Road Tyres

Nefarious

Nefarious

Nefarious

Associate
Joined
1 Aug 2003
Posts
1,053
I recently got a Giant FRS 2.0 and thought I was very happy with it, except... I keep getting punctures.

I have NEVER had this much of a problem before. My previous bike a CRS 3.0 never had a puncture but I have gone through over an inner tube per month since getting my FRS.

My question is - I have Kenda Kontender 125PSI competition grade tyres are these fundementally unsuitable for city use and simply naturally more prone to punctures? Or have I simply been REALLY unlucky to a point where I want to start serial killing?
 
If I were you I would get some proper puncture resistant tyres such as the Specialized Armadillo or the Schwalbe Marathon ones.
 
Those Kenda tyres are rubbish. Anything you change them to will be an improvement, including ones made of foam.
 
Given the number of inner tubes I've gone through, I think I'd be better off with tyres actually made from broken glass!

Thanks for the advice, I'm probably going to go for a pair of Marathon pluses - what are people's thoughts regarding treads. I'm really not going to go off road - I have a rock hopper for that so am tempted to go for slick styles but some people have warned me off them saying they're dangerous and more puncture prone.

Is this true?
 
I've currently got some continental slicks on my Merlin and find that they're good at preventing punctures, but they tyres do tend to cut up quite easily. I also found this to be the case many years ago when I had some Michelin slicks on a road bike. I don't feel as though they're making a big difference to my speed so I wouldn't say to get them over treaded tyres. In fact I'd go for the treaded ones unless the slicks are all that were in stock (this is how I ended up with mine) or they were a good deal.

As for safety, I don't find the slicks to be a problem, even in the wet.
 
Having just had a ride on my slicks, they are a problem when breaking in the wet - my rear wheel kept sliding about whenever I braked for lights :S
 
Either the Armadillo or the Marathon ones will prove to be better. Just be wary that both are heavier and don't provide a very confortable ride but for commuting they are ace. I have the Armadillo ones (£40 the pair) and I haven't had a single puncture since I put them in.
 
2 years on Continental Gator Skins no punctures approx 3000 miles (not on the same tyres obviously!)
 
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