{"id":4028,"date":"2022-06-22T16:07:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-22T20:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brooklynfixedgear.com\/?p=4028"},"modified":"2024-02-05T22:41:02","modified_gmt":"2024-02-06T03:41:02","slug":"how-to-prevent-tire-punctures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brooklynfixedgear.com\/maintenance-and-repairs\/how-to-prevent-tire-punctures\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Prevent Tire Punctures & Flats Before They Happen (6 Tips)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
There’s no greater joy than riding a bike. But there’s no greater pain than getting a flat tire. Getting a flat can be a nightmare, especially if you’re far from home or a bike shop. And even if there is a bike shop nearby, there might be a waiting list. So, how can you prevent tire punctures on a bike?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You may avoid tire punctures by using the appropriate bike and tires for the terrain you’ll be riding on. Avoid potholes and other obstructions on your trip if possible. Finally, keep an eye out for sharp items on the road, such as shattered glass.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n But there’s a lot<\/em> more to it than that. So, in this article, you will learn how to prevent tire punctures and flats so you can ride farther without fear of getting stranded with a flat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Editor’s note: This article was updated on June 22, 2022<\/strong>, to include additional information regarding tire punctures.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Before learning about tire punctures, let’s first understand what a tire puncture is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A tire puncture is a sudden instance where the integrity of your tire diminishes<\/strong>, causing air to leak out<\/a>. This can happen suddenly or slowly over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All cyclists must deal with punctures eventually. If you commute by bicycle, punctures may be very irritating since they can create lengthy delays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cyclists in a city may be lucky enough to find a bike shop<\/a> that can fix the flat right away, but there may be a waiting list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some of the most prevalent causes of a flat tire<\/strong> are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Preventing flats may seem like it’s all up to chance. Of course, you could just avoid riding over glass or sharp objects, but as you are aware, this isn’t easy in many places.\u00a0<\/p>\n But there are a lot of things we can do to prevent them. Below are six tips on avoiding punctures and flat tires<\/strong> before they happen.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n Pinch flats occur when you ride into anything that makes a sudden impact, such as a rock, railroad track, or the edge of a pothole. The collision compresses the tire so much that the tube becomes trapped between the rim’s edges.<\/p>\n This results in two little holes on the rim side of the tube. Because they resemble fang marks, pinch flats are sometimes called snakebite flats.<\/p>\n Most pinch flats are caused by a combination of three factors: insufficient air pressure, inflation pressure, too thin tires, and\/or improper riding style.<\/p>\n Thus, to avoid pinch flats,\u00a0fully inflate your tires to the manufacturer’s specifications<\/strong>, monitor your air pressure, and stop slamming your underinflated tires onto the curb. Of course, we run into curbs and other things we shouldn’t from time to time, but if you do it with underfilled tires, you might just get a flat. So make sure that you inflate your tires properly<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Rim tape is a protective film that fits between the inner tube and the rim, hiding the sharp edges of the spoke holes. It is often made of plastic or rubber.\u00a0These sharp edges are frequently the unseen culprits in puncturing your inner tube.<\/strong><\/p>\n Check that the rim tape covers all spoke holes after removing your tires and tubes since the rim tape may have ripped or moved to the side. I usually advocate investing in high-quality rim tape to avoid this problem.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Consider getting tires with extra protection to make it less likely to get a hole. Gator skins are a great option. They are quite effective at lowering the possibility of a puncture. These tires have a layer of reinforced rubber that makes them very strong and resistant to punctures.<\/p>\n Check out some of the puncture-resistant tires below. We also have an entire blog post dedicated to helping you choose an inner tube for your fixed gear bike if you need some help deciding. Another technique to avoid punctures is to use slime-filled inner tubes or self-healing inner tubes. When slime-filled tires get a puncture,\u00a0the slime quickly moves to self-seal the hole<\/strong>. One of the drawbacks of slime-filled inner tubes is that they add some weight, although not much. You won’t notice it when commuting or doing leisure activities.<\/p>\n It’s important to note that liquid tire sealant is known to damage rims, which may be expensive to repair. Furthermore, no tire sealant is a long-term solution. In fact, many repair shops won’t fix a flat tire with a chemical sealant on it, so you may need to buy a new tire to replace your flat.<\/p>\n You\u00a0should not use slime on Kenda tires<\/strong>\u00a0because they are cotton-lined, and cotton rots when wet from slime.<\/p>\n If none is a concern, and you just want to avoid punctures when far from home, consider these slimy options below.<\/p>\n [azonpress template=”grid” asin=”B000ENMLFK,B000ENSRS0,B07H9G8P5V”]<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Another option is to get puncture-resistant tape and wrap it over the inner tire. This is meant to function as a\u00a0puncture-resistant belt<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Solid tires have become increasingly popular. A breakthrough technique has enabled the production of lightweight tires that match the weight of a tire and inner tube. You will never have a puncture with these new solid tires since they are\u00a0100% puncture-resistant<\/strong>.<\/p>\n An obvious drawback is that they’re heavier, which kind of goes against the whole lightweight fixie thing we love so much. But hey, it is an option.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Do not ride on punctured tires.<\/strong> A punctured tire can damage the tire, inner tube, and rim. A flat tire may come off the rim, causing a crash. Instead, bring your bike to a nearby bike shop for repairs if you get a puncture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are airless bike tires that will not run flat<\/strong>, but many of them have huge holes that let in debris that must be cleaned up afterward. Others are constructed of foam, which provides less grip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The SMART Tire Company’s airless tires, on the other hand, are constructed of metal, specifically a NASA-developed alloy incorporating nickel and titanium known as NiTinol. Riding on metal tires may seem terrible, but this alloy has unique qualities that guarantee a smooth ride without the risk of a flat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If worst comes to worst, you will need to know how to replace your inner tube. Then, learn to disassemble and reassemble your bike’s wheels<\/strong>. It’s not as complicated as it seems, and many YouTube videos explain each stage of the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Removing the front and back wheels on a single-speed or fixed-wheel bike is significantly easier than on a road bike with a cassette and derailleur<\/a>. All you really need is an adjustable spanner for the wheel nuts (or nothing at all if you have quick-release wheels), a pump, and some tire levers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Need some help? Check out this video showing how to remove your fixed gear tires. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat is a tire puncture?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What are the most common reasons for flat tires?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How can I prevent tire punctures and flats?<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Make sure your tires are fully inflated to spec<\/h3>\n
Check your rim tape<\/h3>\n
Buy puncture-resistant tires<\/h3>\n
[azonpress template=”grid” asin=”B01JN4YEDW,B0843HG3RR,B08DD4MXQ8″ ]<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\nConsider using slime-filled innertubes<\/h3>\n
Slime-filled tubes are available pre-filled, or you may buy inner tubes with detachable valve cores that you can fill yourself.<\/p>\nUse protection tape<\/h3>\n
Try solid tires<\/h3>\n
Can you cycle with a puncture?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Are there bike tires that never go flat?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to replace an inner tube if you get a puncture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n