How often to you get a flat tire?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 173
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
How often to you get a flat tire?
Roughly how many miles do you ride between flat tires?
I'm currently riding a mountain bike with 2.15"x26" tires, and I've gone over 1,000 miles with no flat tires in Washington, DC. The tires are some of the cheapest you can get. The rear I paid $13 at a LBS and was told it's a cheap "stock" tire. The front is slightly better, paid $25 from another LBS. The tubes I use are also cheap and basic.
I'm contemplating switching to thinner tires, but I'm curious to hear what this would mean in terms of flat tires. Will I have to pump up every few days to avoid pinch flats? Currently I pump up to 40 psi once a month and I love it.
I'm currently riding a mountain bike with 2.15"x26" tires, and I've gone over 1,000 miles with no flat tires in Washington, DC. The tires are some of the cheapest you can get. The rear I paid $13 at a LBS and was told it's a cheap "stock" tire. The front is slightly better, paid $25 from another LBS. The tubes I use are also cheap and basic.
I'm contemplating switching to thinner tires, but I'm curious to hear what this would mean in terms of flat tires. Will I have to pump up every few days to avoid pinch flats? Currently I pump up to 40 psi once a month and I love it.
#2
Banned
I run 26" x 2.1" Schawlbe Smart Sams and had a "snake-bite puncture" at 92km. Then I bought a pump and keep the pressure at 50psi and I haven't had a flat since (now at 2500km.)
#3
Zen Master
Never = Schwalbe Marathon
Buy high quality tubes and high quality tires. Pump them up far less, virtually eliminate flats. Schwalbe is the answer for both tubes and tires, for me.
Buy high quality tubes and high quality tires. Pump them up far less, virtually eliminate flats. Schwalbe is the answer for both tubes and tires, for me.
__________________
Ron - Tucson, AZ
Ron - Tucson, AZ
#4
Banned
I think that tubes matter as well and I only run Schwalbe tubes (AV13 - Autoventil - Schrader).
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 59
Bikes: Metabikes Metaphrastic Rival
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Until november last year I had vittoria randonneur hyper 32mm. at 5 to 6 bar. In 3000 km's (about 1800 miles) I only had one flat (on wet surface a puncture by small sharktooth like stone). I recently switched to the new schwalbe little big ben's 622x40 mm. Too soon to say anything about puncture resistance as I've only had one short test ride with them.
#7
Senior Member
Once in the last 5 years on my commuter. Specialized Armadillo all condition wire bead 700c x 28.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Ottawa, ON, Canada
Posts: 292
Bikes: Diamondback Copperhead (hardtail, winter bike), 2014 Giant Rapid 2, 2015 Kona Big Rove ST
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Over the past 4 years:
13206km (8206 miles)
4 flat tires, always the rear one
1x Kenda generic 26" MTB tire (spoke wore through the rim tape)
2x Vittoria Randonneur 700x25 (sidewall puncture)
1x Giant PR3 700x25 (sidewall puncture)
Note:
Zero flats when equipped with various Continental tires.
13206km (8206 miles)
4 flat tires, always the rear one
1x Kenda generic 26" MTB tire (spoke wore through the rim tape)
2x Vittoria Randonneur 700x25 (sidewall puncture)
1x Giant PR3 700x25 (sidewall puncture)
Note:
Zero flats when equipped with various Continental tires.
Last edited by DJ Shaun; 03-03-13 at 12:15 PM.
#9
Senior Member
I have not had a flat in 5k mi + on Panaracer RiBMo 26 x 1.5 @ 75psi.
Panaracer T-Serv, 26 x 1.25 @ 90 psi, I usually had one flat in any given 2k mi.
Schwalbe Big Apple, 26 x 2.35 @ 35 psi: just pulled out a little sliver of wire that was causing a slow leak, but no other flats in about 1k.
Panaracer T-Serv, 26 x 1.25 @ 90 psi, I usually had one flat in any given 2k mi.
Schwalbe Big Apple, 26 x 2.35 @ 35 psi: just pulled out a little sliver of wire that was causing a slow leak, but no other flats in about 1k.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Posts: 1,345
Bikes: 2014 Specialized Dolce Triple, 1987 Schwinn Tempo, 2012 Windsor Kensington 8
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I have the 'Dillos on my road bike, and Schwalbe MP's on my utility bike. No flats on the utility bike yet, and I've crunched right through big shards of broken glass.
#12
Senior Member
(Schwalbe Marathons are heavy; Contis can be difficult to mount and swap tubes; Armadillos are made by a company who's bikes we do not sell...)
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Utica,NY,USA
Posts: 1,520
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
went about ten years without, then twice last year. Schwalbe Marathon Plus. first was a piece of heavy gauge wire and the second was a small "dagger" of flint i picked up on a trail that went through the tire like butter.
#15
Super-spreader
I get 2-3 flats per month on my Marathons, but these are 5 year old tires and I'm thinking it's time to replace them.
I ride through industrial areas with all kinds of weird stuff on the ground, so I've gotten pretty used to it.
I ride through industrial areas with all kinds of weird stuff on the ground, so I've gotten pretty used to it.
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 7,644
Bikes: 61 Bianchi Specialissima 71 Peugeot G50 7? P'geot PX10 74 Raleigh GranSport 75 P'geot UO8 78? Raleigh Team Pro 82 P'geot PSV 86 P'geot PX 91 Bridgestone MB0 92 B'stone XO1 97 Rans VRex 92 Cannondale R1000 94 B'stone MB5 97 Vitus 997
Mentioned: 146 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 392 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 48 Times
in
30 Posts
1X to 2X per year
Panaracer Pasela Tourguard
Panaracer Pasela Tourguard
#17
Newbie
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Virginia Beach
Posts: 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
In the past year I have had two flats one while trick riding (slammed the rear wheel while in stoppie) and on while commuting (some one through a beer bottle at me and busted on the wheel)
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: South Austin, Texas
Posts: 919
Bikes: 2010 Origin8 CX700, 2003 Cannondale Backroads Cross Country, 1997 Trek mtn steel frame converted commuter/tourer, 1983 Univega Sportour, 2010 Surly LHT, Others...
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 48 Post(s)
Liked 15 Times
in
12 Posts
Current tires on commuter bikes:
0 flats Continental Travel Contacts 700x37 in 1100 +/- miles
1 flat Schwalbe Big Apples 26x2.15 in 500 +/- miles piece of glass picked up on wet street.....lots of contact patch for glass to stick to when wet.......then rolls on it repeatedly.
0 flats Specialized Burrough CX 700x32 700 +/- miles
I would probably say that older models of the Continental Contact Security and Safety versions (their old tires, made in Germany, when it was called Contact and nothing else, i.e., no Travel, Tour, Comfort, etc. were the most puncture free tires I have used. The old Continental Contact Security tires could roll on my pedicab up to a year w/ no flats, operating in the streets and alleys in the bar district with ridiculous loads.
I had a Continental Contact Safety that rolled on a commuter mtn bike for over 6,000 miles with only one flat, to the best of my memory.
I have also enjoyed excellent flat protection and a smooth ride from about 6 Panaracer TServ and UrbanMax tires (pretty similar) in 700x32 size. 6 tires and probably at least 12,000 miles. Around 5 or 6 flats. Impressive protection from a fast, supple city tire.
0 flats Continental Travel Contacts 700x37 in 1100 +/- miles
1 flat Schwalbe Big Apples 26x2.15 in 500 +/- miles piece of glass picked up on wet street.....lots of contact patch for glass to stick to when wet.......then rolls on it repeatedly.
0 flats Specialized Burrough CX 700x32 700 +/- miles
I would probably say that older models of the Continental Contact Security and Safety versions (their old tires, made in Germany, when it was called Contact and nothing else, i.e., no Travel, Tour, Comfort, etc. were the most puncture free tires I have used. The old Continental Contact Security tires could roll on my pedicab up to a year w/ no flats, operating in the streets and alleys in the bar district with ridiculous loads.
I had a Continental Contact Safety that rolled on a commuter mtn bike for over 6,000 miles with only one flat, to the best of my memory.
I have also enjoyed excellent flat protection and a smooth ride from about 6 Panaracer TServ and UrbanMax tires (pretty similar) in 700x32 size. 6 tires and probably at least 12,000 miles. Around 5 or 6 flats. Impressive protection from a fast, supple city tire.
Last edited by AusTexMurf; 03-03-13 at 08:12 AM.
#19
ride for a change
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 2,221
Bikes: Surly Cross-check & Moonlander, Pivot Mach 429, Ted Wojcik Sof-Trac, Ridley Orion. Santa Cruz Stigmata
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
It doesn't matter how often I flat. You do not ride in the exact same places or times or bike that I do.
Buy tires and tubes for the performance you desire, then carry a pump, tube and patch kit. Flats happen. So what.
Buy tires and tubes for the performance you desire, then carry a pump, tube and patch kit. Flats happen. So what.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 224
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I was having A LOT of flats (with various average tubes and the original Bontrager tires), so much so that the guys at the LBS actually grew tired of my flats and sold me these, about 2 weeks ago:
So far so good, no flats since (and I've been more aggressive with the bike).
The wheels also feel much more sturdy/solid to the touch now, I think.
So far so good, no flats since (and I've been more aggressive with the bike).
The wheels also feel much more sturdy/solid to the touch now, I think.
#21
Señior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 13,749
Bikes: Windsor Fens, Giant Seek 0 (2014, Alfine 8 + discs)
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 446 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
7 Posts
generally 1 or 2 a year. Almost always lately because I ignore the tire pressure and let it get too low and get a snake bite. Early on when I had the crap tires the bike came with I picked up every random bit of wire or sharp rock on the road and flatted probably 6 times the first year. These days I run decent 32s, I've had marathons, race lites, top touring, etc (I have a random bunch of tires in the basement and just grab what looks OK when a mounted tire starts to look dodgy.
I just bought my first road bike (come on, warm weather!) from BD and it has 23s, Michelin Dynamic Sports. I expect to have to repair a few flats with these. I may transition to 25s if they're too much trouble, and get something with some tread maybe. The reviews on BikeTiresDirect on the Dynamic Sports indicate they're flat prone.
I just bought my first road bike (come on, warm weather!) from BD and it has 23s, Michelin Dynamic Sports. I expect to have to repair a few flats with these. I may transition to 25s if they're too much trouble, and get something with some tread maybe. The reviews on BikeTiresDirect on the Dynamic Sports indicate they're flat prone.
__________________
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 132
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I currently commute about 400 miles per month. I've had 4 flats in the past size months, two were pinch flats and two were little wires. One pinch flat was low pressure, the other a large rock. I run 26x1.25" performance Metro tires and Pricepoint 5-pack tubes. I don't like the 1.25" Pricepoint tubes, they inflate unevenly and take a few days to smooth out.
On my recreational road bike, I have one tube that has over 8k miles on it, been through several tires and both front-and-back. All the flats have been on the other one. I get a flat every 1000 miles or so, depending on where I'm riding.
On my recreational road bike, I have one tube that has over 8k miles on it, been through several tires and both front-and-back. All the flats have been on the other one. I get a flat every 1000 miles or so, depending on where I'm riding.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 2,053
Bikes: Trek 830 Mountain Track Drop bar conversion
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Been about 4,000 miles since I got my last flat. I run Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires on my LHT. Before I gave up on cheap tires from Nashbar (riding a hybrid at the time), I got flats once every month or two, more often when tread became worn. Since going with Vittoria Randonneurs (one set) and now my second set of Schwalbe MPs, I've had two flats in the last 7500 miles or so IIRC, the most recent being from a nasty construction staple that I would venture to say could have dealt a blow to a car tire.
Between the longer tread life and the peace of mind of not having to worry about flats, I am glad I spend the extra money on good tires.
Between the longer tread life and the peace of mind of not having to worry about flats, I am glad I spend the extra money on good tires.
#25
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,274
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 150 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6147 Post(s)
Liked 4,092 Times
in
2,325 Posts
Roughly how many miles do you ride between flat tires?
I'm currently riding a mountain bike with 2.15"x26" tires, and I've gone over 1,000 miles with no flat tires in Washington, DC. The tires are some of the cheapest you can get. The rear I paid $13 at a LBS and was told it's a cheap "stock" tire. The front is slightly better, paid $25 from another LBS. The tubes I use are also cheap and basic.
I'm contemplating switching to thinner tires, but I'm curious to hear what this would mean in terms of flat tires. Will I have to pump up every few days to avoid pinch flats? Currently I pump up to 40 psi once a month and I love it.
I'm currently riding a mountain bike with 2.15"x26" tires, and I've gone over 1,000 miles with no flat tires in Washington, DC. The tires are some of the cheapest you can get. The rear I paid $13 at a LBS and was told it's a cheap "stock" tire. The front is slightly better, paid $25 from another LBS. The tubes I use are also cheap and basic.
I'm contemplating switching to thinner tires, but I'm curious to hear what this would mean in terms of flat tires. Will I have to pump up every few days to avoid pinch flats? Currently I pump up to 40 psi once a month and I love it.
Riding in some place like DC where pokey plants have softer points or they are completely absent, you can get away with a lot less protection than I can living out where the pokey plants don't lie in wait but actively hunt my tires. Watch where you ride, avoid broken glass and don't slam into pot holes and you can run just about anything you like.
If you are going to use narrower tires, you will have to pump them up to a higher pressure to avoid pinch flats and, because the pressure is higher, you'll have to pump them more often (see Fick's Law).
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Last edited by cyccommute; 03-03-13 at 10:10 AM.