Power Kite Forum

thorn proof tires

stetson05 - 11-3-2011 at 03:38 PM

what have people done to make their tires more thorn proof? I have the regular 4ply tires and they are tubeless. They keep getting punctured. I have to reset the bead almost every time I ride.

I am also interested in converting them to tubed tires. Any thoughts on doing that and the best way?

BeamerBob - 11-3-2011 at 03:57 PM

tubes will help with losing your air because the bead breaks. They won't help with thorns though. Maybe tubes and slime would keep you rolling.

erratic winds - 11-3-2011 at 04:06 PM

Have slimed ATB tires with success, I would imagine if you go to tubes you could do the same.

action jackson - 11-3-2011 at 04:29 PM

I had slime work in the worst of all places(Zilker Park Austin Texas).The thorns there are scary and hard as a rock! After a couple years the tires took on a wood tone but never had a leak again! I was using 4-ply smooth tires that were tubeless!......aj

stetson05 - 11-3-2011 at 05:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by action jackson
I had slime work in the worst of all places(Zilker Park Austin Texas).The thorns there are scary and hard as a rock! After a couple years the tires took on a wood tone but never had a leak again! I was using 4-ply smooth tires that were tubeless!......aj


so you just filled the tubeless ones with slime? I can do that!

DAKITEZ - 11-3-2011 at 05:14 PM

do you have to reset the bead because it goes flat and pulls off bead or are you blowing them off while you are riding?

stetson05 - 11-3-2011 at 06:23 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DAKITEZ
do you have to reset the bead because it goes flat and pulls off bead or are you blowing them off while you are riding?


They go flat and pull off the bead. The leak is slow and usually I can do fine for a session but the next day the tire is flat. I have taken to keeping a air tank in my truck but I would prefer if they didn't leak. I know the slime might cause some wobble but I have really never been above 26mph that I know of. I thought if I went to tubes and put in some slime I could just carry a small pump.

BeamerBob - 11-3-2011 at 06:35 PM

You have a small leak in the tire, valve or the bead isn't seated well. Adding tubes will fix all three and eliminate the issue of depending on the seated bead to hold air. You might not need slime unless you continue to get flats.

rocfighter - 11-3-2011 at 06:38 PM

You can even save a step now and buy tubes with Slime already in them. For less than buying tubes and then slime also.

Seanny - 11-3-2011 at 07:05 PM

I pulled an eighth-inch twig out of my tire a few days ago. I have to get it patched at a tire shop. :(

burritobandit - 11-3-2011 at 07:27 PM

These are the tires I got at Walmart:
Model# 480-8 4T/L
Sku# 003325964847
Price: $22.00
Then I put slimed tubes in each.

I seriously feel like they are completely impervious to thorns, nails, and meteors, and that I have a better chance of winning the lottery while simultaneously being struck by lightning than getting a flat in these tires on any surface (yes, even molten lava).

Here's a thread of other tires recommended to me by the wise sages that peruse these forums:
http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=13684&p...

ripsessionkites - 11-3-2011 at 08:18 PM

from my Out and Back experience, im glad I do not run tubeless.

every time I blew a tire I was able to get back and the tire stayed "sitted" hopefully because of the inner tube. again, i have no clue, but it was better than walking back.

i think maybe switching to 6 ply "trailer tires" might help. they are beefer and heavier. The Primex Speed Star is pretty cheap, its like around 22.00 / each.

if you do a lot of beach riding its a good idea to deflate once and while and clean the sand build up between the tire / rim.

kitemaker4 - 11-3-2011 at 08:28 PM

I know that the sand over in Galveston has been a problem with those who ran tubless in the past.

Susan (npw goddess)

csa_deadon - 12-3-2011 at 12:19 AM

I just threw in the two ply's and moved to ATV tires! :wee:
4 ply body with a lot of beefy tread.

photo(16).JPG - 176kB

BeamerBob - 12-3-2011 at 08:39 AM

No stickers are going to bother those!

stetson05 - 12-3-2011 at 08:55 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by csa_deadon
I just threw in the two ply's and moved to ATV tires! :wee:
4 ply body with a lot of beefy tread.


I wonder how long they will last at NABX. They look nice!

ripsessionkites - 12-3-2011 at 03:30 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by csa_deadon
I just threw in the two ply's and moved to ATV tires! :wee:
4 ply body with a lot of beefy tread.


looking forward to turning those bald for ya in a few weeks.

hehehe



j/king :spin:

csa_deadon - 12-3-2011 at 09:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by ripsessionkites
Quote:
Originally posted by csa_deadon
I just threw in the two ply's and moved to ATV tires! :wee:
4 ply body with a lot of beefy tread.


looking forward to turning those bald for ya in a few weeks.

hehehe



j/king :spin:


You can't ride that which is taller then you! :lol:

Seanny - 12-3-2011 at 09:48 PM

Anyone know where I can get a new ATB tire tube?

It's a standard 8" tire... finding tubes that are 8" in a search is misleading, because it's referring to an 8" inside diameter, not 8" total lateral length.

EDIT: I know CWS has some MBS tubes, but I was wondering if there was anything on the market that was thicker or more rugged, made for things other than ATBs?

rocfighter - 13-3-2011 at 04:48 PM

Walmart or any hardware store. For The Kidds SDT PL buggy we just use wheel barrow tubes 4.80X8 about $8.00 at Ace Hardware.

stetson05 - 13-3-2011 at 05:11 PM

I got some of those tires at walmart for $12 a piece but I wasn't sure I could get the ones off and new ones on without damaging the rim. I used some dishsoap on the bead of the tires giving me problems and they stayed inflated all night. I think I am still going to add some slime.

I have used slime on my ATB tires and it has worked just fine. They are a little heavier and wobble a little until I get going but that is better than a flat tire.

csa_deadon - 13-3-2011 at 06:47 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by stetson05
Quote:
Originally posted by csa_deadon
I just threw in the two ply's and moved to ATV tires! :wee:
4 ply body with a lot of beefy tread.


I wonder how long they will last at NABX. They look nice!


Should last many years (trips) to the playa. If I'm not mistaken coolbreeze was running the kenda beach racers last year and barely took any tread of his tires. These have almost twice as much rubber in the tread.

ripsessionkites - 14-3-2011 at 12:43 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by csa_deadon
Quote:
Originally posted by stetson05
Quote:
Originally posted by csa_deadon
I just threw in the two ply's and moved to ATV tires! :wee:
4 ply body with a lot of beefy tread.


I wonder how long they will last at NABX. They look nice!


Should last many years (trips) to the playa. If I'm not mistaken coolbreeze was running the kenda beach racers last year and barely took any tread of his tires. These have almost twice as much rubber in the tread.


thats because he didnt spend much time in the seat. refer to the video. LOL. :spin:

looks like your threads will help wrap up lines better than the axle did. LOL. :tumble:

let the fun times begin.

Vince H. - 14-3-2011 at 09:20 AM

I have a client who encountered the same puncture problems, but with field scrub rather than sharp thorns.

In addition to adding tubes to both narrow and wide stock PL tires, he lined the inside of the tires with a single layer of an old car inner tube. Worked perfectly for him.

Of course thorns may penetrate deeper.

stetson05 - 14-3-2011 at 10:02 PM

I thought about lining the tubes with old tubes too. Used to work on my bikes as a kid.

cheezycheese - 14-3-2011 at 11:03 PM

I know some of our local bike shops sell thin strips of Kevlar for that purpose. NYC bike messengers put their tires through hell...

nocando - 14-3-2011 at 11:52 PM

Does Walmart sell barrow type tyres and tubes ???

rocfighter - 15-3-2011 at 05:53 AM

Walmart sells them here in the US. Although I have found that a hardware store can have better pricing on them because they sell more.