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tYREs AnD tYRE CARE
Punctures should only be an occasional nuisance on a properly maintained
bike. If you find yourself regularly getting out the puncture outfit, something
is wrong and you should hunt down the basic cause, rather than go on
suffering. Among the possibilities are not keeping the tyres pumped up
enough, badly worn tyres, tubes that have been repaired too often and
picking up thorns and flints when riding across country.
When the tyres are too soft, you’ll get snakebite punctures. These are caused
by the tube getting nipped between the ground and the wheel rim. Always
remember to inflate tyres to the pressure indicated on the sidewall of the tyre
and repair any slow punctures.
Worn tyres must be replaced but if you want to increase puncture resistance
and tyre life, consult your retailer about fitting tyres with Kevlar carcasses.
Your Retailer can also tell you about what types and sizes of tyre can be used
safely on your particular bike. If you go for directional tyres, fit them with the
arrow on the side wall pointing forwards.
Finally, if you tend to get a lot of punctures caused by small, sharp objects
like flints and thorns, the solution is Slime tyre sealant. This is a green liquid
which you feed into the tube and which stays liquid until you get a puncture.
A small amount of Slime is then forced out through the puncture, which then
solidifies and seals the puncture.
Flat tyres can also be caused by poor repair technique, often when the tube
gets pinched between the rim and the tyre lever. So make sure the end of the
tyre lever sits on the rim and not the tube or you can also get slow punctures
by using poor quality patches or using them without care. The solution here
is to use Skabs glueless patches and always prepare the surface of the tube
with the abrasive paper supplied, before applying the patch to the tube.
If you can’t find a slow puncture, pump the tube up lightly and dip it in a
bowl of water (or a handy puddle). The bubbles will show you where it is.
To remove a tyre, undo the valve nut if
fitted, then move to the other side of
the wheel. Push back the tyre wall with
your thumb and insert the first tyre
lever. Pull the lever downwards and
hook onto a spoke. Repeat with the
other tyre levers.
As you fit the third tyre lever, the middle
one will fall out, then repeat the process
if necessary. Once the tyre is loose, pull
the lever around the rest of the rim to
free the remaining part of the tyre, ready
to pull the tube out.
Pull the tube out and repair the tube,
then check inside the tyre for foreign
bodies. Take care to avoid cutting your
fingers. Pump the tube up lightly and
push the valve back through the hole,
checking that it’s straight.
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