Flat tires?

jjiam said:

I am an avid road cyclist in my little town in Pahrump, Nevada. I have been getting a flat tire about every other time out and since I cycle 4 times a week it gets quite expensive. I have continental gatorskin tires, and have rim tape. I have been using Bontrager tubes, but today I got fed up and ordered some slime tubes. I hope this helps, or if anyone knows a better tire please help. Thanks.

What is your tire pressure? If it is less that 100 PSI, that could be the problem. If you are getting punctures from thorns or something, then tire pressure may not be a factor.

Is it expensive because you are throwing out the tube after each flat? If so, send them to me - patching is a snap.

Specialized has a class of tires, called Armadillo, that are hard as rock and thick, so if you are desperate, you could try them out. They probably ride like a tank, but life is full of tradeoffs.
http://www.specialized.com/SBCEqSection.jsp?sid=05EquipTiresArmadillo

Good luck!

How long/far have you been riding on those tires?

I think that the culprit will prove to be your continental tires. A much better tire would be any of the michelin race series tires. My buddy has gotten two flats this week alone, while my michelins have been flat free for over 4 months of riding. Watch out for the claims out there for tubes and flat free inventions. Nothing beats a good pair of tires on the pavement.

Are you following all the right procedures when changing the flats?? (This is not necessarily a no-brainer, i.e. letting the patch glue fully dry, cleaning the inside of the tire and ensuring there's not a thorn, piece of glass, etc. stuck through the tire re-causing the flat...). www.sheldonbrown.com for a lengthy but full overview FWIW. 🙂

are you finding thorns or glass that caused the flat or soemthign else?

You may want to check and make sure there is no problem with your rims. If there is a sharp edge or something wrong it could cause that problem. Happened to a friend of mine and he didn't notice the problem with his wheel until his 3rd flat that week.

jjiam: You need to figure out what's causing the flats....it's not the brand of tires. If you're really getting punctures thru the tire casing on every ride, you'll need to find some cleaner streets to ride on.

FYI, I've been running Conti GP 3000s for the last two seasons now, about 8,000 miles, and have never had a puncture with them.

[font=Times New Roman]Try a heavier tube.[/font]
[font=Times New Roman][/font]
[font=Times New Roman]This past spring I went to a standard tube replacing the condom thin racing tubes. I’m running Michelin Pro Race 700x23 and after 2700 miles have 0 flats. I’m also 6ft 2 in and 210 pounds. I keep my tire PSI at 110.[/font]
[font=Times New Roman][/font]
[font=Times New Roman]Frank[/font]

I had 2100 miles this year and no flats on my road bike, I think it is the fact that I fill my tires up every ride... Around 125 psi...

I doubt there is a problem with tyre or rim, I also think it must be that you didn`t check them after first flat! Maybe tyre became too thin and every small stone comes thru. It`s hard to believe there`s something else..

jjiam said:

I am an avid road cyclist in my little town in Pahrump, Nevada. I have been getting a flat tire about every other time out and since I cycle 4 times a week it gets quite expensive.

Tubes can be patched and patched and patched.......good skill to know. They can also be bought in bulk from places like performance, jenson pricepoint and supergo for $1.75- 2.00 each.If flats are being caused by stuff in road like thorns or glass, there is not alot you can do.You can spend money on prevention and still get them,but tires like armadillos are pretty bulletproof if you don't mind their extra weight, and somewht unspiring ride qualities.

billyboost said:

I had 2100 miles this year and no flats on my road bike, I think it is the fact that I fill my tires up every ride... Around 125 psi...

That has nothing to do with it.I also make sure mine are at 120 and still get plenty,totally dependent on the ammout of [censored] in the road. You have bulletproof tires or ride where there is no [censored] in the road(perhaps a velodrome?).