So, these punctures of mine....

[Neil363]

I know that punctures are a way of life but the last 2 weeks have been a little silly to say the least.

4 inner tubes have punctured, two out on the road and two whilst my Giant Defy 3 has been sitting happily in the garage doing nothing. The only changes I have made to my wheels are to take off the stock Giant tyres (700x25) and replaced them with Vittoria Rubino Pros (700x23).

3 of the 4 to burst were Bontrager tubes (18-25 I think), with the 4th a Vittoria (19-23).

I've checked the tyres and rims thoroughly and found nothing which should lead to a puncture. I've now put the stock Giant rubber back on in case there was something wrong with the Rubinos. Tyre pressures are always around the 100 mark and get checked on a very regular basis.

Have I just been REALLY unlucky or am I doing something wrong? I can slightly understand the issues with getting punctures whilst out on the road but for 2 tubes to go whilst the bike was doing nothing seems slightly crazy to say the least. I purchased the Giant a few months back and went ages with no problems........now these are coming at an alarming rate!

HELP!!!

 

[RWright]

Make sure you are getting the tube inside the tire bead and make sure the rims are taped well. That is where I would start, along with feeling every bit of the inside of the tire for something sharp. The type puncture and the location can tell you a lot.

 

[Neil363]

Pretty certain there's nothing at all in the tyre. The actual punctures are very small (to me), only a couple of mm in length but each one has been in a different part of the tube although all are quite close to the seam.

 

[I like Skol]

The actual punctures are very small (to me), only a couple of mm in length

That's a bit of a clue right there. Most small, difficult to find punctures are pin pricks from thorns, glass shards, metal slivers etc. If you are finding 'splits' of any length I would suspect you are pinching the tubes somehow while refitting the tyres.

 

[MaxInc]

The actual punctures are very small (to me), only a couple of mm in length but each one has been in a different part of the tube although all are quite close to the seam.

It may be just unlucky but if it happens again, before you take the tyre off, make sure you mark the tyre with the position of the valve. This way, when you find the location of the puncture in the tube, you can reference it back to the tyre and check more carefully with plenty of light.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Are you using tyre levers to get the tyre back on? If you are, don't.

 

[Puddles]

Are you using tyre levers to get the tyre back on? If you are, don't.

Why?

 

[youngoldbloke]

It is so so easy to pinch and damage the tube with the levers. Agree with I like Skol, they sound like pinch punctures. You can get most tyres back on the rim with your thumbs.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

It is so so easy to pinch and damage the tube with the levers. Agree with I like Skol, they sound like pinch punctures. You can get most tyres back on the rim with your thumbs.

Very true! Even me, I can. Mostly
Not to use levers is a great tip.
Also recheck the tyre for embedded objects: recently a colleague of mine asked me (he was desperate ) to fix his 3rd flat in so many days.
I found a tiny piece of metal in the tyre: he did say he checked it

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Align the tyre logo with the valve, then check the corresponding area on the tube with the tyre.

 

[RWright]

I recently had a puncture and thought I did everything right when I repaired it. Next day slow leak. There was a very tiny piece of wire that I had not felt. I found it by filling the tire with air and putting it underwater and rotating until I found the location. I then took off the tire and found it by feel very carefully, then using a bright flashlight I was able to see it. I had to use tweezers to get it out because it was so small.

 

[line71]

The stock Giant tyres are trash,put them in the bin,get a new set of inner tubes and some continental gatorskins,problem over

 

[Neil363]

Cheers for the replies guys.

I had been using tyre levers to get the last bit of rubber on so will attempt it without them next time. Am still slightly confused how I can do a 50km ride with no issues, bring the bike home and then have the tyre go down prior to my next outing? A very slow puncture I guess!?

I've put the stock Giant tyres back on and fingers crossed, so far so good. The only issue I have with them is they aren't red and seem a little slower (might be all in the mind as my times/speed are pretty much the same). Would I notice a difference between these Giants and the Continental Gators?

With regards to a pinch puncture, would they be more common with the Rubinos (700x23) as opposed to the slightly wider stocks (700x25)?

 

[jonny jeez]

Cheers for the replies guys.

. The only issue I have with them is they aren't red and seem a little slower

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/schwalbe-durano-s-performance-folding-tyre/

fast, puncture proof, and RED!

mine suffered a little at first but have done many many miles without a visit.

steer away from those levers...roll, roll, roll, that's the only way to get a tyre back on.

as for the overnight self deflation thing...very odd, its a long shot but do you inflate with a pump, or co2?

 

[DWiggy]

I changed my old tyres from std tyres that constantly punctured (road side) to Gator Skins and suddenly a shed load of punctures that ended up being pinch punctures (rim side) the fix was replace the rim tape http://www.wiggle.co.uk/velox-rim-tape/, it would seem the tougher tyre puts more stress on the tube rim side!

Now I been puncture free for over a year!