Im 265 lb guy. What are my options for rear tire & inner tube performance? flats 101

[darwin]

I strongly disagree, slime is a waste and once you do have a flat you'll regret it. Most reputable tire places won't even repair a slimed flat. If they do the cost goes from $20 to $80 at least. You have to clean everything and it's a labor issue.

 

[dotcom]

I ended up spending $46.00 today on a new motorized bike tire that the shop says is specifically for bikes with motors on it. That was $20 and a new thick with slime tube was $11.99 and one of those strips that go between the tire and inner tube was another $11.99. So altogether I paid about $35.00 for a new tire, inner tube and that strip thing that goes between the tire and tube since walmart refunded $13.00 back for the first slime tire that didn't last more than 2 weeks.
Onward and upward-

 

[Fabian]

Even when the thorn proof slime-filled tube pushed it's way out of the tyre; rubbing on the frame, it still didn't fail. Surprised the heck out of me...

http://motorizedbikeforum.the-talk.net/t202-macgyver-ing-it

http://motorizedbikeforum.the-talk.net/t308-thorn-proof-inner-tube-with-tyre-sealant

 

[bluegoatwoods]

One thing you'll notice reading threads is that, for some reason, some folks get a lot of flats and some don't. I'm not able to explain the difference, though I have a few suspicions about causes.

And I think that butterbean was onto something when he suggested that you be careful about mounting and proper inflation.

Done right, that'll carry you a long, long way.

 

[Fabian]

for some reason, some folks get a lot of flats - I have a few suspicions about causes.

What may be the cause?

 

[Fabian]

I place the tyre on the rim - throw a slime-filled, thorn proof tube in side the tyre - press the bead of the open end of the tyre onto the rim; wiggling it to make sure the tube is not trapped between the rim and the tyre bead.
The last part of the tyre is lifted over the rim with tyre levers, carefully making sure the tube does not get pinched by the tyre levers.

26 x 2.125 tyres are inflated to 20 psi on the front and 24 psi at the rear. The lower pressures do wear out the tyres more quickly and absorb a bit of power but i prefer comfort over speed.
A front tyre last 3,000 kilometers (1875 miles) and a rear lasts 1,500 kilometers (930 miles). I get my tyres from bikes found on the hard rubbish piles or at the tip. Lots of brand name bikes are thrown away, still wearing new tyres: Maxxis seeming to be the most common.

 

[Loose Nut]

Ok, expensive, but by far the best solution: 26x2.25 motorcycle tires. This site is in the UK, so expensive, and then there is shipping... but there is probably a place in the States as well. I think Coker makes some. Still expensive.

http://www.classictyres.com/item/324/26-2-25-chambrier-road-tyre--universal

 

[Fabian]

That's such a great option to have.

What are the chances that the wire bead will seat itself on a mountain bike wheel rim?

 

[Loose Nut]

Fabian: It's a good question. As I understand it, 26 inch motorcycle wheels are in two primary bead types: (it's difficult, because they use different names in different countries) There was banded aka beaded edge tires that were in use mainly until the mid 1920's. The are now considered dangerous because the air pressure holds the bead to the rim, when the pressure goes low, the tire falls right off. I think this happened on an episode of "What's in the Barn" in a race of 100 year old bikes. The other type of bead is the wire bead, that is harder to get on a rim, but safer. Tell me if I've lost my mind here. You know what, I have a 26 motorcycle tire in the garage, actually I have ones with both kinds of beads. I think I can take a picture....

 

[Loose Nut]

Here the pic of the bead on 26" wire type motorcycle tire. A Belgian tire. I tired to put a white bicycle tire in the back for comparison, but it washed out. The second picture is from a 2.85x26" beaded edge tire (now completely obsolete) I didn't want to monkey around with it too much, but you can see even the outside of the rim has a very different shape.