d8168055

So, I just got my first flat tire today (yes, been riding only 3 or so months). A quarter-inch nail went straight thru to the tube of my rear tire.

I go to Performance and get a Forte tube replacement, install it, and now the tire seems to roll unevenly. I feel a rhythmic bump as I pedal, and it gets faster as I pedal faster. When spinning the rear tire, I can see that there are some flatter areas, thus probably leading to the unsmooth ride.

Does this mean it's time to get a new tire? Was it damaged as I was riding on it flat for a short distance? Or is the tube crap and uneven in certain areas? Is my rim bent?!!

Note: The puncture on the tire was not patched. I have 700x32c Kenda Kwikrollers and the Forte tube.

Thanks.

Squirrelli

Your tire is okay, however your rim might not be though.
Take picture of your wheel for us.

d8168055

The wheel seems to roll fine. I follow the contours of the outer rim and its round. The outside of the tire however, its like rolling hills, some parts of the diameter will get fatter than other parts..

Squirrelli

Oh, if your tire is bulging, then just simply remove your tire, reinstall your tube. Make sure it is not caught between the tire bead and the rim.
Did Performance installed it for you? If so, take it back and they will fix it for you. If you did it yourself, then just reinstall the tube.

dan32888

I am thinking that you twisted it at some point. I just don't know why it didn't pop already. What pressure are you going with? Just reinstall making sure that it is in correctly and check after you put it about 10 to 20 pounds. deflate and repeat.

d8168055

i am running 70 PSI... even if the tube is under the bead, wouldnt it slide into place after some air is in it??

lz4005

If it was under the bead it probably would have failed already. You probably have a twist or kink in the tube. Regardless, it isn't in there the right way. Take it out and reinstall and it should be fine.

Yellowbeard

Either your tire isn't seated correctly or the casing is damaged from the puncture. If it bulges at the hole and you can see a cut in the threads then the tire's toast; it'll explode eventually. If it's not seated correctly you just need to learn to seat it correctly.

Tips: Make sure you push the valve outwards so that the reinforced part of the tube doesn't block the bead from seating in the rim.

Before putting any air in it go around the wheel once, pushing the tire from side to side. If you can see your rim tape all the way around (and on BOTH sides) then you can be sure that the tube is not pinched between the bead and the rim. If it is, it'll explode eventually.

If parts of the bead still end up too low, let most of the air out and use your thumbs to roll the tire away from the rim until the bead pops into place.

cleanupinaisle3

This.

whitekimchee

Geez 70 PSI? when you correct this issue, pump your tires up to at least 90 or 100 PSI.

Yellowbeard

Assuming, of course, that you weigh 220+ pounds. Dude says he's on 32 mm tires.

turtle jesus

how and the hell did you get a flat walking your fixie to your java lounge?

Retro Grouch 

I agree that's almost surely the problem. Examine both sides of your tire bead around it's entire circumference. There's usually a small ridge moulded into the tire that should be equi-distance from the rim all the way around. I'm betting that your's isn't.

Common causes, as other posters have already mentioned, are having a small section of the tube caught under the tire bead and having the thick area adjacent to the valve stem caught under the tire bead.

d8168055

I reinstalled the tube and it seems to be ok now. thanks for helping out a newbie...

the PSI range on the tire is 75-100 max.. and when riding with 75, its rock hard, ie, ramping minor bumps... so, i keep it at 70... maybe because also i have 32C tires and it needs less pressure?

Yellowbeard

Yes.

Germanicus

That happened to me once on the road. The problem was that I tightened the ring that secures the presta valve to the rim BEFORE I inflated the tire. That didn't allow the the tube to settle into place as I inflated it. The sucky part was that I got the flat 50 miles into a 140 mile bike trip and only had one extra tube. (newbie mistake) I was so afraid that I might pop the tube if messed with it again that I rode the last 90 miles with the back tire going thumpity-thumpity-thumpity.... Which really sucked all the joy out of the ride.
Now I carry multiple tubes on longer rides.

TejanoTrackie 

Those threaded "rings" are utterly useless and should be discarded. If you snug them down after tube inflation and then get a flat out on the road, they can get so tight that you can't get them off to change the tube. Also, when that happens, it can pull so hard on the joint between the tube and valve stem that it cracks the joint causing a leak, rendering the tube unrepairable. Many presta tubes do not even have threaded stems and valve extenders never do. Another thing I always discard are presta valve caps. They're just decoration.