jelizalde

Hello, total newbie here. bought a Specialized Roll Elite for fun and to ride to work a few days a week. 16 miles round trip, second ride got a flat. Small puncture, probably from glass on the road. My question is what should i upgrade when no flats is my biggest concern, I've read alot about Marathon Plus... Roll comes stock with 650b 2.3.... I'm still trying to wrap my head around understanding different tire size nomenclature... So marathon plus has a 27.5x1.5 and a 27.5x2 (looks like its made for E-bikes)...?
Which direction should I go? Guidance and opinions appreciated.
Thanks,
jesse

Barry2 

Specialized Website claims you have Nimbus Sport Reflect, 60 TPI w/ BlackBelt Protection, 650b x 2.3" on your bike.

This website has a really nice way to filter tires by size and width.

Happy shopping

Barry

mack_turtle

tires labeled "650B" and 27.5" should fit on the same rim, actual size is 584mm for where the bead of the tire fits on the rim. fatter tires wider than 2" are typically labeled in inches like mountain bikes and narrower than 50mm are labeled in mm like road bikes. I'd stick with something close to what the bike was designed to use.

anything labeled a "touring" tire will be very thick and resist road debris the best. some sealant in your tube will help a lot too. check your tires after each ride to see if you have picked up any bits of glass or other sharp objects that could work their way through your tire and give you flat. sometimes you can dig it out before it kills your tube.

RobertUI 

If you don't mind a little weight (rolling resistance) there's always tire liners like Mr Tuffy's (Mr Tuffy - The original and still the best tire liner in the industryl)

veganbikes

I probably wouldn't worry about it and just replace the tube. If you truly want to change tires which is fine, look for one that is the same size or very very close. A wider tire is less likely to puncture because it can be run at lower pressures meaning you are more likely to roll over something then have it puncture. Tire liners and things like that aren''t ideal as they can cause their own flats from moving around between the tube and tire. If you want to eliminate pinch flats you could do a tubeless set up (and there I would run a foam insert to give support since no tubes) However this must be a bike you are riding often and when not riding would keep up on inflation so you don't have a puddle of goo underneath.

Random11

After too many flats, I bought Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires, which reduced (but did not eliminate) my flats. I like the tires, though I've seen them criticized by others in this forum.

GlennR

Have you ever picked up a Specialized Roll?

My wife has one and they weigh a ton.

OP... just replace the tube.

veganbikes

Have you ever lifted a ton? The Roll is actually pretty light for what it is, most of those cruiser type bikes are heavy boat anchors this isn't a lightweight but compared to similar bikes it is a lightweight dream. Having lifted plenty of crappy cruisers with no gears and sometimes only hub brakes and usually just rim brakes I can say the Roll is a lightweight (again in that category). Compared to our road bikes it is a tank but generally most things are

GlennR

Yes, I have, but I usually use a floor jack to raise my cars.

I'm sure there are heavier bikes and maybe compared to other "low entry" bikes it's a light weight. But it weighs more than both my bike... together. Luckily my wife only rides it locally.

But to the OPs point, getting a flat is a fact of life. I once wend 18 mounts without a flat and then got 3 in a month with one requiring the tire to be replaced.

Flats happen. I would suggest going tubeless or even adding sealant to a tube before looking for some bulletproof tire, Also the "roll" is not the type of bike you take off pavement so thorns and other off road hazards are minimal.

jelizalde

Thanks for all the input! alot to learn here, glad i found this forum. im sure if i keep it up, a nice road bike is in my future.....

veganbikes

Yeah the floor jack does help

Yeah it is heavier than many of our bikes but for what it is not terrible. I mean few would buy a Enodam, the new full carbon aero step through comfort bike from Trek for 8k but the Roll compared to an Electra townie or whatever is a good bit lighter.

Flats do suck, I remember having a bunch of flats in a row and then none for a long time. It wasn't till I loaned the bike to someone they got a flat on it over a long ride in some sketchy terrain at points that day.

GlennR

I would get my wife one, but I just bought this for my 2 year old grandson.

It's 2.1kg so it's well below the UCI weight limit.

veganbikes

As much as people kind of laugh at it, it is a cool bike. You gotta love people who can have some fun.

GlennR

$1000 is a lot more than the $70 I spend on the one for my grand daughter.

veganbikes

It is a lot of money for what it is but I still think it is cool.

GlennR

So is the Bugatti Divo @ $5,400,000

Danhedonia

To OP: I have a Roll. If you don't mind a MTB tire, Performance is dumping the Pisgah for $12 each, which is a great price for a decent tire.

If you're commuting and want to avoid knobbies, those tires aren't likely the problem. Just replace the tube.

The Roll is not, will never be considered lightweight in any division. It is the Sherman Tank of bikes.