Mr Tuffy's

[cyclesafe]

I have been testing Mr Tuffy tire liners and have been sorely disappointed.  Every 50 miles of so I get a tube puctured where the liner overlaps.  Are there any tricks to installation that I may be overlooking.

This product is supposed to reduce flats not cause them....

[biker_james]

My wife and I have been using Mr Tuffy's since we got our touring bikes in 2000. Never had a flat caused by the liner. I think we have had a grand total of 5 flat tires in that time period-4 for me, 1 for her,and all caused by wire from shredded tires going thru the sidewall above the liner. I did replae the tubes after about 4 years and a few tires because there was a line form the end of the tire liner, but no cuts thru it. I really can't see how you could mess up installing them, unles you didn't bother getting them to lay flat in the tire. The only installation tip is to stretch them out flat until they lose the curl, then put them into the tire. I would think if you don't keep the tires up to pressure that they may tend to move and potentially damage the tube, but I've never heard of anyone getting flats every 50 miles from them. Between the wife and I, ours must have about 30,000 miles, and never caused a flat.

[cyclesafe]

Thanks for responding.

As far as I could tell the liners were lying flat in the tire.  In all cases the tube was sliced through at the overlap and thus not repairable.  The Mr. Tuffy web site says to grind down the end edges of the liner to minimize these kinds of cuts, but on my liner, at least, there really is nothing to grind.

It seems that one either loves or hates Mr. Tuffy.  I took them out of my tires and immediately noticed an improved ride.  Since I am running Schwalbe Marathon XR's anyway, using Mr Tuffy was perhaps overkill.  When I get a real flat from a road hazzard, like you, it is always a wire from a radial automobile tire.  Perhaps nothing will prevent these "little spears" from giving you a flat if it is your turn to get one...

[TheDaltonBoys]

cyclesafe - Slime liners WITH Schwalbe Marathons so I too speak "overkill". Make sure your rim tape is good. You might try to reduce the overlap a little if its alot right now, and finally don't go too far over recommended tire pressure with all the protection inside the tire. Enjoy the voyage.....Mark of the Dalton Boys

[ibike4fun]

I have had one nail go though the side wall on my tire and that is the only flat since I started using MR. Tuff's. Mountain biking since 1986 covering well over 65,000 miles.

"Banana Slugs are too cool for word!"

[RussellSeaton]

Like cyclesafe I used Mr. Tuffy for awhile.  But after the overlap started slicing my tubes too often, I took them out.  Several flats in several days in southern Portugal due to Mr. Tuffy.  Can't say I noticed any improvement in ride after removing them since I ride 700x35mm tires on the touring bike.  Big fat heavy thick tires that don't get many flate because they are big fat heavy and thick.

You can try thinning down the edges with a belt sander.  Or at least making the square edges on the ends of the liner into a radius.  May delay the punctures caused by the overlap.

I suspect the people who have no problems with Mr. Tuffy use very low pressures.  Such as with mountain bike tires at 40 psi maximum.  Or touring bike tires at 70 psi.  I put 90-100 psi into my touring tires.

[erniegrillo]

I installed Tuffy liners and after a few months the same thing happened to me, a cut at the overlap.  I cut the liner so it didn't overlap and then took the piece I cut out and layed it over the two ends to make a connection. I use tuffys in my touring bike with 700 x 37 at 70 psi and commuter bike with 700 x 28 at 95 psi and no flats for 2 years, 5000 + miles per year and 235 days of riding per year. I'm a believer.

[Scovilleater]

You can try thinning down the edges with a belt sander.  Or at least making the square edges on the ends of the liner into a radius.  May delay the punctures caused by the overlap.

"Radial trim and feather" should be a install standard for any LBS. Both can be done with a simple razor knife.

Ounce of prevention = pound of cure.