoria Rubino on the back which I am about to swap for a brand new Continental Gatorskin.

Should I have the Gatorskin on the front and the Armadillo on the back instead? The Armadillo feels rock hard to ride on, and apparently, the gatorskin has better grip.

PS - where do you buy the Slime Tubes? Halfords?

califano

+1 for Schwalbe Marathon Plus. Cycling on them regularly for the last 5 months without a puncture. I changed to them replacing the bontrager that came with the bike and had 4-5 punctures in the 3 months with the bontrager tyres.
Theyre about €30-€35 each.

Jawgap

Having averaged a puncture per week at the start of the year I put a set of Continental Gator Hardshell tyres on the bike and I've had not so much as a pfssst since then (I know I've probably just jinxed myself).

I've Armadillos on another bike and find them heavy and slippy - but tough as old boots.

In contrast the Contis are noticeably lighter and grippier and so far they've provided excellent protection.

PS anyone heading north out of the city this evening keep an eye out for someone fixing double punctures to Conti tyres:)

Malinbeg

For what its worth - Schwalbe Marathon Plus - I have nearly forgotten what a puncture is!!

bruler

I had Gatorskins for 2 years commuting everyday, started getting a lot of punctures in the second year (~2 per month, pinch and glass). Got Ultra Gatorskins 4 months ago and haven't had one yet. My only reason to comment is I've taken some BIG backwheel hits recently (Dublin, mainly on ramps/potholes cut up by snow) where I've thought it must be pinched, but no!

Also +1 on carrying a tube etc. if you're doing 20km.

Granite Head

Jawgap wrote: »

Having averaged a puncture per week at the start of the year I put a set of Continental Gator Hardshell tyres on the bike and I've had not so much as a pfssst since then (I know I've probably just jinxed myself).

Sorry for going slightly off topic - what is the difference between Hardshell and the Hardshell folding in the Gators?

TinyExplosions

Granite Head wrote: »

Sorry for going slightly off topic - what is the difference between Hardshell and the Hardshell folding in the Gators?

The Hardshell folding fold

onimpulse

nak wrote: »

I use Gatorskins on my commuting bike, they are fine in the wet and I rarely get punctures.

If you cycle you will get punctures. I always carry at least one spare tube, and spent time practicing changing them when I started cycling so I don't waste too much time at the side of the road. All you can do is check tyres regularly for tears and small bits of glass, use good quality rim tape, and inflate your tyres to a high enough pressure to avoid pinch flats (>80psi on 25mm road tyres for me cos I'm wee).

Good advice there esp on inflating tyres - it really helps.

I've got Gatorskins as well, I think I have them about 18mths and I cycle 12km each way to work each day. I haven't had a puncture since I got those tyres - I hope I haven't jinxed them now!

fat bloke

Just goes to show really - there isn't a perfect tire out there.

I used Ultrema R1's -posh lightweight race tire - all last year and got maybe two punctures.

Switched my winter bike over to Gatorskins earlier this year, and I've gotten two punctures in them already!

They're great tires though - quick and grippy. I just hope my run of flats has ended for the time being.

Jawgap

Granite Head wrote: »

Sorry for going slightly off topic - what is the difference between Hardshell and the Hardshell folding in the Gators?

Extra chili:)

I'm not sure what the technical differences are but the hardshell folding ones will probably be lighter again without the beading.

J Madone

Have bontrager all weather race tyres,full winters training on them, no flats + grippy aswell

Civilian_Target

My experience with Armadillos is that they're horrible tyres to use, and they're not as long-lasting as Marathons. Marathons still suck in the wet, but I find them notiably better than armadillos to cycle on.

At the moment I have Gatorskins on... and while they're a nicer ride than the marathon, I've just finished fixing up my second puncture with this pair... so I'll be back on Marathons soon!