The Chainlink

Tire Advice-- Broken Glass and Commuting

The broken glass on the Prairie Path, with the change in weather, has gone from occasional to very common. I've been commuting on it with minimal incident since May, but now I've had three flats in the last week, and it is becoming tiresome. I'm riding an older Schwinn Suburban with 27 x 1 1/4 tires, and the original wheels. I'm looking for suggestions-- the current tires are nothing special, but have been replaced this season.

On the bright side, I replaced my own tube (front tire) for the first time in 3000 miles of riding last week!

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on February 8, 2013 at 10:47am

Schwalbe Marathons are awesome - extremely puncture resistant. How puncture resistant? I've ridden them on south side streets and paths through areas that were dense with broken glass.  No flats on the road in over 5000 miles of city riding.  I've had them on 3 different bikes for several years.

The HS 420 is available in LOTS of sizes.

Jeff Schneider said:

I don't think the Schwalbe Marathon (which I love) is available in 27".  In that size, the best you can get might be the  Panaracer Pasela Tour Guard.

Permalink Reply by Dave D on February 8, 2013 at 11:21am

I have continental tour rides that have a protective layer. Not sure if they are in your size though.

Permalink Reply by Dave D on February 8, 2013 at 11:23am
Permalink Reply by Will on February 11, 2013 at 7:54am

Oops. I automatically assumed it was the lake front path.

Tim Heckman said:

This wasn't in Chicago, but in Maywood. The Maywood Public Works Department is somewhat challenged in resources, but it couldn't hurt to ask.
Permalink Reply by Apie (11) on February 14, 2013 at 10:55am

Stay away from Conti Tour Rides, they were ok the first 2000 miles, now they pick up every piece of glass on the street.  The rubber is softer and they shed nothing but water.  I got 2 flats yetserday, and took a good 20 minutes picking all the glass and debris from the soft compound.  I'm not happy!

Permalink Reply by Steve Courtright on February 14, 2013 at 11:21am

 

It is also interesting to know that rubber cuts Much easier when wet.

 

So, it is worth being more wary of glass, etc., when the way is wet, after rains, behind street cleaning machines and so on.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on February 14, 2013 at 11:48am

Bits of glass are much more likely to stick to tires in wet conditions, which makes punctures more likely.  When I've volunteered at invitational rides in locations where some flat tires are likely to happen, the number of flat tires skyrockets when conditions are wet, especially in very heavy rain. 

Part of the issue is that all but the largest pieces of glass can become invisible in rain.  It's much tougher to avoid broken glass if you can't see it.

Steve Courtright said:

 

It is also interesting to know that rubber cuts Much easier when wet.

 

So, it is worth being more wary of glass, etc., when the way is wet, after rains, behind street cleaning machines and so on.

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on February 14, 2013 at 12:41pm

I'd go with the suggestions here with a thicker puncture resistant tire combined with a liner. I used them in my mountain bike so I could ride in Detroit or the side industrial areas in Chicago.

I trimmed them down to size for my 700x23 

it does make a little stiffer ride but no puncture or cuts in the tube.

Permalink Reply by Steve Courtright on February 14, 2013 at 12:46pm

Very true Anne, but I believe that the surface tension of the rubber also becomes less and thus is easier to cut.  I learned that from an old school chemist! 

 

Science facts are cool.

Anne Alt said:

Bits of glass are much more likely to stick to tires in wet conditions, which makes punctures more likely.  When I've volunteered at invitational rides in locations where some flat tires are likely to happen, the number of flat tires skyrockets when conditions are wet, especially in very heavy rain. 

Part of the issue is that all but the largest pieces of glass can become invisible in rain.  It's much tougher to avoid broken glass if you can't see it.

Steve Courtright said:

 

It is also interesting to know that rubber cuts Much easier when wet.

 

So, it is worth being more wary of glass, etc., when the way is wet, after rains, behind street cleaning machines and so on.

Permalink Reply by OLB 0.1 on February 14, 2013 at 1:36pm

I need new tires and will be going with Marathons based on the great input here (Thanks!!).

One question, do you recommend the Plus version or one of the non-Plus versions?

I would be getting 700x25 or 700x28 on a road bike, depending on what size I can fit on.

Permalink Reply by djm on February 14, 2013 at 1:53pm

There are several Marathon variants with different constructions.  The Marathon Plus (SmartGuard) is the most puncture resistant but they are heavier, slower and stiffer.  Ive been running the Marathon Supreme on my commuter and find them a good compromise but I have had a few glass punctures.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on February 14, 2013 at 2:23pm

I've used both Plus and non-Plus versions.  I've put them through some pretty extreme tests and found that the non-Plus tires hold up well for at least a few years against significant amounts of glass.  I haven't had the Plus version as long, so I don't have a longevity comparison yet.

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