dabac

Where I'm at, several riders have had issues with Schwalbe Marathon Winter studded tires, with the studs wearing through the tire to rub on the tube.


One guy spent the best part of last Winter adding Another layer of DT for each new flat he got.


I've tried it too, and it does work - for a given value of "work". I only used it while waiting for the new tires to arrive, so I never got to know how many miles it'd have lasted.

CliffordK

I agree with above, for standard flat protection, duct tape is probably minimal. Perhaps that tire stud issue would be a unique situation, although a standard tire liner might also work to protect from tread studs.

I did have a sidewall/bead blowout earlier this summer. What a pain to boot, especially with minimal clearance chainstays. When I finally limped into a bike shop, one of the mechanics suggested Gorilla tape for similar booting. I still don't have any, but it may go into my toolkit for extended rides in the future.

dabac

I keep a few feet wrapped around the seat post on all my bikes. Easy enough to peel off a few inches if/when needed, and doesn't steal space from anything else.

UltraManDan

Gorilla Tape > Duct Tape

Philasteve

Some BMX dudes I knew used to take their old tires and cut the sidewalls off then place the strip into their new tire. Basically making them double protected, but really heavy.

bmwjoe

I have used duct tape as a boot when I got a small cut in the tire. It has worked for me many times to extend the life of a tire 1000 + miles. I don't line the whole tire. Just the part where there is a cut.

Ride Safe,

Joe

acoustophile

$10 rubber tuffy strips will is the non jank duct tape version you're looking for.

herbarium

I've used duct tape on the inside of a tire to "seal" a puncture and it held up for more than a year for daily commutes.

Kewlzter

Most people here are thinking of the benifit wrong. Duct tape doesn't need to offer much protection to prevent you from getting a flat. That's what your tire is for. Duct tape only need protect you from the tips of the thorns or whatever, while simultaneously moving your inner tube out of the way.

As for safety, and the glue. Many bicycle shops use Ductape as a rim liner on specialty bikes (those with atypical sizes).

dabac

The ”natural” end for studded tires is often when the studs wear through the casing and begin to rub on the tube, causing flats.
I’ve tried to get a tire to last the season out by taping the inside with duct tape.
And the result was marginal.
While it did give maybe 2-3 times the mileage between rub-through flats, we’re talking about 40-60 miles instead of 20-something.
Between the cost of studded tires, the longevity of the studs and how seemingly easy the fix is, I’ve heard about a few others who’ve tried as well. And their experience seems to match mine.

Mikefule

Duct tape would add rotating mass without offering much puncture resistance.

There are proprietary products alleged to be designed to add a puncture proof layer. I haven't tried one of these since the 1980s because it was fiddly and ineffective. They may have improved in the >30 years since.

I went through a phase of having 1 or 2 punctures every 2 or 3 short rides. I was riding a mixture of roads and rough farm tracks, picking up thorns or getting snakebite pinch flats. I was running cheap original equipment 23mm tyres. I then bought 25 mm Continental Gatorskins and ride the same rough tracks faster and less cautiously and can't remember the last time I had a puncture.

I also have Gatorskins (28mm) on my gravel bike with similar success, and years ago I had one on my 700c unicycle which I usually rode off road and punctures were never a problem.

No doubt other brands are as good, maybe better, but point is that there are tyres out there designed to give you a fast and comfortable ride whilst being very resistant to punctures.

Tyres, pedals, seat: the three best upgrades for any bike. (Well, the 5 best, if you count both tyres and both pedals, but you know what I mean.)

Stormy Archer

The stickiness could make the problem worse because if something sharp gets as far as the duct tape, it is more likely to stick in there and get driven deeper toward the tube.

natloz

Red Green would be proud.

mihlbach

I have used duct tape to temporarily boot a torn sidewall. But it is ridiculous to think lining your tire with duct tape will enhance its puncture resistance. Its worth investing in good tires.

radric

Get a piece of PVC vertical blind material. You may need to cut it to narrow it so it fits and set inside the tire nicely, and hold it in place with a few thin strips of duct tape. Nice and smooth and punctures will be no longer!

radric

Get a piece of PVC vertical blind material. You may need to cut it to narrow it so it fits and set inside the tire nicely, and hold it in place with a few thin strips of duct tape. Nice and smooth and punctures will be no longer!

Rage

My father in law insists you can use duct tape to fix anything/everything. You kinda remind me of him lol.
Not being mean or snarky. Just funny, is all.

Ray Al

Yes if you apply like 4 strips.

Colorado Kid

Yes, I've used tape inside my tires and I'm proud of it. (Ok, I cheap too.) Wore the tires almost to the core but it did work, just the same. There are thousand and thousand of use for Duck Tape. (You just have to use that old noggin of yours to come up with a few more!)

pbass

Sounds like it could become a gooey mess. You could always put some tubeless sealant in your tubes. I've done that and it seems to actually work (at least I think, or I'm just lucky).

bwilli88 

Gorilla tape or Gaffers tape. Still a dumb idea.

TejanoTrackie 

Quacky.