I continue to pop tires every week and I am getting very frustrated. I know that it mustbe the tires becuase I make sure the keep them inflated before and after every ride, but i continue to pop them. I have around $40 to spend on tires. Limited college budget. Any recomendations???
David J.
ASU SUN DEVILS!!!
Not sure how it is you keep popping tires (pinch flat, sharp object…or what) but I have a pair of Continental Unltragatorskins that are very good at keeping the sharp object flats at bay.
I have had a lot of luck with the Michelin Carbon tire. A bit heavier than the Pro, but one set made it through all of last year despite all of the gravel and oil/stone road I have to deal with in central Il.
My buddy has flatted on a regular basis on quite a few models: Pro Races, Conti GP3ks, Hutchinson Carbon Comps, Vittoria Rubino Pros, blah blah blah.
He’s riding a Michelin Megamium on his rear wheel and hasn’t flatted yet. That’s gotta say something!
I’ve ridden my Michelin Dynamics 2000+ miles through some dicey stuff. Not a single flat. Heavy tires, but cheap and durable.
Not sure how it is you keep popping tires (pinch flat, sharp object…or what) but I have a pair of Continental Unltragatorskins that are very good at keeping the sharp object flats at bay.
Ditto. The Conti Ultragatorskins rock. They’re heavy, but I never worry about flatting when I ride them.
Make sure you have rim strip on your wheels. I ride on some rough roads and don’t flat…I would guess it is something other than your tires.
I use Gontinental Grand Prix 3000s and have had great luck with them.
----->Trent
Your budget makes this a tough call. Not sure if any of the recommendations above are available for $40/pr, though I could be wrong. But I’m no better – I’m a big fan of Specialized Armadillos. They’re thick, heavy, and bombproof. They also run close to $40 PER tire.
On the other hand, if you’re buying new rubber every week, it might pay off in the long run to spend more on a higher-quality model.
I’ve gone an entire season (300-500 miles/week) on three 28mm Armadillos and two thorn proof tubes. No desert debris can penetrate that defense.
Of course using the above set-up means that you’ll have a much slower wheel-set than the rest of your riding buddies, but that’s what makes a strong triathlete. When you can spank your training buddies with the heavy stuff, you’ll kill 'em with the race kit.
There’s no excuse for flats on our roads, David. Get rid of the race tires for training, put the heavy stuff on, and head out.
Having said this, I realize I will now get three flats within the week. It’s bad karhma to talk about flats. I know this–but it’s not about me anymore.
P.S. If you have trouble finding thorn proof tubes (road tubes with slime don’t work nearly as well), cut the bead off an old pair of clinchers. Put the old tires inside of your new tires (25-28mm Armadillos), insert a regular ole butyl tube, and you’re good to go. It makes for a rougher ride than the thorn proofers, but equally (if not more so) impenetrable than the previously mentioned set-up. I can’t believe a desert tri-geek is asking for anti-flat advice. We’re supposed to be the Kings of anti-flat tire strategy. You wouldn’t be posting this question if you went to the UofA.