Prevent a Flat Tyre

How to Prevent a Flat Tyre

     Flats happen. But on the road or on the trail, you don't have to let them leave you, well . . . flat. By simply taking the time to learn about punctures and how they happen, you will be on the road (or trail) to being flat-free in no-time.

     Punctures come from a variety of sources and can have a distinct characteristic. Not all punctures can be avoided, but by identifying the type you have experienced, you can take preventative steps to avoid them in the future. Here are the most common types of punctures and some ways to prevent them:

• Punctures from debris. This flat is when glass, wood splinters, nails, or some other sharp object penetrates through a tyre and punctures the tube. There are self-explanatory, and sometimes, even with the best preventative measures, still happen to the best of us. Your best defence is to avoid riding through debris, inspect your tyres regularly and removing any lodged-in objects that can work their way through your tyre and puncture it.

Preventative action: Use tyres, tubes, and/or products with more puncture resistance; avoid riding in areas with sharp debris.

• Pinch flats This flat is identified by one or two distinct puncture marks on a tube, as if it were bitten by a snake. These are usually caused by striking something like a pothole or curb with low tyre pressure. The tube becomes pinched between the tyre and rim from the abrupt impact, puncturing it. These punctures are usually located on the side or top area of the tube. Most people replace their tube after experiencing a snake bite, but sometimes a high-quality patch can allow the tube to be reused.

Preventative action: Keep your tyres properly inflated to the recommended pressure printed on the tyre sidewall.

• Sidewall cuts. The sidewall of a tyre is not designed to contact anything, and is not durable like the tread of a tyre. Many times this type of damage unknowingly happens when a cyclist loads his/her bike onto a vehicle, or leans it against something, like a curb, bench, or wall. The sidewall is generally made thin to keep the tyre light and supple for good ride characteristics. Unfortunately with sidewall cuts, once they happen, there is no suitable repair. The tyre will need replacing.

Preventative action: Avoid tyre sidewall contact with sharp or rough objects.

• Rim punctures. A hole or cut on the inside of the inner tube, where the tube contacts the rim inside the tyre. Causes include: a sharp edge or burr on the rim; an improperly installed or poor-quality rim strip; a spoke that is too long (sometimes more than one).

Preventative action: Inspect the inner area of your rims and sand/file any sharp edges or burrs; use high-quality rim strips that fit your rims properly and are sufficient to handle the maximum pressure of your tyres; use proper length spokes or grind down excessively long spokes.

• Blowout or Blow-off. This is where the tyre bead blows off the rim. Avoid using lubricants for high-pressure tyre installation, like talcum powder or soapy water. Yes, they make them easier to install your tyres; they also make them easier to remove, or blow off the rim. Blow-off’s can be frightening to say the least. Most are caused by incorrect tyre installation, especially with high-pressure road tyres. If the tyre bead is not seated evenly, the pressure will push off the tyre bead, resulting in a bulging, burst tube. Boom!

Corrective action: After installing a tyre and tube onto a wheel, partially inflate to a point where the tyre holds its shape on the rim, but the tyre bead can still be easily manipulated by hand for adjustments. Inflate to 10-20psi, spin your wheel, and inspect for high/low spots. Hand-adjust by squeezing/pulling the tyre on the rim until the bead is seated properly and the tyre spins true. If you cannot adjust the bead by hand, release air pressure until you can. Spin again to check it. Only when a tyre is seated and straight should you fill it to full pressure.

     Even with all the preventative measures taken, flats still happen to the best of us. Keep in mind, as a tyre becomes more resistant to punctures, it generally becomes heavier and less supple. Increasing puncture resistance can compromise performance. The key is finding the tyre setup for your riding style.