Solid Bike Tires, Any one have them?

C'L's,

Looking into solid bike tires.  Anyone with any experience in this realm?  Late to work is going to be a big big problem.  Already have Kevlar tires but sometimes get a pinch flat and the like.  Need a 'zero flat' solution.  Very interested in talking to someone who has found a solution to this.

H/

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Permalink Reply by Mike Schwab on June 11, 2013 at 1:16am

I ordered from airfreetires. difficulties with the first and second order, 3rd order didn't arrive.  Lots of other reports of orders not fulfilled.

http://www.nu-teck.com/ was a different site selling the same thing, but they have shut down.

The 700c*28mm tires worked well.  I ordered the highest pressure available.  Rough ride, a little slow, but worked well.  Was starting to stretch to the point of about to pop off.  27 * 1 inch tires were a bit softer. Ended up giving that bicycle away.

 16 and 20 inch inserts for an Sun Bicycle EZ-1 were horrible, designed for a child's weight.  Discarded the 16 after the first ride.  About 200 miles before the compression on the 20 inch tire got so high the tire shredded.

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on June 11, 2013 at 8:18am

I have Gatorskin tires and have only gotten a flat once in over half a year of daily commuting due to bad rim tape (not the tire's fault). Although, they are so hard to get on that not even the mechanic that fixed my last flat could get them properly seated! (Cycle Smithy, if you're curious. He also forgot to re-engage my brakes – suffice it to say, I will not be back).

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on June 11, 2013 at 8:47am

There was a big piece in a recent Boscobel Dial about a dude from there who is doing the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Divide_Mountain_Bike_Route Great Divide Mountain Bike Race - a Canada to Mexico MTB race along the continental divide. Oh, here is the piece online:

http://www.swnews4u.com/section/125/article/13748/

"Seim’s 20-speed bike will weigh 52 pounds when fully loaded and is also going to be running tubeless to avoid flat tires." 

Is tubeless the same as "solid"?

Permalink Reply by Michael A on June 11, 2013 at 9:10am

No Tony, tubeless tires are designed to work with a wheel system to eliminate the need for inner tubes. Many mountain bikers use this set up, It usually requires some liquid sealant, special rim strips and valve stems. It can basically eliminate pinch flats and the sealant will instantly heal most punctures. The draw backs are if your sealant does not work you will then have to take off the tire, clean out the foamy sealant and put in a tube, not so much fun out on the road. They also can be a little tricky to set up needing an air compressor to inflate the tire quickly to the rim bed before the sealant blows past. Again a very messy situation.

Permalink Reply by JimmyD on June 11, 2013 at 9:17am

Never had a flat with these Nikes....

EDIT:

...but just to add some REAL content to this thread, I never had any issues with Schwalbe Marathons. However, I did just prurchase a set of Schwalbe Kojacks, so I hope I will have the same success with those slicks (with kevlar protection).

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on June 11, 2013 at 9:51am

Yikes! Thanks for the explanation Michael.

Michael A said:

No Tony, tubeless tires are designed to work with a wheel system to eliminate the need for inner tubes. Many mountain bikers use this set up, It usually requires some liquid sealant, special rim strips and valve stems. It can basically eliminate pinch flats and the sealant will instantly heal most punctures. The draw backs are if your sealant does not work you will then have to take off the tire, clean out the foamy sealant and put in a tube, not so much fun out on the road. They also can be a little tricky to set up needing an air compressor to inflate the tire quickly to the rim bed before the sealant blows past. Again a very messy situation.

Permalink Reply by Christopher Wallace on June 14, 2013 at 9:47am

I have some 1940 solid tires, very low rolling resistance, they will knock the filling out of your teeth. I have ridden the modern solid foam tires, high rolling resistance. I have used thick tubes, Kevlar tires, Kevlar felt tire liners, Kevlar cloth tire liners, rubber tire liners, and plastic tire liners. They are good but each has a flaw. I like the tires that are extra thick, the Michelin City and the Schawbe Plus. There is no such thing as a zero flat solution. Hit a sharp edge with enough force and a solid tire will be cut through, hit a nail or the bottom of a broken bottle in the right angle and it will cut through any tire. You can reduce the incident of flats, with great tires, you can schedule more time for commuting, you can prepare for a flat with training and practice. Even huge truck tires some days get a puncture. Only Train wheels are puncture resistant, but they still get flat spots.

I would be happy to have a free flat repair class on Tuesday the 25th at 140 Harrison St in Oak Park off the Blue line, Call if you would like to attend, Christopher 773 490 0683

Permalink Reply by Mark Beard-Witherup on June 14, 2013 at 11:04am

I have very thin "air-free" tires on a very light weight 1960 Jaubert and they are great!  They are the equivalent to 120 PSI tires and the wheels are rehung with 36 spokes.  Very fast, very fun.

I tried 700/23s X 120 PSI equivalent on a Kona Dew that I roaded out as a commuter bike and they sucked.  Very heavy, much rolling friction, just more of a workout than I needed. 

Easy to mount with a large lever tool that pivots on the spear and slides the tire into the rim.  Soaking the tire in hot water helps if it too tight.

Now I ride on Marathons that I over inflate to 110PSI.

 

BikeBoy5

Permalink Reply by Garth Liebhaber on June 14, 2013 at 6:17pm

There was an article in the last issue of Bicycle Quarterly comparing many tires for comfort and speed.  There was a "solid" airless tire that was included. It's efficiency was off the chart horrendous.''

One of the best suggestions really is to leave early enough that you have time to change a flat if need be. Besides, it's not as much fun riding to work being afraid you might be late!

Permalink Reply by Alan Lloyd on June 14, 2013 at 10:58pm

I've tried both the solid foam inserts (inside normal tyres) and the solid tyres. Both are horrible, I believe because of the extra weight at the wheel rim - makes the bike very, very sluggish! The solid tyres also feel scarey when cornering as they start to roll off of the rim due to the sideways force, not that they ever actually  came off. They sound like a good idea - no flats - but I think you'd regret it. I also put the foam inserts on my son's (Owen) BMX when he was a teenager, as I got fed up of fixing punctures - but in this case I didn't have to suffer the poor performance!

Permalink Reply by Steve Weeks on June 18, 2013 at 2:32pm

This has been my experience as well, for several thousand miles over 4 or 5 years with Marathon Plus tires. Keep the pressure up to avoid pinch flats.

On my Marathon Winters, somewhat prone to flats from studs poking through the carcass, I put "Mr. Tuffy" tire liners and had no flats last winter.

Steve

jolondon30 said:

Not sure if I'm at 1000 miles but I'm on three years with a pair and 0 flats compared to 2-3 a year previously.

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