Does fix a flat work on bike tires


Does Fix a Flat Work on Bike Tires?

Having a flat tire is no fun, especially when it happens while you’re out riding your bike. Hopefully, you’ve already brought a patch kit with you to fix your tire, but if not, here are some things you can do. After reading this article, you’ll be able to get back on the road in no time! And once you’ve done that, you can practice using a patch kit to repair your bike’s tube.

Repairing a flat tire

If you’re a cyclist, you’re probably wondering how to repair a flat tire on your bicycle. While you’re riding, you can try to find the leak yourself by looking through the tire‘s casing. Using your fingertip, you can feel for foreign objects and remove them. Make sure you inspect the damaged area and remove any objects that might be in the way. By doing so, you can avoid getting a punctured finger or tetanus shot.

The first thing you need to do is remove the old tube from the flat tire. While you’re at it, make sure you clean and dry the cut area. Then, use the patch kit to patch the cut. Once you’ve done this, you can ride your bike as usual. You can then attach the new tube and try the same process again. If you have any problems, don’t forget to clean the cut area first!

If you plan to fix a flat tire on the road, keep a repair kit with basic supplies like a spare tube and a patch kit. This kit should also include a lightweight air pump and tire levers, which are sometimes called “tread irons” because they are made specifically for bicycle tires. It’s a good idea to have a spare tube on hand as well, though it’s not a necessity.

Changing a flat tire on bike tires can be a challenge, but it’s not as hard as it sounds. With some preparation and tools, changing a tire on a bike is a breeze. The skills learned from a flat tire will serve you well no matter what terrain you’re riding on. And if you’re a beginner, it’s a good idea to practice on a bike before an emergency occurs.

First, remove the tube from the tire. It’s important to push the valve stem upward and away from the rim. If the valve stem is leaking slowly, a valve cap can help keep the air inside. Once you’ve done that, you’ll be ready to put on the new tire. You’re back on the road in no time. The first step to tire repair is to check the valve stem to make sure that it’s in the right position.

Bringing a patch kit to fix a flat tire

Bringing a patch kit for fixing bike tires is essential if you plan to bike around town or use your bicycle for errands. While it won’t fix a flat completely, it can offer you temporary relief. A good kit should include different size patches, a tube of glue, and sandpaper. It’s important to tighten all bike nuts according to manufacturer specifications.

If your patch kit does not include good-quality tape, you can use a piece of tape to secure the patch to your tire. It is essential to apply the patch evenly, as any wrinkles will allow air to escape. Wait about 60 seconds for the patch to stick to the tire. Once applied, it should remain secure. You can reuse the patch for several years. If you’re not sure if it’s the right size, you can cut the old tube into a bungee cord for easy application.

Before applying patch glue, make sure the puncture is dry. Often, a tiny leak will only escape under water. If you’re not confident in your ability to identify the exact location of the puncture, you may need to look for a nearby ditch or water body before applying the patch. To repair a bike tire puncture, clean the puncture area and make sure it’s clean and dry.

In addition to sandpaper, a patch kit should be carried with you when using a tube. Patches can be applied to small cuts in the sidewall or tread. Patches can be applied to tire tears, but some tire tears are too severe to be fixed with a patch. If you don’t have a patch kit, you can convert your tubed bike tire into a tubeless tire.

You should bring a patch kit to fix a bike tire in case you have to remove the wheel. If the tire is tubeless, you can skip this step if the puncture isn’t serious. Usually, you can repair a tire without removing the wheel. If the puncture is extensive, however, you might need to remove the wheel. If you don’t want to remove the wheel, simply turn it upside down.

Changing a flat tire

Changing a flat tire on a bike tire requires basic knowledge of how bicycles work. A flat tire can result from a variety of factors, including a nail, thorn, chuck-hole, railroad track, or glass. While most tire repairs can be accomplished with simple hand tools, some flats are too severe to patch. Before trying to fix a flat tire, make sure you’ve located the source of the leak.

Start by placing the flat tire on the rear wheel. Next, position your finger around the outer casing of the tire to detect any sharp debris. Never try to force the wheel into the frame by grabbing it by the edge. A sharp object can puncture the tire‘s seven layers and cause it to flatten again. To avoid this, purchase a new tube. If the wheel will not fit, try again later.

Once you’ve located the location of the flat tire, remove the tire from the rim. Next, find the tire‘s valve stem. Slide the two levers into the hole. You’ll need to pry the tire off the rim with some force. You’ll need a tool to remove the tire, so that the valve stem can’t get stuck in it. Make sure the levers are straight so they won’t pinch the tube.

Depending on the type of bicycle tire, it may be necessary to pump or blow air in the tire. The tire may be soft in the spring, but a slow leak may mean it’s impossible to seat it evenly on the rim. In addition, the inner tube may be leaking slowly, making it difficult to get the tire to seat evenly on the rims. When this happens, the bicycle should not be left lying on a flat tire for long.

If you cannot identify the source of the leak, you can try to reinflate the tire and check it for a hole. If the hole is not visible, you can use a pointed tool to push out an object lodged in the tire. If you’re unable to find the culprit, you can attempt to repair the tube by using a patch kit. In some cases, you’ll need a new inner tube.

Using a patch kit to repair a flat tube

The best way to deal with a flat tire is to have a spare inner tube on hand. Although replacing a flat tire is easier, patching a tube can be a good idea as well. While it is not ideal to change a tube on the road, you can easily patch your bike tire at home. You can also add the patched tube to your spare kit. If you use vulcanizing glue, the patched tube will perform just like a new tube. You should learn more about the importance of vulcanizing materials.

Before patching a bike tire, you should clean the punctured area. Some punctures are small and can easily go undetected. Mark the area with a silver sharpie or a ballpoint pen. Chalk is easier to see on black rubber than blue. Then, take your patch and stick it over the puncture. Do this until the glue has dried.

Before applying the patch, you should carefully sand the area around the hole. You should avoid applying heavy pressure to the patch because it may cause it to crumple. Use wet/dry paper for this, and avoid coarse paper because it can scratch the inner tube. If the patch isn’t glued properly, it may come off. In addition, you should also use a sanding block or other piece of sandpaper to clean the area.

Using a patch kit to repair shattered bike tires is much easier than putting it on your bike. It includes different-sized patches, a small sandpaper, and a tube of vulcanizing agent. Vulcanizing agent is an elastic compound that bonds the patch to the tire in a reliable manner. It is recommended to use vulcanizing agent instead of normal glue.

A decent patch will fuse with the inner tube. This will ensure that the patch and the tube are permanently fused. Other patches may be faster, but they won’t be as durable. Once applied, vulcanizing patch kits will guarantee that your tire will last just as long as a tube that is unpatched. So, if you’re ever in the same situation, a patch kit will be your best option.

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Can You Repair Bike Tires With Fix-a-Flat? – Bicylo

Have you ever had a flat tire in the middle of a long bike ride and wondered if you could fix it with Fix-a-Apartment instead of having to take it off and repair it with a patch kit?

I don’t know about you lot, but I know I have! And I can tell you that when I looked into it, the answer surprised me. (As it will come as a surprise to you, too.)

Fix-a-Flat works wonders on car tires, and can help you temporarily repair a tire for up to 3 days (or 100 miles) without a jack. However, for a flat tire on a bicycle, it’s best to leave it out and use something else.

In the rest of this post, we’ll talk about why Fix-a-Flat shouldn’t be used on bike tires—and what you can do instead if you get a flat tire in the middle of your ride.

How Does Fix-a-Flat Work?

Fix-a-Flat is an aerosol that partially reinflates a flat car tire, just enough to lift the rim off the ground. Once the rim is off the ground, you can drive away. The aerosol inflates the tire and plugs the holes in it (as long as they’re up to ¼ inch in size).

It’s a handy emergency-repair product when you’re short on time, and it’s saved me from having to use the jack more than once. You can buy it at every automotive supply and home improvement store.

Can You Use Fix-a-Flat to Repair a Bike Tire? 

Fix-a-Flat is really only designed for automobile tires, and so it shouldn’t be used for bike tires. The directions for use unambiguously state: “DO NOT use on motorcycle or bicycle tires; failure could cause loss of control.”

At one time, Fix-a-Flat used to have an aerosol for bicycle tires called Fix-a-Flat Bikes Only. However, that product is no longer manufactured. The good news is that there are alternatives—and arguably the best of them is made by the same company that makes Fix-a-Flat.

What’s the Best Way to Repair a Flat Bike Tire on the Road?

Aside from walking to your garage or the nearest bike shop, what’s the best way to fix a flat bike tire on the road?

Hands-on cyclists with clincher or tubular tires will probably want to equip themselves with an on-the-road repair kit. Hands-off cyclists and those with tubeless tires should consider using sealant.

Patch Up or Replace the Tube

If your bike has tires with inner tubes, you can carry an on-the-go repair kit in your backpack, framepack or saddlepack. At a minimum, you will need a patch kit, a mini pump, a couple of tire levers, a multi-tool with a wrench (and other what-nots), and one or two spare tubes.

With such an on-the-go repair kit, you can patch small holes in your tube or replace it if it blows out. However, to repair the tube, you need to turn the bike upside down and remove the tire. Also, you have to wait 10-15 minutes for the glue to dry out.

Remember that it isn’t a good idea to flip over a bike with hydraulic bakes. If your bicycle’s equipped with a hydraulic braking system (or is fitted with tubeless tires), continue with the other option below.

Seal the Tube (or Tire) With Slime

If you want to fix a flat bike tire without removing it, use Slime sealant. Simply connect the bottle to the valve, squeeze the slime into the tire, then top up the tire with air and ride off.

Sealant, unlike tire patches, doesn’t need any time to dry. Instead, it gets carried by the air escaping through the punctured tire, then accumulates in the hole and plugs it—quite effectively—for up to 2 years.

This sealant comes in two varieties: one for tubeless tires and another for tires with inner tubes. (Select carefully; you shouldn’t try to substitute one with the other as it may not get the job done.)

When the Tube or Tire Gets Damaged Beyond Repair

Sometimes, your inner tube or tire is so old or worn out—or gets damaged so badly—that you can’t really fix it.

Tire patches and sealants do a good job of repairing small punctures, and both have their advantages and disadvantages. However, they won’t help with the major hole of a blown out inner tube. If your tube bursts, the only solution is to replace it.

If your tubeless tire blows out at high speed, there’s a good chance it will drag on the road by the time you stop and get damaged beyond repair because either the beads will break or the carcass will rip.

The beads can fail for other reasons. And when they do, they can’t be repaired, especially on the road. Other types of damage that make your tire irreparable are dry rot, a torn sidewall, and ripped threads that cause deformities.

Final Thoughts 

Fix-a-Flat is a great product, but it should really only be used on cars. There are similar sealant products that are specifically designed for use with bike tires, but they can only repair very small holes and may only last a year or two. 

The best way to be prepared to fix a flat bike tire is to understand what to look for and what you can do on the road to make your bike road-worthy enough to at least get you home.

Once you’ve done that, you can decide whether a full-scale tire or tube repair is in order or if you should just replace the tire itself. 

Must have tools for every cyclist

The average cyclist doesn't need to have a huge amount of dedicated cycling tools, as complex bike repairs are usually done in the workshop. But most adjustments and minor repairs, such as changing and inflating tires, adjusting brakes and gears, changing saddle position and angle, adjusting handlebars, and changing chain, sprockets and cables, are easily done with standard tools and just a few specialized tools. for bicycle. nine0003

You can go to an ordinary hardware store and buy wrenches, hex keys and other tools, but there is a principle: "buying a quality item, you do not have to pay twice", and this also applies to bicycle tools.

Good specialized bike tools are easier to work with, last longer and are less likely to damage bike parts.

Multitool

Contains all the most necessary screwdrivers and wrenches. Perhaps this is the first thing that any cyclist acquires to set up his bike. There is a wide choice: from the simplest kits with a minimum set of screwdrivers and keys BBB PrimeFold S to universal ones, equipped even with a chain squeezer - BBB PrimeFold XL. nine0003

Which one to choose? To answer this question, you need to decide where and what kind of repairs you plan to make. First of all, the multitool is convenient on the road - it is compact, all the tools are at hand, they will not crumble out of the bag and will not be lost. And when you pedal, the less you carry, the faster you roll. It makes no sense to be weighed down by extra grams and kilograms. But how often, for example, might you need to replace a chain somewhere along the road outside your home or workshop, and is it worth carrying a heavier set for that? Athletes who regularly travel to various competitions and training, who service their bike in the field, will need the most versatile multitool. But if you can only make minor adjustments on your own - adjust gears, turn the steering wheel when transporting the bike - then a minimal set is enough - BBB MiniFold S or BBB MaxiFold M, which also includes a knife and a pry bar for disassembling the wheels, which may be required to remove the tire when piercing the camera. nine0003

Recommended models:

Multitool BBB primefold s blue/silver

2490

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Multitool BBB maxifold l black/silver

3 190

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Multitool BBB maxifold s black/silver

2090

Multitool BBB primefold xl blue/silver

3 790

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Multitool BBB microfold s

1090

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nine0002 Multitool BBB primefold l blue/silver

3 490

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Multitool BBB primefold m blue/silver

3090

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Multitool BBB torxfold black/silver

2090

nine0076

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Ball Head Hex Keys

Don't skimp on hex keys, they are the most commonly used tool. The multitool is compact and ideal as a road repair kit, but with the help of special professional wrenches it is more convenient to work, they can tighten the bolts more tightly. Therefore, at home it is desirable to have a set of high-quality ball-head wrenches, which have a narrower neck in the area of ​​​​the ball-shaped tip. They can be manipulated at various angles - up to 30 degrees, which makes it possible to tighten screws in hard-to-reach places. The BBB Hex T wrench is easy to operate with one hand without undue bending of the wrist. The design allows you not to rearrange the key every time after a full turn, which you have to do when working with a classic L-shaped hexagon, in which the long power end at some point begins to rest against the details of the bike. Of course, one hex is not enough, as some bike mounts can use nuts of different diameters, including Torx-type hex slots, which have recently been increasingly used on fasteners. A set of BBB Hex T hexagons in sizes 3, 4, 6 and 8 mm, and torxes - T25 and T30 will allow you to unscrew 90% bicycle parts.

Bicycle key BBB hex t 3mm black/silver

790

Buy

Bicycle key BBB hex t 4mm black/silver

890

Buy

Bicycle key BBB hex t 6mm black/silver

990

Buy

Bicycle key BBB hex t 8mm black/silver

1290

Buy

Bicycle key BBB torx-t t25 black/silver

1090

nine0002 Bicycle key BBB torx-t t30 black/silver

990

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Screwdriver set

In addition to hex and torx, you will need a pair of flat and Phillips screwdrivers. Screwdrivers of different sizes are useful not only for repairing a bicycle. Dakine Torque Driver is a versatile and very convenient set with interchangeable nozzles, an indispensable thing in the household.

Wheel breakers

Another essential tool in the repair kit. They allow you to conveniently and effortlessly remove the tire from the wheel rim. Of course, this can be done with any tool at hand - a screwdriver, wrenches - at the risk of damaging the rubber or the rim. With proper skill, you can disassemble the wheel even with your bare hands, if you have strong hands. But the need to remove the tire arises quite often when you have to change the chamber in case of a puncture or change tires from summer to winter, from city slicks to mud. It is much more convenient and often safer for the wheel to do this with two plastic pry bars. Insert one under the bead of the tire, hooking it with the opposite end to the spoke, start the second disassembly 10-15 cm further from the first and start moving it along the rim until the bead is completely out. nine0003

BBB EasyLift's wide range of fun colors will make this chore easier.

More cutters:

BBB easylift red/white/blue

490

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BBB easylift red/white/green

490

nine0002 Buy

Crowbar BBB tire levers easylift 48x 3 pcs (black-blue-red-green) black/blue/red/green

390

Buy

Crowbar Maxxis tire lever

890

Buy

Tip. To tuck the tire back into the rim, don't use spudgers, as is sometimes advised in the articles. The whole process is best done by hand, tucking the rubber into the rim with your fingers. Otherwise, you run the risk of puncturing the new tube or touching and sliding the protective pad on the rim. nine0003

Pump

If you have a bike, you need at least one simple pump. But the ideal is to have two.

Lightweight and small hand pump to carry around. After all, if a camera is accidentally pierced along the road, it is necessary to seal it or replace it right on the spot. Otherwise, you will face the problem of bringing yourself and a bicycle home, which will become impossible to ride. You will have to look for transport, taxis, call family members, friends. Mini pumps such as the BBB NanoRoad Black are only 11cm long and weigh 75g. – super light, ideal for long journeys where every gram of weight matters. But the longer the pump, the more stroke it has, and the easier it is to inflate the tire. The 25 cm BBB WindWave hand pump is a reasonable compromise between weight, size and efficiency. It can be mounted on the bike frame and always carry with you. nine0003

Stationary floor pump. It is much harder and longer to inflate tires with a hand pump, especially small ones, so its use is justified only in the field. It is much easier to achieve the required tire pressure with a floor pump, which is desirable to have at home. BBB AirBoost with a pressure gauge will allow you to control the degree of tire inflation.

Recommended models:

Floor pump SKS air-x-press 8.0 black

3 390

Buy

Bicycle pump SKS injex t-zoom silver

3 790

Buy

Bicycle pump SKS infusion tt black

1290

Buy

nine0002 Bicycle pump SKS injex lite zoom black

2490

Buy

Floor pump BBB 2020 airboost gray

4 490

Buy

Bicycle pump BBB samurai gray

4 390

Buy

nine0002 Bicycle pump BBB windgun s gray

2690

Buy

Floor pump BBB floorpump airwave composite dualhead 3. 0 black

3690

Buy

All bike pumps in Kant

Pedal wrench

Generally, wrenches are not needed for general bike tuning and minor repairs. They are required for servicing bushings or steering columns. The only wrench that every cyclist should have is a “15 wrench”, that is, a 15 mm wrench for removing pedals in order to clean and lubricate them or replace them with new ones. This is a simple task that even a girl who is not very tech savvy can handle, so there is no need to call a bike master. Pedaling is also necessary when transporting a bicycle on an airplane. Even those airlines that allow you to check it in unassembled luggage require you to remove the pedals and attach them to the frame with cable ties or screw them on the other side of the cranks, with the pedal inward to the frame. nine0003

Despite the fact that there is nothing complicated in this process, it happens that the pedal jams, because dust, sand, dirt gets inside the threaded connection of the pedal axle with the connecting rod, and all this is tightly compressed with grease. The less often the pedals are removed, the more difficult it is to unscrew them. You can use a regular 15mm wrench, bought at a hardware store, but it is more convenient to work with a special bicycle pedal wrench, such as BBB Hi-Torque L.

It has a smaller thickness of the horns, so it is easier for them to unhook the pedals from the cranks even with small gaps. The long handle (34 cm) lined with a rubber anti-slip coating provides an effective stop, due to which the force on the key is increased. Of course, any large wrench 30-40 cm long will have enough leverage to effectively force, but the tool itself will be heavy. You can use it at home, but on bike trips you hardly want to carry it with you. Professional bicycle keys with the same size have less weight due to a thinner plate of metal from which they are made, but at the same time they are not inferior in strength, as they are made of hardened steel. In other words, a 34 cm long BBB Hi-Torque L wrench will have the same weight and strength as a regular 15-20 cm wrench.

Please note. Most pedals will fit a standard 15mm wrench, but sometimes some bikes have custom nut sizes.

Chain Cleaner

This is another useful tool to make bike maintenance a comfortable and dust-free experience. Cleaning the chain is a regularly necessary, but the dirtiest procedure, so much so that you don’t even want to do it at home, and you have to take the bike somewhere to the stairwell or to the street. Then mess around for a long time, cleaning all the links with solvents or WD-40, rags and a toothbrush. Someone prefers to remove the chain altogether and soak it, for example, in kerosene. In order to remove the chain with a lock yourself, you will need pliers or a BBB LinkFix chain lock tool, and to remove the chain without a lock, you will need a special tool for riveting and riveting the chain links (BBB ProfiConnect chain tool). But if you buy a special machine BBB Bright & Fresh, everything becomes much easier. With this machine, you can easily clean the chain without removing it. nine0003

Transmission cleaning tools

Every morning you get up and brush your teeth and wash your face. Your bike's sprocket teeth also need regular cleaning, and you need to not just wipe the top with a rag, but penetrate into all the joints. The main problem is not the external dirt on the bike, but the dust, sand and used grease that accumulate in the rotating mechanisms.

The MUC-OFF Individual Drivetrain Brush with hard bristles can reach all parts of the transmission, and the special scraper on the MUC-OFF Individual Claw Brush 70, designed to clean the chain and sprockets, can remove old dried grease from the links. nine0003

If you really love your bike and want it to always shine like new, then get a set of five brushes at once: Muc-Off 5 x Brush Set.

We have listed the basic "gentleman's" cyclist's kit, which is necessary in the process of bicycle operation. More advanced users may need additional tools.

For example, the BBB BleedKit hydraulic brake bleed kit, the BBB Turner II spoke wrench to correct wheel deformations, or the BBB bottom bracket puller. And someone, on the contrary, does not want to mess with his bike on his own, and some of these tools (or even all) can be replaced with one device - a credit card, with which the repair and tuning of the bike at any time is solved with one call to the service center. nine0003

If you live in a city where there are no our stores, then this is not an obstacle to obtaining what you need. Simply, when making a purchase through our online store, please note that we have delivery by couriers and transport companies

You can also use self-delivery, if you prefer

When buying online, we have different payment systems:

  • cash to courier
  • nine0080 bank transfer
  • by card
  • by installments
  • with gift certificate

All details on different forms of payment

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Upon purchase, you can apply accumulated or welcome bonuses for the first purchase. To do this, you need to register in the new bonus program "Kanta" and receive welcome bonus rubles to your account only for registration.

Author: Irina Morozova

Causes of bicycle tire wear and struggle against it

Bicycle tire wear is natural and always happens. In general, you need to keep in mind that a bicycle tire is a consumable item.

What is meant by tire wear and when it needs to be changed

Wear itself is different and carries different risks when driving.

Tread wear. Leads to an increase in the likelihood of punctures, loss of traction and ground. For a “toothy” tire, this is generally death.

Deep and wide cuts, abrasions and tears will not hold the inflated chamber inside, and it can burst at any moment, all the more so you should always remember that it is not the chamber that holds the pressure, but the tire.

Small cracks in rubber are not as bad as deep and multiple cracks that can lead to gusts.

Causes of bicycle tire wear

Cyclist weight

One of the serious and objective factors of bicycle tire wear is the weight of the cyclist.

The rule here is simple: the more the rider weighs, the faster the tires wear out, especially the rear wheel. Tires on a bicycle on a 100 kg man will wear out faster than on a slender girl weighing 50 kg. nine0003

Cycling experts believe that starting with a load of more than 75-80 kg, tire wear becomes more noticeable.

Again, given the weight distribution of the cyclist on the wheels, the rear tires are subject to more wear.

Softness of tire material - compound.

First of all, what is a compound?

Compound in tires is the compound of rubber from which the tread is made.

What affects the stiffness of the compound. nine0018

  • for free wheels,
  • road grip
  • wear resistance and, as a result, tire life resource.

One of the properties of compounds is hardness or stiffness.

Designated on tires with a two-digit number with the letter "a" at the end. For example: 40a, 42a, 57a/62a, 60a, 62a, 70a, 80a. The larger the number, the stiffer the tire.

Depending on the composition of the compound, the properties of the tire differ. For example, a "sticky slick" with a hardness of 40a or 42a will ride on smooth asphalt even worse than a "toothy" rubber with a hardness of 70a. nine0003

Manufacturers use a huge number of rubber types in production, but the general idea is the same: the softer the compound, the better the grip, but the higher the wear rate of .

You can read more about the compound and stiffness of tires on our website in the article “What is the compound and stiffness of bicycle tires”.

Incorrectly selected type of rubber

Each type of tire is designed for its own operating conditions. Therefore, if you drive on asphalt on toothy rubber designed for driving through the forest, then its wear will be very fast. nine0003

Some young cyclists buy a brand new mountain bike with toothy tires and ride it on the city asphalt. Ponty, of course, is a great force, but for asphalt you need to take slicks or semi-slicks. And on toothy ones - ride on the ground, sand, snow, etc.

For more information about the types and choice of tires, see the article “Which tire to choose for a bike”.

Low Tire Pressure

Continuously riding with low tire pressure will cause premature tire wear. In this case, the destruction of the side wall of the tire and excessive wear of the tread occurs. nine0003

More information about tire pressure can be found in the article “Bicycle tire pressure”.

Too hard braking

When braking hard and hard, especially on asphalt or concrete, the tread wears out very much, especially on soft rubber.

Incorrect storage of tires and bike.

Bicycle storage under the following conditions:

  • in direct sunlight,
  • high humidity,
  • at low, too high or with strong temperature fluctuations

lead to a change in the properties of the rubber or compound from which the tire is made and its accelerated wear.

The tire loses its softness, cracks and quickly becomes unusable.

For more information about the rules for storing a bike in winter and between skiing, see the article “Where and how to store a bike in winter”.

How to deal with tire wear

Based on the listed causes of tire wear, methods to combat this phenomenon are also selected. nine0003

  1. First of all, you need to choose the right tire type and pressure in it.
  2. Store the bike in a dry place out of direct sunlight
  3. Try not to brake hard on asphalt. Here the same thing must be approached wisely: sometimes it is better to brake sharply, albeit with a “squeal” of the brakes, than to fly under a car or crash into a pole.
  4. Well, look at the road - where you are going, so as not to run into a pin or stick sticking out of the ground and cut your wheel. Learn more about wheel puncture protection here. nine0002

  5. When installing and removing tires, be careful with their side and inner surfaces. You do not need to use a penknife, a sharp flat screwdriver, or the first piece of iron that comes across, especially if it has sharp edges or burrs. There are special tools for these jobs. Everything must be done carefully, because. if the inner surface of the tire is damaged or cut, it may not withstand the high pressure in the chamber and burst right on the road. nine0002

    How to put the last 20-30 cm of a stubborn tire on a bicycle wheel is described here.
  6. Pay attention to the V-brake setting. With improperly adjusted brakes, the top edges of the pads can rub against the side of the tire and wear them out.

  7. Rarely, but there are also not very high-quality, especially Chinese, rims with sharp edges, on which tires also rub, and the sidewall is rubbed next to the bead cable. nine0002

  8. To extend the life of bicycle tires, there is a simple and quite effective way - swap tires on the front and rear wheels .

Since the rear wheel wears faster than the front, swapping them will prolong the life of the entire set of tires.

When to change tires

  • If the sidewall or tread has a severe cut or tear.
  • Tire has bumps or bumps
  • If the tread has been worn to such an extent that punctures are caused by small pieces of glass, etc.
  • Small cracks on the sidewalls are not of fundamental importance, but if the entire tire is covered with them, then it is better to change it.
  • Tire punctures from nails, thorns and other sharp objects are not terrible and you should not change it because of a collision with a nail. You will have to seal the camera, and single punctures are not terrible for the tire.

In general, approach this issue with sober calculation and logic.


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