Tyre puncture protection - useful?

[uncle arthur]

On a lunchtime browse through the LBS across from work (very dangerous that - exit door, cross road, spend money) I saw some of what I can only describe as tyre 'slime tape'.

Comes in a roll, and you line the tyre with it between the tyre and the tube. About 30$

Apparently helps to stop punctures.

Anyone use it (or something similar) and waddayarekkon???

[stryker84]

Had a thread on this recently.

Saved by slime!

[Matt_Matt]

Yep. I a huge fan of Slime Liners.

Worth their weight if your riding through crappy areas with heaps of rubbish.



Matt

[Kalgrm]

They are called tyre liners, and also believe they are worth their weight.

Mike and others have reported punctures apparently caused by tyre liners. I've never encountered them myself, but I've only had them in my bikes for 20 odd years.

Mine are "Mr Tuffy" brand.

Cheers,
Graeme

[mikesbytes]

Only if you put less than 100psi in your tyres, otherwise the join in the liner will eventually cause a puncture.

[LuckyPierre]

The amount of glass I've been riding through lately is horrendous, but I got my first puncture for ages yesterday. I attribute a lot of the 'long time between drinks' to my Tuffy tyre liners.

[LuckyPierre]

I agree - tyre liners will cause wear, especially if you trim them to fit. I absolutely wrecked a tube by doing that. I was told to put some tape (preferably a cloth tape) over the join and haven't had any drama since.

[Kalgrm]

The Mr Tuffy ones specifically state "Do not trim". You buy the ones designed for your tyres and overlap the ends, which are tapered to avoid these tube-abrasion issues.

I've had mine at 100psi+ for the last year or so on two different bikes for around 8000km of metropolitan travel without a puncture.

Your best bet is to try them. At $26 a pair, they won't break the bank if they don't do what you want.

Cheers,
Graeme

[il padrone]

Much better to simply run tyres like Vittoria Randonneur Cross. Mine have done over 8000kms with no punctures at all. The have a layer like Mr Tuffy built into the tyre.

Comes as Vittoria Randonneur too, with a smoother tread. Equally tough!

[LuckyPierre]

... simply run tyres like Vittoria Randonneur Cross ...

But there's none smaller than 28mm - and they weigh 490g! Each!!

... Mr Tuffy ones specifically state "Do not trim" ...

I found mine in the tyres of a 'tip shop' bike I picked up for $5 - so they didn't have instructions. I read the back of the pack in a shop long after I'd trimmed them.

[il padrone]

... simply run tyres like Vittoria Randonneur Cross ...

But there's none smaller than 28mm - and they weigh 490g! Each!!

Hmm... OK,I thought we were talking about commuter or MTB tyres, not roadie tyres.

Didn't know MrTuffys were available for skinny tyres, but I see now they are.

As for weight - MrTuffy tape, or Double Defence puncture-proof layer in the tread Much of a muchness. The Vittoria Randonneurs ride very nicely.

[Dcyclist]

I too, have Mr. Tuffy tyre liners running at over 100psi. No problems so far, had two punctures even with them on and, using Conti Ultragatorskins, but that was quite a while ago. Nothing short of a solid tyre will 100% block all punctures, but they seem worthwile to me. Mind you, I'm not looking to race, and my bike is relatively heavy anyway, so the extra weight isn't a big deal to me.

[Mulger bill]

I've had mine at 100psi+ for the last year or so on two different bikes for around 8000km of metropolitan travel without a puncture.

Cheers,
Graeme

Well if that's not a call to the black cat gods.....

Shaun

[utopia]

I have that stuff on my tyre and got a flat second time i took the bike for a ride and didnt take a spare tube, i had to walk about 20kms home.

[munga]

i have a $20 stash in my saddlebag, just in case i need a cab home. Might not get you home, but it's $20 closer than you'd be without it

[Dcyclist]

Just to update from my previous post in this topic. Tonight while changing my tyres due to some deep cuts, I found that both my tubes had score marks where the protectors ended. So I've gone back to a tube & tyre without any liner on my bike.

[Kalgrm]

Were your tyre liners trimmed before being placed in your tyres? Or were they tapered, as supplied by the factory?

Cheers,
Graeme

[Dcyclist]

My liners were exactly as they came out of the packet. Both tubes had crescent shaped score marks where the liners ended. They had been in there for roughly 5000km, with one puncture in the rear tyre at the 1000km mark. Going by the size and depth of the score marks, it would surprise me if I had managed another month without a blowout. I'm certain that they protected me from multiple punctures, but having seen those wear marks I'd rather a few patches, than an unrepairable tube failure.

[Kalgrm]

Thanks very much for that info Dave.

Every time someone mentions that their liners have caused (or in your case, were about to cause) a puncture, I ask the same question. Most have said they were trimmed, but your answer was unusual and useful. I'll now swap my tubes out every 6 to 9 months as preventative maintenance.

Thanks for that,
Graeme