FRONT tire blowout last night,argggg!!!

[Polarbear]

Rode my R100/7 to work last night around midnight, about 25 miles one way on mostly freeway. BOY, got nearly to work and as I was exiting freeway at about 40, the front tire deflated rapidly to my extreme surprise, of course! I nearly cra**** my britches trying to make a safe stop without lying down for a very close look see at some pavement. Some how I managed to get stopped, with a car right up my arssss and everything was back to normal in short order, with me standing safely alongside my trusty steed, wondering what just happened. I had noticed something weird about two miles back, the bike seemed to be rocking, "very softly" in a forward to back motion and I had just made some adjustments to my steering head bearings yesterday, so this immediately entered my thoughts, riding along and a "flat forthcoming" was not in my thoughts. Especially a front! I've had a lot of rear flats over the years, but only two fronts come to my memory in 30+ years and a lot of miles. Anyhow, safe and thinking about the ride a lot, just before this happened. I won't forget, you bet...PS; My good wife of 30 years came to my rescue, from a deep sleep. Good, good girl! The tube split, no nail,etc. I had not checked the tire pressure in about two days. The band , between the tube and rim spokes seemed to be the culprit(I Think), as the split in tube seemed to match the band! About a 6 inch, unusual rub mark and a one inch split, almost like a pinch in the tube. I'm back on the road, thank goodness....Randy13233 I do my own tires.....seemed to miss something this time, as the tire was just mounted by "me", a few weeks ago. Glad i can talk about it today!

 

[SNC1923]

A harrowing tale to be sure. I'm glad you're OK and fit to tell about it.

 

[pmdave]

May we assume you installed a NEW innertube, or looked at the old tube, fingered it, and figured it would go another time?

I've had the experience of changing a front tire, re-using the old (it looked real good to me) innertube, and then had the tube split a few hundred miles later.

Now, I follow the advice: "New tire, new tube".

Rather than use a rubber rim strip, I prefer duct tape. I cut the tape about the same width as the rim strip, make about two wraps, overlapping at the valve stem area. The duct tape doesn't move around and allow the tube to get trapped.

pmdave

 

[cjack]

May we assume you installed a NEW innertube, or looked at the old tube, fingered it, and figured it would go another time?

I've had the experience of changing a front tire, re-using the old (it looked real good to me) innertube, and then had the tube split a few hundred miles later.

Now, I follow the advice: "New tire, new tube".

Rather than use a rubber rim strip, I prefer duct tape. I cut the tape about the same width as the rim strip, make about two wraps, overlapping at the valve stem area. The duct tape doesn't move around and allow the tube to get trapped.

pmdave

Actually back in the era of the 100/7, the rims were coming with duct tape on the spoke nipples and we had some innertube cuts along the edge. We thought the tape might have done it and not be a good thing. We used rubber rim strips instead when renewing the tire.

 

[dancogan]

Actually back in the era of the 100/7, the rims were coming with duct tape on the spoke nipples and we had some innertube cuts along the edge. We thought the tape might have done it and not be a good thing. We used rubber rim strips instead when renewing the tire.

Some tapes will cut the tube. From my bicycling days I remember lining a rim with packing tape-the type with nylon threads running through it that's very strong and impossible to tear. It did a job on my inner tubes, and I had one flat after another until I reverted to rubber rim strips.

 

[MOTORMAN]

You could put just one layer of duct tape on the rim then use a NEW rubber chafing strip over it before putting the tube and tire on the rim. The chafing strip should be replaced too if it is worn at all. I'd be inclined to just replace if it it's a few years old anyhow. It's a sacrificial part to save the tube. If it's damaged it did it's part, replace it.

 

[Polarbear]

YEP to all!

I did the new tube thing, as always. I have used electrical tape for years without fail, but this shook me a bit. I have also used old tubes to make new rubber liners, over spokes, which is how I put this back together and a single row of electric tape right down the middle, over the rubber. This seems better than the tape alone,imo. Cutting a tube, right around its center line makes a really good liner and stretched into place, I use hot glue to bond the ends(overlapping about three inches). This flat, however was not with my homemade liner, but tape alone and I've mended my ways just a bit. Randy13233

 

[pmdave]

Back in the "good old days" we used to be able to get very nice, reasonably thick natural rubber innertubes from Continental, Metzeler, etc. But as tubeless tires have taken over almost exclusively for street tires, the innertubes I see now are basically dirt bike innertubes made of very thin synthetic rubber.

I did manage to score a couple of better tubes, Michelin as I recall, for the next tire change.

Any experience good/bad with the thinner "dirt bike" innertubes?

There are also "heavy duty" innertubes that are about twice as thick as normal, but they are a bit of a bear to get installed. They are a decided advantage for travel in areas where thorns and other sharp objects are common.

Since I've had no bad experiences with duct tape, that's what I'll continue to use, but I wouldn't suggest any tape that's tough and sharp (Mylar) or has reinforcing strands (box strapping).

The main problem with a rubber rim strip is that it can move around as you install the tire. I would suggest (after getting the tire levered on) pushing the bead back and checking that the rim strip is still covering the spoke nipples.

Anyone have innertube failures when installed inside a "tubeless" tire? Brand?

pmdave

 

[Polarbear]

Yes!

Mine are "tubeless" tires, but rims with spokes require the tubes on /7's. I think most tires today are both ways...? There are still a lot of street bikes using tubes. Many HD's, F Bikes, and lots of other Japanese, etc models out there. Of course all of us riding classic's. The 491's say Tubeless, right on the sidewall, for sure. I've used a lot of these tires for years and years, without fail. Randy13233; PS; I like the duct tape idea,too. I may take my rear tire off and recheck it, before heading across the USA for V. ermont

 

[pmdave]

Some "tubeless" tires have severe raised edges inside that could potentially abrade a tube. Some tires are marked "tube or tubeless". I understand that there are some small differences in bead profile between the old style "tube type" tire and the current "tubeless" tires. The old style was wedge shaped and tightened on the rim as the air pushed it outward. The tubeless style has a flat groove with a smooth lip at the inside edges--to capture the bead and make it more difficult to unseat during a deflation.

I have used "tubeless" tires on old style rims, with an innertube on spoked BMW wheels, and without an innertube on cast snowflake and Lester wheels. I did have an innertube failure on a "tubeless" tire mounted on a Lester. The tire didn't deflate, but became extremely unbalanced. The tube had disintegrated and wadded up on one side, but the valve stem continued to hold air pressure.

pmdave

 

[pmdave]

Another thought: when changing tires, take a good look at the ends of the spokes inside the nipples. If any spokes are poking through, they need to be ground off to avoid puncturing the innertube.

pmdave

 

[Polarbear]

Thanks PM Dave

I just noticed your locale of Port Angeles and my best friend passed away last year was from there. He was 80. We rode for 25+ years on Beemers all over the USA. We met in Clovis,CA and he retired down here. Cop in P.A. for 30+ years, retired of course. "Johnny Sweatt" is a well known name in those parts. He'll be missed here! Thanks for tips and stuff on tires, too. You never can stop learning, I say. When we do stop, we start having failure(s) like mine and the front tire flat! Happy Trails, Randy13233 PS; If you heard of John Sweatt, let me know. We were the best of friends.