How many poeple use puncture protected tyres on their commuter?

[Twanger]

After 1250 miles of carrying my 14 stone to London and back, my rear tyre is looking the worse for wear. Literally. Squaring off and balding. It's a Specialized All conditions bog standard that came with the bike. The front tyre is still rounded and treaded.

Now, I have noticed a number of things:

1. I have stopped getting p*nct*res since I started regularly checking the tyres for glass and flints, and bought a track pump with a gauge...well, I have had one, but that was caused by going down the cyclepath in St James Park (next to the Mall) at night through the fallen leaves, which counts, I think, as self induced.

2. I have only ever had punctures in the rear tyre.

3. It only takes me 10-15 minutes to repair a puncture.

4. Reports have it that tyres with puncture protection are often a bugger to get back on, whereas the tyre I use goes back on like a rat up a drain. I can almost do it one handed, spinning plates or rolling a cigarette with the other.

5. The Specializeds ARE cut up, with some gouges on the back tyre, but despite my earlier dislike of the tyre, I have come to appreciate its essential decency. It would be nice for a back tyre to last more than 1250 miles, though.

So. I can either 2 get new tyres, possibly puncture protected, or I can get another All Conditions and put it on the front, moving the current one to the back (any reason not to do that?), or I can move the front to the back (because the front tyre is still rounded and treaded, as I said) and put a different tyre on the front, switching it to the back as the All Conditions finally gives up the ghost.

What do I do? How many people here actually commute with puncture protection?

 

[knonist]

Marthon Plus, 32mm, all year,

PS 1250 miles is only 3 months of commuting of 20 miles each working day.

Do not put your rear tyre onto your front wheel, as it is your steering wheel (which is more important)

 

[Twanger]

I commute 20 miles, but only 3 days a week, and some weeks I sling the Brompton on the train. My best guess is 1250 on the hybrid over the past 6 months. if you add up incidental ride and shopping, I guess it may come up to 1500.

"Do not put your rear tyre onto your front wheel"

Certainly not. My rear tyre is the one which is buggered. I am proposing doing exactly the opposite.

 

[summerdays]

Marathon (not +), have done 3000+ miles on this set of tyres, probably 4 visits from the fairy (metal, glass, drawing pin etc). I don't always check the tyre pressure and would say that the punctures tend to occur when the tyres are soft.

(Just checked my computer and actually its 40 miles shy of 4000).

At first I found it very hard to get the tyres back on the rims but its getting easier. Tyres don't appear to be worn yet. I don't want the hassle of having to mend a tyre if I can help it and sometimes my journey takes me through areas I wouldn't want to stop for a while fixing something - for some reason they also tend to be areas with lots of broken glass. For me its worth it.

 

[addictfreak]

Use it on my MTB and roadie, I hate getting punctures especially in the rear tyre

 

[garrilla]

I'm on Conti Ultra Gator Skins with Kevlar at the moment. Previously I have had Shwalbe Bliizard Race with Kevlar and Vittoria Reubino with some protection. I've never had too much difficulty putting the tyres back on, although with the Contis I have, on one occasion, had to use a lever but mainly I'm able to brute force

 

[Twanger]

I'm convinced the wear on the back as opposed to the almost unworn front comes from my weight, the heavyish pannier and also the fact that on a hybrid (it's a Sirrus elite) I'm sitting more upright, which must put more weight on the rear. I would imagine that a drop bar set below the saddle, a diet and a backpack might result in more equal wear on the tyres.

But I like my sit up and beg position, with the bars and saddle at the same height. It's comfortable and good in traffic.

 

[hackbike 666]

For the pop pickers on here.My return commute last night.

Greentyre in use as it has been for over 1000 miles but the first time a screw has embedded itself in said tyre.(Rear tyre)

Had to stop and get it out as ride was too uncomfortable and at first I thought something was wrong with the bike.

 

[jimboalee]

Conti Gatorskins on summer commute bike.
Marathon + on winter commute bike.

BTW, Punctures happen anytime ( especially when it's raining or we're late for the train ).

 

[simongrant]

Just done 3000+ miles on kenda tyres with K-shield,had 1 puncture with them but after this distance they were looking a bit worn,not so much the tread,plenty left on em but lots of small cracks/splits developed. 3 weeks ago i got a set of vittoria randoneurs and so far i like em,bit slicker and faster than the kendas.
Vittoria rubinos on the roadbike,again i like these a lot and a very nice price too

Simon

 

[Twanger]

Hmmm..so it's only me and one other person who ride naked....

 

[hackbike 666]

I bet that other person is BM but I reckon he flies through the air.

3. It only takes me 10-15 minutes to repair a puncture.

Plus it's not very nice at 4am in the rain or snow and that's only if things go alright.

 

[GAVSTER]

Marathon plus all year round.

Two punctures so far - one caused by crappy rim tape. The other was a front wheel puncture as I nearly lost the front wheel going round tight bend and managed to rim pinch.

All sorted now - I hope.

Top tip is keep them pumped up well and that's half the battle.

 

[boydj]

After 1250 miles of carrying my 14 stone to London and back, my rear tyre is looking the worse for wear. Literally. Squaring off and balding. It's a Specialized All conditions bog standard that came with the bike. The front tyre is still rounded and treaded.

You are labouring under a misapprehension, since 'It (Specialized All Condition) is an equally lightweight skinwall, with a Kevlar bead and a Kevlar/elastomer breaker strip that Specialized call FlakJacket.', which means that you do have a level of protection.

I have used the 'Armadillo' version and pretty solid they were. I'm now using Cont1 GP 4 Seasons and they are excellent, though expensive - far less prone to cuts and trapping flints than the Specialized.

There's nothing worse than having to deal with a puncture on a cold, dark, wet and miserable morning, so why any regular commuter would travel without puncture protection is beyond me.

 

[Twanger]

You are labouring under a misapprehension, since 'It (Specialized All Condition) is an equally lightweight skinwall, with a Kevlar bead and a Kevlar/elastomer breaker strip that Specialized call FlakJacket.', which means that you do have a level of protection.

So I am. Thanks for pointing that out.