Tube explosions..thoughts

I got the new conti 4000's on this weekend and have had nothing but trouble with them so far, I dont know whether I'm runnning at the wrong pressure or what. After fighting to get the tyres on from new I blew a rear tube whilst it was around 80psi (hardest I've dared even tho the tyres are rated at up to 120. Then got a pinch flat on the front trying to hop up a kerb last night, so when i got in made sure both tubes were around 80psi when i'd repaired the front. Went to bed 15 minutes late heard a massive pop and the rear had blown again unseating the tyre whilst it was sitting in my hallway. This is the first time I've really dealt with skinny road tyres so I dunno what i'm doing wrong, any help/thoughts much appreciated

grr

well, 120 in the rear, 110 in the front is what I use, after a week it'll go down to rest at about 80.

have you got decent rim tape? if so, make sure there's no debris kicking around in there..

also you have to "work" around the tyre when you fit it and the tube is semi inflated, to make sure you're not jamming the tube with the bead of the tyre.

the pinch flat is self explanatory and was caused by not enough air/clouting the kerb.

I've had nowt but trouble with Contis.

Because they're a bitch to fit, there's a good chance of damaging the tube when you do.

As RPM says, decent rim tape is a must. I've had a puncture cos the cheapo rubber band type failed. Conti tape is top, but I use Veloplugs which are toppermost.

check if you are running 700x19 tubes, someone here had the same problem, as they wouldn't expand enough to fit 700x23. but as rpm said 120-110 ish no problems. pinch flat was because 80psi is too soft ;)

as RPM, said, you might have caught a bit of tube between tyre and rim, i always put a small bit of air in the tube just to keep it round, fit tyre, then walk the tyre around the rim, making sure the tube is sitting properly, then inflate.

thanks for the tips, bought a couple more tubes today and am going to try again tonight and be very careful putting the tube in, after the first rear tube blew i was very careful putting the second one it, but maybe not careful enough...

fk. checked bbc straight away when i saw title of this thread! good thing it's not the THE TUBE

I thought this thread was going to be some kind of philosophical outpouring on the actions of terrorists...

not trying to hijack the topic but im running 700x23 but could i run 700x25 on the same rims for a bit more of a comfy ride?

Enough.

No more talk of tube explosions and hijacking please.
All it will take is for someone to mention bombing down the high street and we will all be arrested.

Oops... :)

oh christ i've created a monster..

and in answer to your question joe, shouldn't be a problem, i've just dropped down from 700 x 28 to 700 x 23 and barring any more tube explosions..sorry blowouts I should be ok.

If your rim tape is sound, the problem must lie elsewhere. 80 psi is way too squishy, but I reckon you're maybe leaving a bit of the tube poking out of the rim somewhere. That would explain the blow outs when you're not even riding.

Take your time when you put a new tube in, and be uber careful round about the valve. Make sure you've pulled the tube underneath it right into the rim.

I went through a week of misery during the summer when I lost my ability to fix punctures. For seven days, I had pinch flats and tubes exploding as I slept. The first one was probably changed in too much of a rush. As the situation spiralled out of control - a inner tube slaughterfest - I got panicky and didn't take my time installing the others either. Slow and steady is the way to go. I even had a couple explode while I was inflating them. The noise in a confined space isnae real. I still get a bit jittery when I'm using the track pump...

dogsballs check if you are running 700x19 tubes, someone here had the same problem, as they wouldn't expand enough to fit 700x23. but as rpm said 120-110 ish no problems. pinch flat was because 80psi is too soft ;)

Come on.. my tyres head down to 80psi often when I'm being to lazy to spend 30sec to inflate 'em.. I've never pinch flatted 'em and I is heavy.

Tyre blowouts like that described by the OP are usually poor installation, then it'd be dodgy rims or rim tape and only then would I start blaming tyres.

No way is 80psi over-inflated either. I run around 100psi.. bit more when racing.. and most tyres will handle a lot more before self-destruction.

clefty: Do you fit the tyres with tools (tyre levers, screwdriver, angle grinder) or with your hands/fingers only?

kowalski As RPM says, decent rim tape is a must. I've had a puncture cos the cheapo rubber band type failed. Conti tape is top, but I use Veloplugs which are toppermost.

Interesting you should say that about Veloplugs, mine were absolute sh!t they wouldn't stay in their bloody spoke holes... Went back to rim tape (the yellow plastic type, can't remember the brand) and no more problems...

Anyone need some Veloplugs? ;-)

Use Velox
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=4000000124&N=Velox%20Rim%20Tape

hippy

No way is 80psi over-inflated either. I run around 100psi.. bit more when racing.. and most tyres will handle a lot more before self-destruction.

Yep like all things that have a limit of whatever type the enginners say what it could be and then the lawers want 50% of that and the managment plump for a figure in the middle. I have ran cheap BMX tyres that where only rated for 50 psi at 100 psi no problems.

hippy [quote]dogsballs check if you are running 700x19 tubes, someone here had the same problem, as they wouldn't expand enough to fit 700x23. but as rpm said 120-110 ish no problems. pinch flat was because 80psi is too soft ;)

No way is 80psi over-inflated either. I run around 100psi.. bit more when racing.. and most tyres will handle a lot more before self-destruction.

clefty: Do you fit the tyres with tools (tyre levers, screwdriver, angle grinder) or with your hands/fingers only?[/quote]

when i first put the contis on this weekend there was a lot of levering involved with a couple of tyre levers, however when i changed the rear one the first time (after the initial tube popped whilst pumping it - which now makes me a bit jumpy round track pumps as well - but that was definitely a mixture of bad installation, hurting fingers and tiredness) i took out one side of the tyre bead to remove/fit the new tube then got as much in with my fingers until i had to use tryre levers for the last 5 inches of tyre or so.

I think maybe i just gotta be less brutal, i thought i was uber careful seating the tube round the rim with my fingers last time, pumped it up slightly them re checked it to make sure it was seated, then pumped it up again to 80psi, I rode about 30 miles on that back tyre before i got back home, topped it up a little - still not over 90psi..which is when it went pop -half an hour later in my hallway..

maybe its just the tube in general that hates me..i can't win - when I take the Northern line it screws up, now when i try to cycle the tube fails again! Is this TFL getting their own back for them not getting my travelcard money anymore?

folding contis are easier to fit on.With your fingers.

I will always destroy my thumbs installing tyres by hand rather than use tyre levers. I've come across a couple of tyres that wont go on without levers but not many.
I always pack the tube right up under the tyre and work my way around the wheel. Also remember to push the valve up and then the tyre down so the tyre doesn't bite onto the tube near the valve. When I've finished I spin the wheel and watch the little 'bead line' to make sure it is even all the way around. If the tyre is bumping up at any point it usually means you've fscked it and the tyre is sitting on the tube and a popping we will go..

Also, you might simply be cursed, in which case I can offer you a forum member discount on an exorcism.

overdrive folding contis are easier to fit on.With your fingers.

not on my rims they aint, and its not just i'm a girl...

use some talc then ya big jessie!

If they are anywhere near as tight as the Conti Ultra Gator Skins I bought for my 26" rims, take em back - I managed to break 1 tire lever and could easily have damaged a rim trying to get them on?
Ended up taking the wheels to LBS to fit them on, and they took an hour to do it whilst I was watching - the tire was way too tight a fit!!! THEN - Yup, I get a puncture 2 days after fitting - running at 100psi
and of course I can't get the tire off!!!!! So I ended up giving the tires away and buying a new set of Specialized Pro's, never any problems with them?

If i may....
there's a technique in fitting tight tyres that most people can't quite believe actually works until they've seen it.
(I think this is because tyre levers are so ubiquitous that you assume "they must be there for a reason" and start
levering away.)

It involves gripping the tyre with both hands and kind of rolling it over the rim where the tyre is still loose enough
and gradually up towards the finish where it is tight.
You should not need a tyre lever for all but the tightest meyabitch of a tyre.

Conti 4000s are very tight - especially the skinny 20mm ones (try working up to the valve so that the valve stops the
inner tube from being pulled down against the rim for that last tricky bit)

That said i've run a pair daily for about 6 months anywhere from 90-120 psi and not a single puncture so far.

thanks for the help guys, i am flexing my thumbs and getting the talc ready this evening...
i will report back from the front tomorrow.

I popped a tube whilst I was inflating a tyre the other week, damn near deafened me. Think it was a pinch flat around the valve when I put the tyre back on. Bought a new tube and followed the instructions on the packet, they were different to my regular method. essentially

1 Partially inflate tube
2 Place in tyre
3 Put tyre on rim
4 Fully inflate

Worked well, the tube being already in the tyre seems to avoid piching the tube. Does anybody else use this method or is it just me being a muppet all these years and I should hand my cycling shoes in at the door on the way out?