What is a good bike tire to help reduce the number of flats?

Question

What is a good bike tire to help reduce the number of flats? It's for a road bike ridden on streets and paved trails. I've had 3 flats in 3 months and it's getting tiresome. Want something reasonably priced and that will wear well. Something that will last at least 2000 miles before replacing.

Answer 1

What kind of flats are you getting?



If you are getting "snakebite" flats, that's because your tires are underinflated. Skinny road bike tires usually require pretty high pressures to prevent pinch flats (where the inner tube ruptures when it gets mashed against the rim on hitting a bump). On my road bike with 700x23c tires, I have to inflate them up to 120PSI. Changing tires won't help in this case, but a floor pump with a pressure gauge will.



If you are getting punctures from glass or other road debris, then yes changing your tires to a set that has kevlar belting will help. I've been using 700x23c Specialized Armadilloes and they are good for 3000 miles on my bike, running 100PSI front and 120PSI back (since most of my weight is on the back wheel).

Answer 2

Option 1 - Slime. You can get a strip between the tyre and the tube to put into your wheel. You might also look at slime tubes. I ride with these and they are generally good, but add rotational weight, so can make the bike heavy.



Option 2 - Tubeless. Stans No Flats. You will need to see if your rims are OK, or if you need to add rim tape. also, you might have to buy tubeless specific tyres. But this stuff is great and, more importantly, light.



Get onto Youtube and look for the video on fitting this stuff. There is also a video on Gheto tubless, that shows you how to do this on the cheap.



Luck

Answer 3

Some of the previous people commented with good suggestions.



Specialized tires with Armadillo protection can be quite pricey.



Maxxis Refuse are also well regarded as well for their puncture protection.



the LBS by my house, whom are a Trek dealer, recommended to me, Bontrager Race All Weather HardCase. They cost me about $40 a tire (about the same price as the Maxxis Refuse) for 700cx25. They have performed flawlessly in less than great streets

Answer 4

Anything with a Kevlar belt under the tread (not a foldable, Kevlar beaded tire). There are lots. None are cheap.

Answer 5

Try Specialized Armadillo tires they are rated pretty high for flat resistance.

Answer 6

Maxis Refuse is a good choice....durable but not a smooth roller...