Road Flats

krink

krink

Eddie Munster
Ok, so I finally broke down and got a road bike about 6 months ago. Haven't had any bike with a tube or tires over 50 psi for over a decade. Since getting this and doing some exclusive road rides, I am flatting every 3-4 rides. I don't remember flatting this much with tubed tires ever. The bike was specced with Bontrager R3 Hard Case Lytes. Ive replaced one with with an AW3 which seems to be more durable in reviews. I've done a lot of gravel riding in the last few years and run panaracer gravelkings tubeless at 40-50 psi and rarely flat, even on mixed surface rides. I'd appreciate any insight. go tubeless? another tire? Ive heard about Conti gatorskins? I was running 90 psi, keep tubes and run lower? Run higher to prevent pinch flats?
 
Can you provide any more information about the flats? Any visible puncture in the tread? Any sharp object in the casing when you checked? Is it possible that a spoke is puncturing it from the bottom? Maybe a little dirt/sand in the rim causing abrasion? Any chance a small piece of the tube itself was trapped by the tire when installing?
 
Juggernaut said:
Can you provide any more information about the flats? Any visible puncture in the tread? Any sharp object in the casing when you checked? Is it possible that a spoke is puncturing it from the bottom? Maybe a little dirt/sand in the rim causing abrasion? Any chance a small piece of the tube itself was trapped by the tire when installing?
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Both of the shop installed tires at the beginning flatted, since then I have had three more flats. Have only replaced the rear to a AW to see if it makes a difference. I have never seen anything sharp imbedded in the sidewall or tread. No visible tire damage. There is already rim tape installed, I have run my finger along both wheel’s tape to see if there’s anything sharp there like a protruding spoke and I can’t find anything. I can’t say that I have inspected all the tubes for pinch flats but I know that at least two of them were. I try to keep 90 psi and check at the beginning of rides, thought that usually kept those risks down. None of the tires have been old or worn. I’ve been careful about not pinching the tube in the bead, can’t be sure that isn’t happening. Try to keep debris out when replacing tubes or tires.
 
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I thought we were gonna be discussing these:
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🤷‍♂️
 
Are the flats all front or all rear?

Are they happening in a specific spot on the wheel or tire?

Dumb questions but start with the basics.
 
Norm said:
Are the flats all front or all rear?

Are they happening in a specific spot on the wheel or tire?

Dumb questions but start with the basics.
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Appreciate any insight. Both front and rear. Am going to be more detailed in my exam from now on. Don’t believe they’re in the same place tho
 
krink said:
Appreciate any insight. Both front and rear. Am going to be more detailed in my exam from now on. Don’t believe they’re in the same place tho
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Ok do you have a different floor pump to try. Just checking the box that you have 90 PSI with both pumps.

I’ll ask the obvious insulting question. Do you weigh like 285?
 
Norm said:
Ok do you have a different floor pump to try. Just checking the box that you have 90 PSI with both pumps.

I’ll ask the obvious insulting question. Do you weigh like 285?
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Hahahaha. I’m 185. I ride with a beast of a Clydesdale who is always destroying his bike so I get it. I’ll try a different pump/gauge to check but usually fill with a compressor and gauge before leaving home.
 
In regards to flatting due to user error... just inspecting the tires to see if the beads seated properly to the rim is half the battle.
 
More useless speculation on my part….. is it possible the tubes themselves are higher volume than necessary? For example, let’s say the tire is 28c so installing a 25-32c tube makes sense, right? Well, maybe not. Its safer in my experience to use a slightly under-volume tube, say 20-25c. The reason is, the 25-32c tube in this case has perhaps a little too much volume. It’s easy to get the tube twisted, pinched between the bead and the rim or even folded in some rare cases. The slightly under volumed tube easily stretches to support the 28c tire and is way less likely to suffer install complication. Again, just blind speculation.
 
krink said:
Conti gatorskins? I was running 90 psi, keep tubes and run lower? Run higher to prevent pinch flats?
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i have 25c gatorskins running 100psi - i'm around 190 dressed. They never flat. I've done hell of hunterdon on them 4 times.
Ya gotta check every ride too.

that said - pull tires, check rim strip and tire. check the inside of the tire with a cotton ball - rub around, see if anything grabs. a small, embedded piece of metal or glass
- that is why the question above about location of flat relative to tire. inspect the tube, locate the flat and work back to the spot on the tire.

or sell the bike, get a fatbike, and start living! 😉
 
krink said:
I’ll try a different pump/gauge to check but usually fill with a compressor and gauge before leaving home.
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Ok try a floor pump not a compressor. If you're repeatedly pinch flatting I think you're under the 90 PSI you think you're at.
 
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