Flats..Arrrggghhh!

charliechops

I currently rolling around on Vittoria Open Corsa Evo Cx tyres.I've had more flats with these tyres in the last couple of months than I've had in the last five years.I also have a vey small hole in the the rear tyre that shows the tube.When I say small...about the size of a head on a nail.Can You fix the tyre without buying a new one? I know that the small hole doesn't help flats (the flats on the rear have been in different places).Is there a better tube on the market that helps in the prevention of flats? Like tornless tubes for tour biking or mountain biking? Any thoughts would be great.Cheers

rek

Open Corsas will do that.. (flat a lot)

Personally I wouldn't trust a tyre that exposes the tube, except in an emergency/limp-home type situation.

In a pinch, you could cover over the hole on the inside with some tough material (like a folded plastic $5 note or something similar) but I wouldn't go riding on it for too long.

You can get tyre liners that go in between the tube and the tyre, but I'm thinking that it might dilute the qualities that make the Open Corsas so nice to ride with.

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Peter
Cannondale Synapse Carbon Scalpel Cyclocross Ultra

531Aussie

I've had my best run ever -- only one puncture in about 13,000kms -- since I started training on Vredestein Tricomps and Vredestein Race tubes. I should say that most of my miles are on Beach Rd.

Those Vittorias have a pretty thin casing and tread, but, without seeing the cut, I'd say that some sort of patch should fix it. If i have a small nick I'll just patch it with a puncture repair patch, but if it's a bit more serious I'll gaffer on a piece of narrow plastic. I found the 'Shoe Goo' method to be much less effective.

robalert

i'm confused... are they tubeless?

__________________
Rob

www.bikenorth.org.au

'07 Giant OCR Composite 3 - R550s with Michi Prorace2

'06 Giant CRX1

'96 Apollo Himalaya commuter - Rigid Fork, slicks, fully racked

DMR Switchback Reynolds 520- Velocity Cliffhangers, SRAM X-9, Easton bar/stem


DMR Trailstar 2 4130- Mavic117, Dice Whiplash, SCUD DH bars, LX 9spd, DMR Crisis Cranks.

'04 Giant VT3 frame - SOLD

531Aussie

nah. "Open" on the Vittoria names refers to clincher

http://www.vittoria.com/index3.asp?lingua=en

Wrightstuff

This was sent to me by a friend who is using Specialized Armadillo tyres. The tube was not punctured. I have had my first puncture after using Armadillo's for over 9000 km on my road bike, and it was a small nail, not glass. I have had small holes in my tyres for some time and soon I will need replacements and at this stage I see no reason to change brands.

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charliechops

I'm thinking I should just replace the tyre.Have you heard bad things about flatting with the Corsa?
I would like to keep the tyres in uniform ie. front matching the back. They feel great to ride on...but, if they are prone to getting flats, then I think I will have to reconsider my options. Cheers

rek

I accidentally got a set (ordered crappy tyres by mail-order, they sent me good ones instead for some reason) and managed to flat and eventually gouge the sidewalls somehow, after a few hundred k's of some typical city riding on roads that weren't so nice. It's unfair to call them "crap" for this though, they're intended as a race-day super tacky tyre, not a go-anywhere, do-anything one.

Except for their questionable puncture-protection, they would be The Perfect Tyre in my opinion (before gclark asks, I haven't tried GP4000s yet )


As a bit of a random sample/recommendation, I'm running Conti Grand Prix 4-Seasons (the recently obsolete kind) and had good luck with punctures. Something along the lines of NONE They're also quite "race-like" in their behaviour which is a nice thing.

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Peter
Cannondale Synapse Carbon Scalpel Cyclocross Ultra

531Aussie

I should add, that while the Open Corsa KS (slick version) was the best tyre I've ever had, it cut, popped, blew, and went down quicker than you could imagine!! I don't even know what I hit -- I didn't see any glass.

http://vmartin.bigpondhosting.com/photos/tyre_cut_9.jpg

charliechops

Thanks. I ordered a couple of the Conti Gran Prix 4 season from
http://www.totalcycling.com/Product...1e-ed3752a443f5

I'll give them a go.I only got 3km down the road this morning and flatted again.

mjs4300

Can You fix the tyre without buying a new one?

Definitely you can. Some of us are either stingy with money or just don't have any. I am in the second category. The way that I have prevented more flats from a tyre that has been compromised is to use the $2.95 tyre patch on the inside of the tyre. It works a treat. Covers the hole permenently and prevents new punctures in that spot. Tyres can be expensive and if you can get away with this method like I have done it is very cost effective.

I too had 8 flats in 4 weeks, because I had tyres that were not up to the ride I was doing. I bit the bullet and lashed out some $$$ and bought some Maxxis overdrive tyres they are pretty good with no more flats. They are Kevlar with silicone on the inside wall. They are a harder compond and deeper tread so I have lost about 3kph ave speed. But I would rather that than lots of flats.

gclark8

Do you guys clean your tyres?

I wipe mine over with a rag and Armourall after each ride.

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Cheers,
George.

thomas_cho

Seems strange to flat after 3km on new tyres. I once changed my tyres to Vitorria Rubina Pros ... and the got a flat even before I rode on them. I put them in the garage, and 3 days later ... heard a "whoosh" sound.

I inspected the tube and it had blown. I came to the conclusion that the tube was pinched between the tyre wall and rim.

You should inspect the tube to make sure its seated properly.

gclark8

Some of these flats may be pump problems, are you all using floor pumps with gauges? I'm going back to 85f 100r on the Felt.

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Cheers,
George.