[Houdini]

The grit they've strewn over the past two months now means I don't ride w/out a puncture repair kit.

The tyre's are extremely thin (thickness) & bald by design; daresay damn good in summer on clean roads.



Any recommendations for brands offering puncture-resistant tubes or tyres?  Homemade solutions (lining the tyre?) possible?

 

[tomtom]

This wont be much help (ie brands and what to get..) but I was having a chat with the fella who runs my local bike shop (I needed a new inner tube) and a self sealing inner tube was £8 instead of £4 for regular. Kevlar lined tyres started at £12 each and went up to £30...
Keeping tyres well pumped up helps too apparently..
T

[soapy]

specialized all condition armadillo

or

vittoria randonneur

[Houdini]

^ fanx, will check.

These came w/ the bike: maxxi's detonator.

[Baron]

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/continental/ultra-gator-skins-tyre-ec004883

2 years commuting/ weekend rides in peak - no punctures

[chappers]

its gotta be the schwalbe marathon...

what size is the wheel, some may not be available in 26 or 29...

[soapy]

as ever lfgss has a review or two

[cowboyhat]

Continental Grand Prix 4 Season.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Continental_Grand_Prix_4_Season_Road_Tyre_and_Tube_Set/5360028017/

[northerngreg]

As previously mentioned, Schwalbe Marathons are great. I've only had problems with Continental Ultra Gator Skins, many many glass punctures.

[fatkid2000]

Agree with above

Conti - gator skins = shit!!
Conti 4 seasons fabulous - bet I puncture tomorrow morning.

[bigd942]

grit shouldn't be giving you flats in the first place so your tyres must be done. I've tried most brands and they all puncture at some point. gatorskins don't roll very well I found so I've stuck with vittoria open pro this last while and they seem ok, down to the canvas a few times without fault. the marathons do have great reviews though, so do dugast if your on tubs. try the tyre sealant as well, think percy mentioned it a while back, old timers just to put denim in the tyre as a liner but I nevedr saw the point.

[webbo]

The grit they've strewn over the past two months now means I don't ride w/out a puncture repair kit.

The tyre's are extremely thin (thickness) & bald by design; daresay damn good in summer on clean roads.



Any recommendations for brands offering puncture-resistant tubes or tyres?  Homemade solutions (lining the tyre?) possible?

cut the wire beading off and old tyre and fit inside your tyre.this will give you puncture protection.however it makes the tyre a twat to get on the rim and its heavy.

[Will Hunt]

I feel ya, Houd. I woke up nice and early to ride into work today and got downstairs to find a bike with ANOTHER flat. Definitely going to change out of the tyres it came with as they just eat glass (there's a lot of it round my way. For some reason people think it's acceptable to smash glass and leave it lying round the streets/pavement. Damn near impossible to avoid all the little shards).

From that LFGSS thread it looks like the Maxxis Refuse are a good bet.

[Houdini]

grit shouldn't be giving you flats in the first place so your tyres must be done.

The tyres are brand new.  And as I wrote above, very thin.  The inner tubes are also extremely thin.  They came w/ the bike which cost just €600 - it has not one particularly high quality component.  Seems normal in todays market.

The grit is in sharp angular lumps, varies in size from 1 to 4 or 5 mm, and as I was reading today, there has been 10,000 tonnes of it strewn on the streets of my city in the last 8 weeks.

[JamesD]

specialized all condition armadillo

or

vittoria randonneur

Good call, although I think the better tyre is the randonneur, not only was its puncture resistance amazing, but I put it through hell on my old fixed-gear, riding brakeless, hitting wall-rides, stairs, skateparks etc.
Bombproof until you get down to the red layer, at which point it is time to replace!
Good ol LFGSS, I used to be a member there....well I still am, just not active anymore, can't be assed with it all.

[Houdini]

Went w/ one Schwalbe Marathon on the rear.   €30.