Getting too many dang flats

[SAR_boats]

Hmm. I say run 24" dual ply downhill tires and wheels with Salsa 1.2mm downhill tubes in them filled with Stans.

You'll never flat again. But then again you'll never go faster than a crawl either so you'll have plenty of time to choose your line.

[ericfoltz]

3900 flat free miles so far this year. I've been using Slime Tubes since they first came out and have never had a flat with one. Currently running DTC Nevegals 35psi front/40 rear. I used to run "Thorn Resistant" tubes (really heavy) for DH before Slime came out. I hate flats and will take the weight.

[davidB]

Originally Posted by Franky

Go with a set of 2.1 Kenda Nevegals and pump them up to 40 psi for Bonelli.

what's the difference between the
26 X 2.1", Stick-E, Folding Bead - $34
26 X 2.1", DTC, Black, Kevlar Folding - $39

???

[guero]

Originally Posted by mechmann

DTC roll better and StickE wear out way fast.

what he said. ^

basically, DTC means, "dual tread compound"...the tire has a harder durometer in the middle of the tire for faster rolling and a softer durometer on the outer/sidewall area to allow better grip when leaning into corners....thus "dual tread compound".

[project_d]

Originally Posted by bjammin

check out stans-no tubes. www.notubes.com

I'll 2nd that. If you go tubeless, you can run virtually any tire you want, and rocks, thorns, etc. won't matter.

[ericfoltz]

Originally Posted by project_d

I'll 2nd that. If you go tubeless, you can run virtually any tire you want, and rocks, thorns, etc. won't matter.

My brother-in-law runs tubeless w/stans and gets more flats than anyone I've ever seen.

[project_d]

Am I in the monirity, here? Yeah, NOTHING'S BULLET-PROOF, thing's can fail; I know that. But I've had very good success with Stans. Usually, the only reason I have to take off the tire is when I've either bent the heck out of the rim (so I need a new one), or I've worn the tread on the tire to the point where it doesn't grip anymore (so I have to put on a new one). There have been a few exceptions here and there, but overall, great experiences!!!

Originally Posted by mechmann

nope. not true. don't believe all the hypage!

The only hypage I believe is my own experience, which has been very good! Sure things can happen, though. My last trip at Snow Summit, I smacked a rock right where the rim and tire meet, and it gave me a hole right at the bead of the tire. No more tubeless for that tire.

[kamaekia]

When I first started riding, I used to get frequent flats (both pinch and thorns) and couldn't understand why. Then I went to the Kenda 2.1 DTCs and I have had very few since then. I use the same brand of presta tubes as I had before. I think the DTCs made the difference. As the previous poster noted, nothing is bullet-proof. I still get flats, but instead of getting one a week, I get one flat about every 4-6 months. And I ride even more often than before. I put my tire pressure between 42-44 PSI. I am no fly weight, I weight about 240 lbs.

[DownhillWebKook]

I'll add my 2 cents for the sake of statistical significance.

1. Run good tires, optimizing on the durability to weight ratio. There is a sweet spot for the terrain you're riding and style you're riding it in. Find it. That will take a bit of time, but all of the advice on this post will help you. Some folks have really good "formulas" and they never flat. I haven't found a perfect one, but I have found one that minimizes them...for me anyway.
2. Do some analysis on your riding style, particularly in line selection and technical terrain. Good lines lead to smoother riding and, in turn, less impact to your equipment (your tires). Your line selection is influenced by your ability to first spot a line and secondly your ability to actually take the line (because it's technical, etc.).

For the sake of context, I ride a mountain-cross bike for my trail rides (9 speeds, road cassette, chain guide, slack angles, 4" travel). Weight is not a huge factor, but I like my wheels to spin fast and I like to hammer down everything as fast as possible. Flats are a buzz-kill so I pay a little by running Slime tubes, BUT with folding bead Specialized Enduro Pros in 2.2 or Maxxis Minions in 2.35 (so I get back a little from the lighter type of tire). My tire pressure is about 32psi +/- 2psi. I try to work extra hard to pick the smooth lines and to stay really light over the rocks by using the suspension and by jumping things. I rarely flat, but now I do all the time because I ran out of Slime tubes. So, I think those things really do work.

Hope that helps...

Good luck in your race.

Cheers,

[JustBike]

that's good Bonelli doesn't have much thorns as the local OC trails

[Pain Freak]

Originally Posted by davidB

what's the difference between the
26 X 2.1", Stick-E, Folding Bead - $34
26 X 2.1", DTC, Black, Kevlar Folding - $39

???

5 dollars

Sorry couldn't resist and if I didn't do it somebody else would of.

I've been a big fan of Stans now for years. I've converted non UST over with great success. I've only had problems with flats when I rip the sidewall or tear the knobs off. I like the fix it and forget it, that I get with Stans (every 3 months I do add a cup of sealent though). I'm flat free and my wheels are not weighing a ton. I personally like a bigger tire and found that it may not be as fast as a 2.1, but I'm able to have a lot more condidence riding with a 2.5 tire. I'll pay the penalty

[Krunk]

people sill run tubes ?

[bjammin]

and if you do get a whole in the tire. It is possible to patch it by cleaning out the tire and using a good old-fashioned patch kit!

[Chewyeti]

i too was getting pinch flats and a few thorn flats with cheap tires.

one flat i got was a spoke puncture.....
my combo
Rim Tape (or duct tape like MX style)
BEEFY giant brand thornproof tubes (THICK!)
Intense 909 Tires
Slime all my tubes...

no flats in a long time

[davidB]

after using Stan's in my tubes yesterday and just not wanting to deal with tubes anymore if I don't have to, tubeless will be my next add on. I just don't know how or if it's compatible with the rims I have on now. Plus the tires I am looking to get (kenda's nevegals) don't seem to do well with that setup.

time to rethink everything