Flat-proofing a bike

[nogoodnamesleft]

When I get a puncture, I try and find the cause and check the inside of the tyre for thorns etc.

I use Marathon Plus and do rarely get a puncture and the few I do get are thorns. Probably a lack of skill on my part but once home when removing the thorn from the tyre I invariably end-up damaging the tyre. My (limited) impression is that the more puncture proof layers in the tyre the harder it can be clearing out the few that do get through.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

The trouble with puncture resistance from a personal perspective is there is no way to know how many punctures your mega-resistant type has prevented. The few punctures I have had have maybe been every thorn I've ridden over and they all got through (ie tyre puncture resistance not effective) or might be every ride I've over potential puncture causes and the tyre is preventing 99% of punctures.

 

[Oldhippy]

Silly question perhaps, why would you need to know how many were prevented?

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

Silly question perhaps, why would you need to know how many were prevented?

People say that more puncture resistant tyres are heavier and noticeably more rolling resistance (hence some don't like them).
When I switch to Marathon Plus they were more expensive than the lower protection tyres (same brand) I have been using.

If they are ineffective one is enduring the negative impacts from using them without benefit.
If they are effective then it's a trade-off everybody can make their decision which to use.

Edit: corrected spelling of "negative"

 

[ianrauk]

Hmm

I have had problems with them
OK - if I have just got a puncture by the side of a muddy path in the rain then I might well have rushed it
but when I found it was leaking I was at home and in a sunny garden

so I cleaned it and all that - and did it properly
including pressing it firmly for ages and letting it "set" before putting proper pressure in it

and it still leaked after a few more days

probably a duff brand I suppose

Park Tools patches are my ones of choice

 

[C R]

The skabs ones are good too.