51
votes
Why do bike tires suffer from frequent punctures whereas car tires don't?
The main reason is that bicycle tyres are much, much thinner than car tyres. A little tetrahedron of broken glass or a drawing pin that would puncture both tyre and tube on a bicycle won't trouble a ...
- 1,699
38
votes
Why do bike tires suffer from frequent punctures whereas car tires don't?
An unaddressed reason is speed-induced wind and the shape of modern roads.
Motor vehicles travel in a lane, and a roadway is generally two or more lanes in opposite directions.
As such, these two ...
- 114k
22
votes
Accepted
How to find punctures in inner tubes?
Do whatever works, really.
The problem with the container of water approach is that it requires a container of water. It won't damage the tube. Also, if you need to patch the tube, you have to wait ...
- 45.8k
21
votes
How to stop dealing with flat tires?
You are correct that the type of puncture you're getting is caused by the rim "pinching" the inner tube.
The root cause here is one of the following:
pressure too low (most likely)
You're not ...
- 4,838
21
votes
Unable to get a tube replacement to last
There is a mark in the middle of the valve stem as if something has pressed against it:
Given that it was a fresh new tube, it likely means that it had been installed with the valve protruding at a ...
- 14.1k
21
votes
Unable to get a tube replacement to last
Check that the rim tape (tape or liner that sits in rim bed) is not loose or spinning. I had an identical issue where a brand new tube would be ruined after a 10 minute ride. The rim tape spins on ...
- 4,100
21
votes
Accepted
Can you buy tyres to resist punctures from large thorns?
The Schwalbe Land Cruiser (without Plus) only has a “K Guard” puncture protection.
According to Schwalbe it’s one of their weakest puncture protection technologies:
https://www.schwalbe.com/en/...
- 25.2k
20
votes
Frequent punctures, is my weight the problem?
Increased load (i.e rider weight) on a pneumatic tire does not increase the pressure in the tire. The contact patch on the ground just increases in size until the contact patch area x pressure = load (...
- 75.1k
20
votes
Accepted
Are pre-glued patch kits advisable?
Personally I don't bother patching on the roadside - my success rate was low.
Instead I carry a spare tube (sometimes 2) and just swap the whole thing as a primary fix. Then I patch the tube at home ...
- 114k
18
votes
Bicycle's inner-tube got puncture right next to the valve, How to patch it there?
That's a very hard area to patch properly (if its even possible), and I'd recommend putting a new tube in instead of trying to patch it. .
I'd also check that the rim tape on the rim is intact and ...
- 45.8k
17
votes
How to find punctures in inner tubes?
To follow up on what Batman says, what you use to find the leak depends a lot on the circumstances.
If you get a flat by the side of the road (and you don't have a spare tube) then you obviously can'...
- 53k
17
votes
Recurring flats on new bike
I see three possibilities:
Your tire pressure is too low and you are getting pinch flats. As a reference point, with 25mm wide tires and your 74kg weight I’d use at least 6bars (600 kPa) of pressure, ...
- 25.2k
17
votes
How can I patch a hole on the underside of an inner tube?
It does not matter on which side the hole is, the process is exactly the same anywhere on the tube. Be sure to let the glue become more viscous and sticky by waiting for a while before applying the ...
- 14.6k
16
votes
Accepted
Technique for self-adhesive puncture repair patches
This kind of failure is basically the reason sticker-type patches have a reputation for not being reliable.
Scrupulously sanding the area and getting it as clean as possible (ie, with alcohol or ...
- 77k
16
votes
Accepted
What's the cause of this kind of tyre damage?
Another possible cause is misadjusted rim brakes where the brake pad makes contact with the tire's sidewall.
- 9,804
15
votes
Accepted
Why using a puncture repair kit instead of a new inner tube?
You have to remove the wheel to replace the tube. A repair can be done in the frame.
On older bikes without quick release, and with current gear hubs, electric hubs, Nuvinci hubs, belts etc, you need ...
- 1,038
14
votes
How can I avoid tearing the valve loose from an inner tube with a wheel lock?
A bike I sometimes borrow has one of these locks, and I can't say it's ever been a problem. You've given the answer in your question: Do not close the wheel lock between a spoke and the valve. If you'...
- 53k
13
votes
Why does the glue in a puncture repair kit dry up so quickly?
The problem appears to be when air gets into the tube of glue - if air is present in the tube, evaporation will take place. This air can enter the tube during patching, or from a poor seal between the ...
- 349
13
votes
Technique for self-adhesive puncture repair patches
I believe pre-glued patches were always intended to be a temporary fix to get you home. When they first came out on the market I remember explicit warnings that these were not a permanent fix.
...
- 30.2k
12
votes
When does a Marathon Plus tire (not) need replacing?
If this helps at all, I used a set of Marathon Plus tires on a cross-Canada tour last year (8200km), plus a bunch of commutting, totaling about 11,000km. I did not get any flats at any point, but by ...
- 3,693
12
votes
Accepted
Do I need to refill sealant after puncture?
Pull the valve core and poke a 2mm Allen wrench down to test the fluid level with the valve at the 6 o'clock position with the tire off the ground. You want "some" free liquid. How much depends on the ...
- 77k
11
votes
Accepted
How To Prevent Holes Around The Inner-tube Valve?
I had a bike shop for 10 years and have 35 years extensive riding and bike innovation experience. This problem had me dumbfounded: six tubes in rapid succession, blown inside the tire, within an hour ...
- 126
11
votes
Is it possible to remove wheel without loosening the (V) brakes
Yeah. Use the quick release.
If you push the brake arms together, you should be able to pull the noodle out of the noodle holder (you may need to wiggle it a bit out). Then the arms will be wide ...
- 45.8k
11
votes
Why do I keep getting cut looking flats?
Is the cut always the same distance around the tube from the valve?
If so then you have something wrong in your rim. Use the punctured tube to measure where the damage is coming from... that will ...
- 114k
11
votes
Recurring flats on new bike
there are a few things to check:
make sure the rim tape is in good condition (no tears/holes, make sure it's properly aligned in the rim)
remove rim tape and check if any spokes protrude more than ...
11
votes
How to best quick fix worn out tyre
There are several questions here.
You were on a road trip and found a hole in your tire...
I swapped front and rear tyre to have the weak one in front because it gets less pressure. Was this correct ...
- 19.4k
11
votes
Why do bike tires suffer from frequent punctures whereas car tires don't?
Essentially all modern car tires have steel puncture-protection belts under the tread surface
- 2,825
11
votes
Accepted
Minimize puncture risk during race. Should I change the tyres?
Those small cuts in the rubber tread are normal and you get them quickly after a few kilometers. I just regularly make sure that no objects are embedded in the tyre since they can dig deeper over time....
- 25.2k
11
votes
Are solid/tubeless tires worth using in Thorny areas?
Both approaches would help, but are very different. A solid tyre is unpunctureable, but the riding properties are much worse. Not only it is slower, but also the adhesion and the feel over uneven ...
- 14.6k
11
votes
Why did my bicycle have a spoke shatter and a tube rupture?
Guessing: you had one spoke break at the J bend and the rivet end was lost. The remaining part of spoke popped the tube from below, perhaps it was a little sharp? And the tyre on the outside was ...
- 114k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible