tFUnK

Four months later and the mystery of the phantom flats is still unsolved?

grumpus

I'm not sure what friction you're referring to, creep is caused by torque transmitted to the tyre in acceleration or braking. A rim lock clamps the tyre bead to the rim so movement cannot occur.
Creep isn't common in properly fitted and inflated tyres, many people will never experience it, it seems to be just a few combinations of rim, tyre, tube, pressure and use that will exhibit the behaviour. Some users like trials riders may use rim locks as a matter of course, because big tyres at low pressure and powerful brakes will tend to produce tyre creep. If it happens on a less specialised setup the better solution may be to change tyre pressure or tyres.

George Mann

You cannot have creep without friction. It is a simple matter of physics.

grumpus

You still haven't explained what you mean. "Friction because physics" may be an existential truism but it's rather broad in scope.

George Mann

As your tires turn, they produce vibration/movement of the tube within them (the force of braking does as well).

Therefore, friction is created.

totheDude

Update: two weeks without flats! Finger crossed, the cause of the flats has been removed by the second application of rim tape. Many thanks to the people who made helpful comments, and especially to Kontact , who nailed it.