Rear tires prone to flats?

[Peter Parts]

A local wrench is a respected specialist on bike tire work.

 

He believes that rear tires get the lion's share of flats and that is because front tires shoot nails and screws at them picked up off the road.

 

He also suggests hanging some kind of rubbery curtain in front of the rear tire (like under the folded centerstand) to cut the flow.

 

Although I have a lot of respect for this guy, I can't say one way or the other about his theory or his fix except that what few flats I've had are 80% rear. Anybody have a thought?

[bobbybob]

Absolutely. ALL my flats have been rears. My theory:

 

1) Rear tires are wider than fronts, thus more exposure to hazards

 

2) Rear tires carry more weight than fronts--can more easily push that nail through.

 

3) Rear tires cost more to replace than fronts; its a secret conspiracy by the tire mfgrs.

 

[flat_twin]

 

Yep, it's true. The front tire flips it up and the rear tire gets it!

All my flats caused by nails, screws etc have been on the rear tire. One time it was a horse shoe nail. Darned Amish!

[Rinkydink]

I agree with all except #2. Me thinks front carries more weight on a lot of bikes...could be wrong and I'm sure I will know soon.

[bobbybob]

I agree with all except #2. Me thinks front carries more weight on a lot of bikes...could be wrong and I'm sure I will know soon.

 

And you may be right--I am just generalizing about my RT, based on the fact that 1) my butt sits only 1 ft. in front of the rear axle but is 4 feet *behind* the front axle 2) front tires are skinnier than rears and have a lower weight rating. And yes, I am counting the riders weight towards the total moto weight, since it usually has a rider when moving.

[skinny_tom (aka boney)]

Whilst commuting a few years ago, I ran over a box of screws (a 5 lb box that was spreading in size with each passing car). I figure I went over a couple hundred of them. No screws in the front, 6 screws in the rear. The theory holds true in my case.

 

 

[FlyingFinn]

Do we need to call Mythbusters on this?

 

I guess not since Boney pretty much already did what they would do

 

--

Mikko

[Exploreinman]

Here's a positive spin on it. Aren't you glad most of your flats have been in the rear tire!

[Peter Parts]

For sure much greater loss of stability when the flat is in the front.

 

But what about the "front tire throws nails to the rear tire" theory?

 

Or the concept of installing a little curtain ahead of the rear tire?

[ratfink]

Might help if the curtain was magnetic, sort of an Iron Curtain.

[FlyingFinn]

But what about the "front tire throws nails to the rear tire" theory?

 

That is likely the biggest contributor to the much greater chance of getting a flat in the rear.

I really don't think the wight different on each tire has anything to do with it. If it did, lighter weight bikes would get flats way less frequently that heavier bikes (per mile).

 

Or the concept of installing a little curtain ahead of the rear tire?

 

I think that's a totally silly idea....

 

 

 

--

Mikko

[DunRTer]

Might help if the curtain was magnetic, sort of an Iron Curtain.

 

Hey Ratfink

 

I love it!!

[OoPEZoO]

Here's a positive spin on it. Aren't you glad most of your flats have been in the rear tire!

 

Absolutely 100% yes

[Ron_B]

Whilst commuting a few years ago, I ran over a box of screws (a 5 lb box that was spreading in size with each passing car). I figure I went over a couple hundred of them. No screws in the front, 6 screws in the rear. The theory holds true in my case.

 

Tom, I recall the pic you posted when that happened, it was priceless.

 

He believes that rear tires get the lion's share of flats and that is because front tires shoot nails and screws at them picked up off the road.

 

Absolutely. I've had 5 flats because of nails and such, all have been on the back.

 

He also suggests hanging some kind of rubbery curtain in front of the rear tire (like under the folded centerstand) to cut the flow.

 

I've thought about doing this, I found this picture of a nail curtain/flap somewhere on the web a few years ago:

 

[Paul Mihalka]

That kind of flap with some magnet on the bottom edge might do a good job.

[Peter Parts]

snip

I've thought about doing this, I found this picture of a nail curtain/flap somewhere on the web a few years ago:

 

 

Yes, that flap is what I was thinking about. Not pretty but then your underwear might not be pretty after bringing a bike with a flat to a stop.

 

I heard a rumor that most flats occur in the last 10% of tread life. Rumor started by tire companies?

 

For the last 49 years, I've been riding in the tire tracks on roads since that lowers the statistical chance of hitting something (more exactly, nails gets tossed around by tires and so less likely to remain in the track when you pass through).

 

Tubeless wheels sure slow the loss of air - flats tend to be detected at start up (or a block from start-up) rather than while zooming on the highway.

[FlyingFinn]

That kind of flap with some magnet on the bottom edge might do a good job.

 

I'd put the flap in an angle (like the blade on a road grader) so that if the flap gets even a partial hit on a bouncing nail it would be more likely to deflect it to the side.

 

 

--

Mikko

 

[bobbybob]

I just won't buy the "front kicks the nail up" theory, until someone does some high speed videography of their RT running over a box of nails....

[Joe Frickin' Friday]

I heard a rumor that most flats occur in the last 10% of tread life. Rumor started by tire companies?

 

If the object is long enough, I don't think it matters how thick the tire is. The difference between "new tread" and "no tread" only makes a difference if the object isn't long enough to penetrate the entire thickness of a new tire, but IS long enough to penetrate a tire with most of its tread worn off.

 

So the next time you get a puncture on your nearly-worn-out tire, take a look to see how long the object is. If it's just a smidge longer than the thickness of your worn out tire, then yeah, maybe you wouldn't have gotten a flat if you had been riding a new tire. I suspect that this scenario is rare.

[EddyQ]

That kind of flap with some magnet on the bottom edge might do a good job.

 

I'd put the flap in an angle (like the blade on a road grader) so that if the flap gets even a partial hit on a bouncing nail it would be more likely to deflect it to the side.

 

+1. Deflect kicked up objects to the side . . .

[Peter Parts]

Angled. Yes, towards drivers using cellphones. Good idea.

 

But being an old research guy, I think what somebody should do is make a flap covered in latex foam or a scoop that would collect stuff.

 

Instrumented, of course.

 

And with a data logger.

 

And satellite relay for sending the data to this forum.

 

Kidding aside, maybe a 1/4 inch sheet of balsa wood where a flap could go would "record" the nature and strength of impacts.

[Joe Frickin' Friday]

But being an old research guy, I think what somebody should do is make a flap covered in latex foam or a scoop that would collect stuff.

 

Instrumented, of course.

 

And with a data logger.

 

And satellite relay for sending the data to this forum.

 

Live webcam?