Have my M+ had it?

[Panter]

They've done ~ 17 or 1800 miles now without incident.

Then, a deflation on the rear Tuesday and one on the front Yesterday, both caused by thorns.

The stock tyres (Kenda Contendors IIRC) did a similar mileage before letting me know they needed changing with two incidents in a short space of time but I expected more from the Marathons.

My commute takes in lots of hedge flanked lanes and with the high winds and hedge cutting, there are lots of unavoidable thorny twigs on the road but that's why I went for the M+'s.

Time to replace them or have I just been very unlucky?

 

[John the Monkey]

How are the thorns getting through? (Are there cuts in the tread that they're exploiting, are they working their way into the tyre through the smartguard?)

It may be worth checking the tyre regularly and pulling anything out of the tread that's stuck in there (apologies if you do this already). Sometimes it's possible to get something in the tread that works its way in over a couple of days.

 

[4F]

I would say unlucky, 4000 on mine without a puncture however I do as John the monkey says and check monthly for flints etc.

 

[upsidedown]

I did 4000+ on standard Marathons and they still had plenty left when i sold the bike.
It's quite a bad time of year for punctures on country lanes as the farmers are trimming hedges before the winter, probably just an unlucky spell.

 

[Panter]

Thanks all.

The thorns appear to be getting channeled in by the tread pattern and then hammering through the belt over time.
They were thorn free before I left for home so it would've happened on the journey.

On one stretch of road, the hedge trimmings were so bad that it was like a forest floor and this was followed by a further 10 miles of fast roads so if I pick up a thorn there, it gets plenty of time to chip away at the belt.

I must admit I don't want to check them after every lane but I suppose may have to if they are hedge cutting.

I assume that, short of caterpillar tracks, there isn't a tougher alternative to M+'s?

 

[John the Monkey]

I must admit I don't want to check them after every lane but I suppose may have to if they are hedge cutting.

I don't think you'd need to do that, I tend to look over my commuting tyres every weekend or so.

I assume that, short of caterpillar tracks, there isn't a tougher alternative to M+'s?

You could try a tyre liner - my LBS rate those + a cheap tyre more highly, as the liners are reusable.

 

[accountantpete]

The Cheshire country roads have this problem all the time - learn to look for a freshly cut hawthorn hedge and if you do ride through instead of walking, follow the car tracks and then just run your hand over the tyres when you are past the problem area.It takes about 20 secs.

 

[4F]

You could try a tyre liner - my LBS rate those + a cheap tyre more highly, as the liners are reusable.

Have you ever tried to fit tyre liners ? In comparison getting an M+ on the rim is a doddle.

 

[John the Monkey]

Have you ever tried to fit tyre liners ? In comparison getting an M+ on the rim is a doddle.

Nope. I'm far too much of a ponce to add extra weight to my tyres, despite my recent worrying trend towards bike accoutrements made of canvas.

 

[4F]

I have tried twice, the first and the last time ....

However on my "fast bike" I have a nice pair of michelin krylions and they offer excellent puncture protection whilst at the same time are very light.
You can also colour co-ordinate
http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/review/reviewProduct.asp?sp=&v=1&rpn=26870

 

[John the Monkey]

However on my "fast bike" I have a nice pair of michelin krylions and they offer excellent puncture protection whilst at the same time are very light.
You can also colour co-ordinate
http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/review/reviewProduct.asp?sp=&v=1&rpn=26870

I have a set of those in the bits box, ready to go on when my PR2 are at the end of their useful life...

 

[fossyant]

I've used tyre liners in the past - horrible, and you can get pinch problems at the join/overlap.

1400 miles on marathons - certainly not worn, got 1500 on my Conti 4 Seasons - no sign of wear or visits.

Hawthorn 'thorns' have a mighty good ability of penetraiting anything.....something to do with the diamond tipped spikes....

 

[Panter]

Thanks all

I thought we had a solution there with the tyre liners, maybe even those coupled with slime tubes but it sounds as if they're a no-go.
I fixed the pu***ure last night, it definately was another Hawthorn thorn.
I'm sure I picked it up on that bad piece of road but, to be fair, it didn't affect the tyre until a few hundred yards from home so I assume that even slime tubes won't help with that sort of thing as the edge of the thorn will just keep chipping away at the tube?

The Cheshire country roads have this problem all the time - learn to look for a freshly cut hawthorn hedge and if you do ride through instead of walking, follow the car tracks and then just run your hand over the tyres when you are past the problem area.It takes about 20 secs.

Thanks Pete, fair enough. I'd rather spend 20secs on a quick tyre check than 15 minutes fixing a deflation.
I don't think I can really avoid the thorns, on some of these tiny lanes I travel on I've literally seen a handful of cars over the last Year of commuting so the thorns don't get cleared very quickly.
I will stick to where a cars tyreline would be though as it must help.

The Krylions look good, I know lots of people don't notice the rolling weight/resistance of the M+, but I personally find them hard going so if they are going to deflate occasionally, I may as well look at something faster.

Thanks again all,