Tyre Help

[Rolf Parrish]

My lad has followed me into cycling, taking out his bike and losing some weight and regaining fitness. He is 16st and 5ft 11in. He is currently riding a Claud Butler San Remo. He is running on 700c x 25 continental tyres. My problem is I have never known anyone to get as many punctures as he does. Every single ride. Even punctured slime inner tubes. I am concerned that this may be down to his weight and should i consider wider tyres and tubes until his weight comes down. If I should what size? and would they fit on these rims.

 

[lejogger]

There's no reason why at that weight on those tyres he should have a puncture every ride without something being wrong. What condition are the tyres in? Is it one tyre more than the other? Do you check the inside of the tyre thoroughly before replacing the tube... There could be tiny flecks of glass or flint that have worked their way through.
Is the rim tape worn or off centre?
What pressure does he inflate to?

 

[black'n'yellow]

Punctures are not a weight issue, unless he is running too low pressure. To me, it sounds as though whatever gave him the original puncture is still stuck in the tyre somewhere...

 

[Rolf Parrish]

I considered weight because last weekend we got 2 punctures at exactly the same time, both pinch type. I guess that is down to wrong pressure. What pressure should the tubes be inflated to?

 

[MattHB]

I considered weight because last weekend we got 2 punctures at exactly the same time, both pinch type. I guess that is down to wrong pressure. What pressure should the tubes be inflated to?

they'll have a max embossed on the side wall.. so anywhere around that.

 

[ianrauk]

I considered weight because last weekend we got 2 punctures at exactly the same time, both pinch type. I guess that is down to wrong pressure. What pressure should the tubes be inflated to?

This will be marked on the side of the tyre. A minimum-maximum amount of psi/bar.

 

[lejogger]

I considered weight because last weekend we got 2 punctures at exactly the same time, both pinch type. I guess that is down to wrong pressure. What pressure should the tubes be inflated to?

what brand of continental tyre are they? And what is the maximum inflation guide on the tyre wall? It shouldn't be anywhere near this by the way.

 

[lejogger]

For example my tyres have a max inflation guide of 120psi. I'm 12 stone and I'll put in 100 max for road riding on uk lanes. If I'm carrying an extra 4 stone I'd be putting in 80psi max and be on full pothole alert.

 

[smokeysmoo]

FWIW I'm a big guy myself, 6' 5" and the wrong side of 18 stone (I'm working on it though)

I run 700 x 23 Conti Gator Skins at 120psi, and touch wood pucntures are a pretty rare occurence.

 

[MattHB]

For example my tyres have a max inflation guide of 120psi. I'm 12 stone and I'll put in 100 max for road riding on uk lanes. If I'm carrying an extra 4 stone I'd be putting in 80psi max and be on full pothole alert.

you'd put in less if you weighed more? why?


Conti 4000s for me, max rating 120, I put in 110, no issues at all and a good ride as theyre 25's

 

[PpPete]

You don't mention what model of Continental tyres ?
I know they do some puncture resistant ones, but not every one likes them.
Schwalbe Marathons are very resistant - but heavy and expensive.
My personal favorite is Michelin Krylion (now renamed Pro 4 Endurance) which, for me, are the right compromise of very satisfactory levels of puncture resistance, low rolling resistance (=speed), weight, grip, longevity; altough they are not cheap. I do try to keep them up near the top end of the recommended pressure.
I'm not going to tell you many (how few) punctures I've had this year (in all the mileage shown in my sig line) because I just know that if I do, the puncture faerie will get me next time out. However I will tempt fate enough to tell you it's a nice round number....

BTW Slime on a road bike is no-no. Adds weight and usually ineffective at road bike pressures.

 

[lejogger]

FWIW I'm a big guy myself, 6' 5" and the wrong side of 18 stone (I'm working on it though)

I run 700 x 23 Conti Gator Skins at 120psi, and touch wood pucntures are a pretty rare occurence.

 

[black'n'yellow]

just to be clear - the 'max' pressure on the sidewall is the maximum rated pressure that the tyre can accommodate. It is not the 'recommended' pressure...

 

[smokeysmoo]

My midddle names are brick and $hithouse

 

[lejogger]

you'd put in less if you weighed more? why?


Conti 4000s for me, max rating 120, I put in 110, no issues at all and a good ride as theyre 25's

Because there is a consequence of 16stone of pressure on 110 psi wheel compared to 12 stone of pressure on a 110psi wheel. The difference of hitting a pot hole will be amplified and there will be a much greater risk of a pinch puncture than if there is a lesser psi.
If I'm touring I'll never be anywhere near max pressure.

Max pressure on Uk roads is counter productive anyway. They'll roll much smoother on bad surfaces with less pressure.