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"Self-Sealing" tires, and mini frame pumps
Sep. 3rd, 2004 01:01 pmToday I found out how much good self-sealing tires do. Squat, that's how much.
I picked up a staple in my tire on the way back from Subway. Just a standard staple from an Arrow staple gun. Two holes. I heard it when I picked it up, was just a couple hundred feet from work, rode in, saw the staple and the green gunk coming out. Pulled the staple, rotated the tire so the holes were on the bottom, went inside for 5 minutes. Came back out, the tire is flat, the holes still leaking even with just a little pressure.
So I pulled a few inches of tube out to patch it. I then found what the stuff is really good for. It goos up the tube so you can't put a real patch on without cleaning. Luckily I was at work, so paper towels, water, and alcohol patches were within 50 feet.
From the manufacturer:
The Slime® sealant seals most holes up to 1/8-in instantly while you ride.
Yeah, right. I'm pulling these tubes out when it's time to switch to winter tires. At least standard tubes I can patch without cleaning off a bunch of green crap.
I also discovered that you get a lot more sweaty pumping to 50 PSI with a mini frame pump than riding the mile to the sandwich shop. But it's not really worth upgrading the frame pump to avoid a little sweat 2 or 3 times a year. I have a floor pump at home.
I picked up a staple in my tire on the way back from Subway. Just a standard staple from an Arrow staple gun. Two holes. I heard it when I picked it up, was just a couple hundred feet from work, rode in, saw the staple and the green gunk coming out. Pulled the staple, rotated the tire so the holes were on the bottom, went inside for 5 minutes. Came back out, the tire is flat, the holes still leaking even with just a little pressure.
So I pulled a few inches of tube out to patch it. I then found what the stuff is really good for. It goos up the tube so you can't put a real patch on without cleaning. Luckily I was at work, so paper towels, water, and alcohol patches were within 50 feet.
From the manufacturer:
The Slime® sealant seals most holes up to 1/8-in instantly while you ride.
Yeah, right. I'm pulling these tubes out when it's time to switch to winter tires. At least standard tubes I can patch without cleaning off a bunch of green crap.
I also discovered that you get a lot more sweaty pumping to 50 PSI with a mini frame pump than riding the mile to the sandwich shop. But it's not really worth upgrading the frame pump to avoid a little sweat 2 or 3 times a year. I have a floor pump at home.
