4 rides, 3 punctures... I'm about to give up on this lark.

[Shut Up Legs]

Just remember no tyres are puncture proof. I prefer Marathon Plus tyres, both on my commuter/tourer and road bikes, but have still had punctures with these. Best of luck sorting out your puncture issues.

 

[Mrs M]

The standard cheapo tyres (Vittoria Zaffiro Pro II 28c) that came with my bike lasted a good 2 months before I got a puncture, once I did get a puncture it was so bad I had to replace the rear tyre, so decided to swap both for Continental 4000S II 25c.

Now I know these don't have the best puncture protection, but I figured they would be half decent and at least better than the tyres that came with my bike... how wrong could I have been?

Maybe I've just been very unlucky, but on my last 4 rides, I've had 3 rear punctures... the most recent (an hour ago) has put a nice big cut in the rear tyre meaning I need to buy a new one... less than a week after spending almost 100 quid on tyres and innertubes.

So, am I just unlucky? Should I just get some Conti Gatorskins? Will Conti Gatorskins actually reduce my punctures? Should I go back to 28c? Are 25c tyres more puncture prone?

At this rate I might just start going back to the gym and use the cycle machines...

I have Continental Gatorskins and have no punctures, but think just very lucky, no punctures for, seriously, 32 years

 

[RedRider]

I have Continental Gatorskins and have no punctures, but think just very lucky, no punctures for, seriously, 32 years

Blimey, bet you don't ride in parks though.

 

[potsy]

I have Continental Gatorskins and have no punctures, but think just very lucky, no punctures for, seriously, 32 years

Is that the same pair of tyres for 32 years?

 

[Mrs M]

Is that the same pair of tyres for 32 years?

No dear, lol.
Had my last puncture on my 1981 Halfords cascade, ladies tourer.
Since then had a Giant Hollywood for 18 years, no flats, then a GT mountain bike, fitted Schwalbe Marathon tyres, only had this for a year as it wasn't "very good". Now my Felt ZW ladies steed which I fitted with the Gatorskins after the stock tyres became a bit baldy (no punctures). Must just be lucky!!

 

[Berties]

lets be honest its puncture fairy central out there at the moment,hedges are being cut and with the heavy rains flints are washed out,stones and debris are covered by leaves,i ride gatorskins on 23,25 and 28 in the winter,check tyres before and after rides ,correct pressures,avoid larger patches of gravel and large stones, and then its just luck

 

[the_mikey]

Tyres and punctures :
Vittoria rubino - puncture after 1000km, caused by glass.
Continental grand prix- punctured on Ilkley Moor after riding over 2000km, caused by a large deposit of broken glass.
Schwalbe Durano- puncture after 500km, caused by a large thorn.
Michelin krylion carbon - puncture after 2500km, caused by glass after riding over the remains of a broken bottle at night.

And the tyres that never punctured:
My first pair of 25c gatorskins, worn out and replaced.
23c gatorskins, worn out and replaced.
My 2nd pair of 24c Conti grand prix- worn out.

Most of the broken glass I have encountered has been on the streets of Bristol, with the exception of the glass on Ilkley Moor, after replacing the tube I rode the bike off road across the Moor without incident.

 

[BikeLiker]

Does nobody else use Conti Hardshells? Ridden 2 pairs over two years including winters, >8000 miles and not a single puncture. When I bought my wheels they came with Mavic tyres and I punctured 3 times in 2 weeks before switching back to Hardshells.
Heavy (330g v 250g for gatorskins) but worth it if like me you HATE punctures.

 

[Joshua Plumtree]

I have Continental Gatorskins and have no punctures, but think just very lucky, no punctures for, seriously, 32 years

Ah..but you have only ridden the bike twice in that time and not through any parks.

 

[petergc]

I had the same bad luck. 3weeks in use on my gp's and this happened. I swapped to 4 seasons and not looked back.

 

[400bhp]

Carry on riding through parks with glass. All the best.

 

[Phixion]

So the question of all questions... Gatorskins or Hardshells? 25's or 28's?

 

[Rob3rt]

If you are going to ride your bike around the local park, buy some tractor tyres...

 

[Phixion]

If you are going to ride your bike around the local park, buy some tractor tyres...

Have you ever been to my local park? Do you know what the surface is like?

Didn't think so...

Bike snobs are fun, but can we please get back to my question?

 

[Rob3rt]

Using appropriate tyres has nothing to do with snobbery...