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I started the winter on Schwalbe Marathon tyres. Absolutely bomb proof, but heavy and slow.
Another thread on here suggested Specialised Roubaix tyres as being the bees knees for winter tyres. Grippy, fast and puncture proof.
Well.....4 punctures in three rides blows that theory out of the water, and they can be a bit sketchy in the handling dept too!
Tubeless is a solution looking for a problem so won't be going down that route.
These things have been mentioned as a possible solution. Anyone know anything about them? They look as though they will stop thorns etc but how are they in general use?
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/panaracer-flataway-tyre-liner-1/?lang=en&curr=GBP&dest=1&sku=5300024244&kpid=5300024244&utm_source=google&utm_term=&utm_campaign=Shopping+-+All+Products&utm_medium=base&utm_content=mckv|sZE6cVFjn_dc|mcrid|295296961877|mkw||mmt||mrd|5300024244uk|mslid||&mkwid=sZE6cVFjn_dc&pcrid=295296961877&prd=5300024244uk&pgrid=57437518777&ptaid=pla-521782796319&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxpu1j8O93wIVq7ftCh1oiQmwEAQYBSABEgKqRfD_BwE
I don't really want to go back to the Marathons, but the present rate of atrition is getting a bit silly.
You seem to have perfectly described exactly the problem that tubeless has been looking for...?
Those things look like they'll add weight, and *may be* as effective as the heavier tyres, without the handling improvement...
Tubeless is not the answer if only because of all the extra gear to carry. Then you finish up resorting to a tube and levers and pump that you always were carrying. Plus the mess of getting the things inflated. Plus the exorbitant cost.
If tubeless was so good The the guys in the peloton would be using it. AFAIK they are all still on tubes.
There's no handling improvement putting on Marathons.
Used something very similar a few years ago. No real use, I finally gave up and went tubeless which seemed to cure my puncture epidemic
Try the Marathon Supreme. Way lighter and nicer than the original Marathon, and still pretty puncture proof.
Vittoria hyper are awesome, 35f38r on my commuter, nice n light, supple, fast and so far more robust than marathons.
Cheap as chips at on one as well.
The guys in the peloton just get a new wheel complete with tyre from their team car / a team mate should they puncture don’t they? So why would they run tubeless?
Personally I’ve held off going tubeless on the road bike that I commute on - punctures on the last 2 sets of tyres just hasn’t been a drama. I guess it depends what you find on your route though. On the Bristol / Bath cycle track you occasionally get broken glass - that almost always causes me a puncture but I don’t often go that way / broken glass isn’t a huge drama.
On the toad commute to work I’m not sure I’ve had more than 1 or 2 punctures in the last 2 years.
Not running anything special - just got the standard Luganos that came on my Cannondale caad12 - and on the previous bike I had some Michelin Lithium 2’s that I found on offer / really cheap.
I find once they start wearing they become more susceptible to slicing / stuff getting cut in the casing that then starts to puncture. New tyre time at that point - but it’s genetally whatever I can find cheap!
I did run some Specialized Armadillos years and years ago. Never had a puncture but they were slow.
The guys in the peloton just get a new wheel complete with tyre from their team car / a team mate should they puncture don’t they? So why would they run tubeless?
There are many comments on here about weight reduction and improved rolling resistance. All things that the guys would be looking for.
Thanks for the suggestions. I'll have a google.
Those tyre liners are a nightmare to install.
Since I've gone tubeless I've not had a you know what.
There are many comments on here about weight reduction and improved rolling resistance
in comparison to a clincher and a tube, not tubs on lightweight race wheels
in comparison to a clincher and a tube, not tubs on lightweight race wheels
Are they on tubs? And besides, they don't want to get dropped. What about the "debate" in this year's TDF about if Team Sky would wait for race leader Thomas if he got a puncture in the TTT? And who was it in the Tour who grabbed a wheel from a spectator because spare tryes were stuck in a traffic jam? The pros want reliability all the time and if tubeless was the answer then they would be on them.
What precentage of guys ride tubeless? 1, 2 10%? Not very many is it.
Yes the pros are all on tubulars. And will be for the forseeable - the performance advantages over tubeless are very marginal nowadays but the race safety aspect of riding a punctured tub versus a clincher is significant.
Tubeless is the answer but it doesn't sound like you're equipped to make that change at the moment. Tradition is strong on the road, so that is understandable - know plenty of roadmen with no interest in tubeless. But look at what you're posting - riding round on marathons, asking about jarg tyre inserts, drawing meaningless comparisons to the pro peleton. It's a bit of a state tbh with you - best bet given the circumstances is just get a set of conti 4 seasons. That is the goldilocks zone for a tubed road tyre IME.
What is it that caused 4 punctures in 3 rides? Are you certain that it wasn't the same cause? Or did you use CO2 and find the tyre flat a few days later? I've been guilty of both in the past. Silly mistakes aside, I find punctures so rare that it's not worth the misery of "puncture proof" tyres. I use GP4000s all year and probably average less than one puncture every two thousand miles.
As for the pros, I wonder if any of them do chuck a bit of sealant in their tubs? Given the potential losses from a puncture at the wrong moment and that the bikes are often under the weight limit it seems like a good bit of insurance.
You don't mention what size tyre you are using. I use 25c Schwalbe Durano Plus as I get a lot of punctures where I live due to very flinty gravel. Not exactly light at 390g each but they are very puncture resistant (a folding, less treaded version of Marathon Plus).
I did get a pinch flat puncture a few months back so set them up tubeless and they have been great. The 390g weight is not that bad in comparison to tougher tubeless specific tyres and they will be much tougher than those.
Compared to a good road tyre they no doubt don't compare for feel and speed but I would put money on a good road tyre getting a puncture on first ride.
Some teams actually do run tubeless for Time trials, tubeless clinchers are slightly more aerodynamic than tubs and with the team car sat 10 metres behind you punctures are less of a worry.
Big reason tubs remain popular for mass start racing is the fact that you can ride on them even when they're flat as they wont roll off the rim. So if you get a flat and the team car is no where near you can press on, you'll probably knacker the rim but hey, that's what sponsors are for.
What is it that caused 4 punctures in 3 rides? Are you certain that it wasn’t the same cause?
Three in the front and one in the back. Front tyre cleaned out at home and minutely inspected after first one. Nothing remotely visible, and third front puncture only appeared the following morning after a 50 mile ride so it had gone down overnight. Nothing showing in the case for this one so must have gone in and out. The three thorns I did find were very small - less than a centimetre in length and so small that the supposed puncture resistant properties of the Roubaix tryes should have handled them.
Durangos look like Matathon Lite but have a bit of a rteputation for imprecise handling - perhaps the rubber is too hard.
Conti 4 seasons get good reviews.
Thanks guys.
Continental 4 season are my commuter tyre, grippy, fast, not too heavy.
Haven't a p******* for years...
That's good, because I've just ordered a couple!!!