Tire Liners

I do not use tire liners, I prefer to use puncture-resistant tires and tubes. Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires is what I currently favor, but there are a few out there. Most of them are relatively heavy. I do not race at all, so I don't need maximum speed or accelleration. And for casual riding, a flat-resistant tire might be slower, but it is still faster (and much more enjoyable) than stopping to fix a flat tire.

I have heard that if the edges of the ends of the tire liner are cut off squared (such as with a sharp blade, when they are manufactured) this can cause a leak as this edge rubs a spot on the tube repeatedly. The fix for this is to burn the ends of the tire liner a bit with a flame, to make sure the cut edges are rounded off.
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1hill@atime said:

hi all

i would just like to know does anyone use liners on the bikes, and if you do what problems have you experienced, also does it slow down you freewheeling speed.

Tkz guys\gals

I used them on a MTBike once. Whenever I rode on the road with them you could feel them make the tire feel unbalanced and wobble. I think you would be much better off to use slime in your tubes or a slime tube. I am surprised that they still make tire liners they sucked so bad.

I have never used them in a high performance bike but they actually seem to work in preventing cuts from sharp glass and things. I've pulled a chunk of glass or two out of my tire which surely would have punctured if not for the liner.

If you lose pressure and have to pump back up, they can cut your tire (if your tires don't clear the calipers for example).

I prefer kevlar belted tires for commuting, though. They can wind up cheaper in the end because although a tire liner can save your innertube, the sharp object still cuts the cords of the tire.

Last, I do not believe they would stop metal objects unless it was something like a long, thin wire which could be deflected.

I've used tire liners for years - no I don't put them in my race tires, but I have them in my winter trainers. I went about 12 years flat free with Mr. Tuffy's what foiled them at last was a little copper wire. One caveat - I'm very light (103 lbs) so I get fewer flats in the first place. I don't notice any wobble or squirrleyness with the liners in, even at high speeds. I've never had a pinch flat from them.
I did just take the liner out of my rear tire because I got a flat because of the liner from putting my bike on a trainer. The pressure roller going over the overlap on the liner caused enough friction and slippage eventually put a hole in the tube, so I decided to remove the liner.

I have tire liners in my hybrid (my commuting bike) but not in my road bike.

I installed the tire liners after having 15 flats in a year. Ever since I've used them in that bike, no flats at all. I have experienced no problems whatsoever.

I don't put them in my road bike because I don't want to add weight to the part of the wheel that is turning at the fastest velocity. Can't say why I feel this way, intuition tells me this require more power to drive the bike.

thanx for the replys,

I have only experienced one problem with the liners now, the actual liner caused me to have a flat, maybe it was cause the tire wasn't properly inflated, have put in a new tube, and inflated it correctly will give it a go, if i still have problems ill just take them out.

trim the sharp edges and round them off with heat like a previous post said.

The added weight Yojimbo mentions would surely contribute to slower acceleration and braking performance because you have to accelerate it two ways, spinning and linear. They surely contribute to a bit of rolling resistance because of their hysteresis and slight rubbing when they roll, although they probabaly have less hysteresis than tire rubber.

If you need them, you need them, though. And they work.

thanx for the help, but these tires are a real mission to get off so i'll wait for my next flat then ill do it.

We use Bontrager Hard Case tires, since installing them not a single puncture.

1hill@atime said:

hi all

i would just like to know does anyone use liners on the bikes, and if you do what problems have you experienced, also does it slow down you freewheeling speed.

Tkz guys\gals

I don't use tire liners because I don't think that a properly designed product should require add-ons to make it work. I use puncture resistant tires on most of my bikes and get very few punctures. 2006, for example, was a totally puncture-free year for me but I don't live in the goat head thorn belt.

Tire liners (or puncture resistant tires for that matter) will definitely increase the rolling resistance of your tires. You might, however, need laboratory-grade instrumentation to measure the difference.

ooohh bit on the a$$. I got a d@mn flat today because of the tire liner. I think that some if the problems that I've had recently are because this is the first time I've used 650c wheels and the liners don't really fit.

There have been mixed reviews/experiences with liners. Most people I know that have them put on some duct tape on the ends and/or over the "overlap" to help prevent the edges from rubbing/cutting the tube. Plus they inspect the liners at least once a year for signs of cracking/drying out and replace if necessary...last thing you want is a liner that is falling apart "causing" flats.

Personally, I just use kevlar/aramid belted tires and thorn resistant tubes, the additional weight of the tubes isn't really a hinderance. Use armadillos and thorn resistant tubes on my commuter since getting somewhere and back in a timely manner w/o a flat is more important than raw speed or weight considerations.

But the choice is up to you and your local conditions may require the use of liners even if you have flat resistant tires and tubes installed. Adding a tire sealant or buying a slime filled tube (std or thick) is another option/addition, but some don't like the mess it makes/leaves.

Yes. I use SpinSkins. This product is expensive--about $35.00 but very lightweight. It does not stop everything but I have cut down on my flats to the point where I rarely get them. I used to get flats so often that my riding pals made fun of me. No longer.

SpinSkins do require some degree of patience and (learned) skill in installation. The main installation problem lies in the fact that the product comes in tightly wound rolls which you have to unwind to place around the tire. The product likes to return to its tightly wound shape. You need to put some talc on the interior of the tire, mount the SpinSkin between the tube, which is not talced, and tire. Make sure it is seated properly by partially inflating the tube and squeezing the tire/SpinSkin/tube combination all the way around between thumb and forefinger to make sure the SpinSkin is centered.

i would just like to know does anyone use liners on the bikes, and if you do what problems have you experienced, also does it slow down you freewheeling speed.

Tkz guys\gals[/QUOTE]

I'll second those bontrager hardcase tires. Bulletproof, they are a bit stiff but I can trade it off to no flats in 3000 miles of riding. Went over some nasty glass and stuff and keep going, and going, and going. OUT

I can echo Eden's comments. I used the mr tuffy's for thousands of miles outside. flatted on an industrial staple one time. but i've since had a medical condition and can't safely ride on the road anymore, so I've been soothing the loss by riding the trainer a bit, and I've gotten two identical flats from the mr tuffy. Have since removed it for the trainer. never had this problem on the road.

Ive been using tyre liners for the last 2 years on my Hybrid this was brought about by getting 6 punctures in 1 week.
Since installation ive had 2 punctures in 2 years and this was caused by the overlap of the ends of the liners ive since butted up the ends and taped them up together with duck tape.
As for the added weight, they weigh next to nothing so i cant see any major difference and there is no difference in traction or feel of ride either.

Hope this helps

fergysteven

I think that some if the problems that I've had recently are because this is the first time I've used 650c wheels and the liners don't really fit.
---------me too.