Puncture week

Ciaran OHara · 28-01-2014 9:28pm #1

So I have had a a new set of gatorskins on my road bike since the start of the month and have covered about 500km. In that time I have had 7 punctures (4 front 3 back) with 5 of those in the past week. The tyres already have 2 or 3 3-5mm slits on each. I have been removing glass from the tyres a few of the times I have punctured but nothing has really gone right through the tyre.

Does anyone have any advice for me regarding the possibility of a refund or is this just bad luck. I run my tyres at 110 psi and I am 80kg. I understand it is winter but I haven't been riding any differnet than normal.

Raam · 28-01-2014 9:36pm

Are they pinch flats perhaps?

Ciaran OHara · 28-01-2014 10:05pm

No, definitely not.

Raam · 28-01-2014 10:08pm

When you get the puncture, do you locate the hole and then match that up with where it was in relation to the tyre and then pick the offending item out of that bit?

Ciaran OHara · 28-01-2014 10:21pm

Yes.

robertxxx · 28-01-2014 10:24pm

It's all the rain disturbing the dirt and glass from the side of the road, well that's what I find, puncture's after heavy rainfall.

Raam · 28-01-2014 10:25pm

I've only had a couple of punctures this winter whilst commuting and my tyres are some conti things, nothing special. Maybe you have bogey tyres, maybe it's bad luck or maybe you are just cycling through too much glass.

Atom Ant · 03-02-2014 1:10pm

When I start to get punctures, I usually start changing tyres. 2 punctures last week, both front and back, on an early training run and it is no fun when you are 25Km from home. Only carried one tube and the front tyre deflated when in doors(lucky). I run Evo Corsas CX3 with Kevlar linings. Whatever struck the tyres also 'sliced' through the Kevlar lining both in the tyre and the panaracer lining about 6mm. It sort of dawned on me when I was chatting with the guy behind the counter in Cycleways picking up a new inner tube that maybe it is just rotten luck. I have done two long trips (262 and 300Km)in the summer on my current tyre combo and no punctures. In fact, I went through the hole of the summer without a flat. My solution for the winter is to now to buy Ultremo DD ( 4 seasons with the double vectran not available), because the Schwalbes are very grippy. Remove the old panaracer lightweight inner lining fit it to the new tyres, buy a second additional lining and double up on the inside and run standard inner tubes on the new tyres. Also carry two inner tubes and extra Co2. If that doesn't work then I have to accept that punctures are part and parcel of the game, only rubber tyres are bullit proof, stop bitching and learn how to change a flat quicker. I feel for my fellow cyclists, no fun changing flats when it is pissing down with rain in the dark winter mornings. What irks me is that my bicycle tyres are now costing me as much if not more then car counterparts. We should all email and complain to the manufacturers. Viva the revolution!!

Nisio · 03-02-2014 1:18pm

I know it's little help to you now but deflate your tires every now and then and you can find/pick out way more glass shards then when the tires are pumped up

slap/dash · 03-02-2014 1:27pm

Sounds like a real pain. I've had gators and they usually last 2-3 yrs on my around town bike with some heavy use on gravel thrown in. I'm 90kg too.

Hmm I've had more flats on the road bike but I'm talking 2 a year or so running 4000s 25 as opposed to the 23s on my single speed.

I might look at the rims. Any scrapes near the tire wall or slight dents? Maybe use a good rimtape

Atom Ant · 03-02-2014 3:02pm

It is good advice to check your tyres before ever run. I do it nowadays, get a Stanley knife and pick out the chards of glass that are secretly working there way into your inner tube sanctum. It takes five minutes to spot check and remove debris. The gatorskins have a good reputation and favoured amongst cycling club members, I would not beat yourself up and say it was a bad choice. The Germans tend to by good on warranty schemes. When I had a fault with my computer they replaced it straight away, no questions. Whilst tyres are somewhat different, no harm in asking. I saw this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ostb6ysNce4when I bought the Kevlar tyre liners and pretty much does what it says on the packet but I think if it gets wet, it's performance is diminished. Any split in the tyre will cause localized dampness. I imagine the plastic perform better but apparently they affect tyre performance and a complete disaster eating through inner tubes. I don't suspect that you will stick with Gatorskins for very long. Cycling is all about confidence. We all accept there is a degree of probability in getting a puncture but you seem to have a more difficult time of it then most. I thought I would offer this as an alternative As I state'd they are not perfect but I do feel happier having them then not having them.

Lumen · 03-02-2014 4:26pm

Ciaran OHara wrote: »

I have been removing glass from the tyres a few of the times I have punctured but nothing has really gone right through the tyre.

If nothing has gone right through the tyre then the simplest explanation is that the puncture is coming from the inside.

Maybe your inner tube has been punctured by Occam's Razor? :pac: