lipued

I moved in about 3 weeks ago in SLC Utah for my school, and have used my Giant Expressway to commute.

The thing is, the yesterday flat was the third flat, so there was a flat once a week!

I see that some flats are inevitable since there are lots of road debris and garden wastes in the road, and the roads are not so well maintained, but once a week is just too much.

Currently I am looking for some kind of airless tire or a tire liner. Are there any drawbacks, including ride quality? And do you have any brand recommendation?

tyrion

These are very puncture resistant tires:

https://www.schwalbetires.com/bike_t...hon_Plus_HS440

These kind of "armored" tires, along with tire liners and airless tires - they all do ride a little harsher and less efficient than lightweight tires.

Tubeless tires would be another potential solution, but it might require new wheels and new tires.

c_m_shooter

Swap those kendas out for a set Schwalbe Marathon plus.

Rick

Yeah like they said. Get the tires that don't allow holes through them. I am on my fourth set of Schwalbe tires on my touring bike and no flats from exterior sources. Over 7 years and thousands of miles.

Elvo

Tubeless

Iride01

Make sure you investigate and find out why you flatted each time. Don't just assume it was a puncture from a road hazard.

FWIW, I flat rarely. But when I do, I usually flat 3 times within the next handful or two of rides. After that third flat, I'll be good for 18 to 24 months or so.

AdkMtnMonster

Once you make sure that your rim strip is covering all of the sharp-edged spoke hole inside your rim, and you're ready to replace the tube, try one of the tubes that come with sealant inside. Yes, they're a little heavier and they're kind of silly, but they'll work great for a commuter bike back/forth from class. Make sure that there's nothing still stuck through your tire by CAREFULLY running your fingers all around the inside of the tire while it's completely removed from the rim, or use a cotton ball to do the same. If there's a sharp object embedded in the tire you'll find it this way. Doubtful that it's your issue, but might as well rule it out. Good luck, flats, suck.

chaadster

Garden wastes? WTF they grow in gardens out there that winds up in the street causing flats?!

'02 nrs

not cheap but they work-https://www.treefortbikes.com/Panara...SABEgINVvD_BwE what size tires?or if mtb use a more aggressive knobby & sacrifice rolling resistance.

Retro Grouch 

You need to identify the cause of your punctures and eliminate that cause. A common cause is tiny wires from radial ply tires. Those tiny little wires can be hard to find and, even once found, can be the very dickens to pull out of your tire. You are doomed to suffer frequent repeat punctures until you find and remove the offending wire.

If you make a habit of installing your replacement inner tubes with the valve stem adjacent to the label on your tire, you will be able to see if your punctures are happening in the same place relative to your tire. If that's the case, explore that portion of your tire very carefully. I have taken to carrying a small needle nose pliers with me just for removing radial wires from my tire after a puncture.

I would guess that Salt Lake City is in the goat head thorn belt. I've heard about them but, living in the St Louis area, we thankfully don't have them. You might be well served to ask at a local bike shop what they suggest for minimizing goat head punctures.

Random11

I'm another rider who switched to Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires because I was having too many flats.

ThermionicScott 

Roses, perhaps?

unterhausen

I lived in Utah for 6 years and I never had a flat due to a goat's head. I think the op probably never got rid of the thing that caused his flats and needs to figure out what's causing them.
The worst is a sliver of tire belt.

I don't see anything wrong with going tubeless, but it could possibly cost money

zandoval 

I was really surprised at how puncture resistant my Continental RIDE-TOUR tires are. I am very satisfied with them. Also, if you are going to get new tires better get them now. I suspect they are going to go up in price drastically soon...

letank

the cotton ball is such a great idea!

Lazyass

I saw tire liners at my Walmart once. I've also heard of people lining their tires with Gorilla tape for a cheap option. You could even put two or three wraps in it. Tublito tubes have good reviews but they're expensive. If I was a poor college student I personally would try the Gorilla tape option if all you're getting is just tiny slivers of stuff puncturing your tire.

jpescatore

Good advice so far, I'd add something that has worked for me: at the end of your riding each day, check your tires to see if they picked up any glass, wire, metal, etc. I think quite often my flats happened a ride or two after I picked up the debris. By finding it early and removing it, my rate of flatting has gone down dramatically. The only flats I've gotten in the past 5 years have been those damn radial wire shards which get through every tire I've tried. But, several times my inspection has found shards before they got all the way through to the tube.

I start at the valve and walk the bike while wiping the tire with a rage. If I find anything. I let the air out and remove the glass/metal/whatever with tweezers or needle nose pliers. If a big chunk of tire has been slashed, I'll fill the hole with ShoeGoo, reinflate and put the bike away for the next ride.

The Chemist

Regular Marathons will do the trick too. I put a pair of Marathons on my bike back in March, and I've already put over 4000km on them without a single flat. Highly recommended.

Phil_gretz

Schwalbe Marathon Plus in the widest size you can fit. That's what I've run in my commuter bike for four years now. And the riding performance doesn't suffer as much as one might imagine.

making

I have thousands of miles on my schwalbe Marathon plus. I just took my spare inner tube out of my bag because I need to remember to replace it. It has been in my bike bag for years so I dont trust it anymore. Just in case I ever do have a flat.

BobbyG

I've been running tire liners for years (and years). I went from a flat every two weeks, to a couple flats a year.

majmt

Back in ‘84 I went to grad school in Tucson and had the same problem. Everything there was pointy and wanted to poke, bite, or sting me. Mr Tuffy at least protected my tires.

https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Tuffy-Bicy.../dp/B078FHD1ZH

restlessswind

I stand by this post!

BobsPoprad

As others have said, find the cause. If it is from outside sources, the Marathon plus does the trick for me.

rsbob 

You will NEVER flat on these because there is nothing to ‘flat’. Solid core tube

Ride quality is questionable but at least you will never flat. Also there are solid rubber tires which contain zero air which will give you a workout but no flats.