Bicycles: What Are The Different Types of Flat Tires?
When something makes a damage to the inner tube of your bicycle, the result is a flat tire. However, it does not automatically mean that the tire is also damaged. You can have a functioning tire but still get a flat tire.
Here are the four categories of flat tires in bicycles.
1. Pinch Cuts.
When sharp edges and stones hit your tire, you will most probably get pinch cuts. If your tire gets a relatively strong impact from such sharp objects, it will get compressed. Your inner tube will be pinched between the stone and your rim. Then pinch cuts will create 2 holes in your inner tube. These holes are at times called "snake bite" since they look like the mark made by the fangs of a snake.
Normally, the tire will not be damaged, it is your inner tube which will need some attention. The rin would most like get a dent due to the impact.
2. Slow Leaks. The term itself will give you an idea what kind of flat tire this is. Since leaks are slow, it will take some time before the bicycle gets flat. In fact, you can still use it for a period of time even if it has a slow leak. However, it you will eventually experience a rough ride and you will ride slower and slower because you have to pump the tires.
Little hole in your inner tubes can cause slow leaks. Since it can be impossible to determine where the hole is, the best measure is to replace the inner tube.
3. Blowouts. These are sudden lose of air from the inner tube which usually coupled by a very loud banging sound. This happens usually when you put too much pressure in the inner tube and the tire is not able to hold it well. Just like in the case of a balloon. When you pump air into it, it will go larger and larger and will pop once it reaches its maximum stretch capacity.
4. Punctures. Punctures are the most common things which cause flat tires. Punctures occure when the tires run over very sharp objects and can poke holes through the tires. The damage will worsen if sharp items will syab deep into the inner tube. These can be caused by things such as thorns, nails, glass debris, and other small and sharp objects found on the road.
Patching the inner tube is the best way to fis a flat tire caused by punctures. However, if this is not enough because the puncture is severer, you might want to consider replacing your inner tubes. It is important to remove whatever sharp item that gave a puncture to your tires.
But, if you have a bicycle with slimed tubes which has a self-repairing system, you will not have much of a headache because you only need to remove the sharp thing and your tire will bring itself to its proper shape and condition.
Here are the four categories of flat tires in bicycles.
1. Pinch Cuts.
When sharp edges and stones hit your tire, you will most probably get pinch cuts. If your tire gets a relatively strong impact from such sharp objects, it will get compressed. Your inner tube will be pinched between the stone and your rim. Then pinch cuts will create 2 holes in your inner tube. These holes are at times called "snake bite" since they look like the mark made by the fangs of a snake.
Normally, the tire will not be damaged, it is your inner tube which will need some attention. The rin would most like get a dent due to the impact.
2. Slow Leaks. The term itself will give you an idea what kind of flat tire this is. Since leaks are slow, it will take some time before the bicycle gets flat. In fact, you can still use it for a period of time even if it has a slow leak. However, it you will eventually experience a rough ride and you will ride slower and slower because you have to pump the tires.
Little hole in your inner tubes can cause slow leaks. Since it can be impossible to determine where the hole is, the best measure is to replace the inner tube.
3. Blowouts. These are sudden lose of air from the inner tube which usually coupled by a very loud banging sound. This happens usually when you put too much pressure in the inner tube and the tire is not able to hold it well. Just like in the case of a balloon. When you pump air into it, it will go larger and larger and will pop once it reaches its maximum stretch capacity.
4. Punctures. Punctures are the most common things which cause flat tires. Punctures occure when the tires run over very sharp objects and can poke holes through the tires. The damage will worsen if sharp items will syab deep into the inner tube. These can be caused by things such as thorns, nails, glass debris, and other small and sharp objects found on the road.
Patching the inner tube is the best way to fis a flat tire caused by punctures. However, if this is not enough because the puncture is severer, you might want to consider replacing your inner tubes. It is important to remove whatever sharp item that gave a puncture to your tires.
But, if you have a bicycle with slimed tubes which has a self-repairing system, you will not have much of a headache because you only need to remove the sharp thing and your tire will bring itself to its proper shape and condition.
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