News:

Welcome Rad Power Bike owners!

Buying a Rad Power Bike? Support the forum and use my affiliate link: https://radpowerbikes.pxf.io/Wq1EzZ

Be sure to sign up for a free account to see posted images.

Note: To help support to ongoing costs of running
the site we use Amazon affiliate links.

Main Menu

7 FLAT TIRES since July 2021!

Started by bajaworx, March 22, 2022, 05:01:12 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

bajaworx

Can someone explain the tire issue with the RAD Runner??  we've had 7 flat tires since July..basically 1 per month.  1 nail, 1 thorn. The rest are unexplainable.  This is super frustrating and the cost of new tubes is piling up.  Could there be an issue with the frame, spokes, anything?
PLEASE HELP.

surfer8210

Buy my Tannus Armor tire inserts.
I have an ad posted for those and nice tires too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Radio Runner

Quote from: surfer8210 on March 22, 2022, 08:06:37 PM
Buy my Tannus Armor tire inserts.
I have an ad posted for those and nice tires too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not the be all end all solution.

#1 you have to identify what's causing the flats. Sounds like a nail and thorn account for one or two however there still could be thorns in the tire just waiting for the new tube. Did you feel the inside of the tire b4 putting a new tube in? Sometimes they can just sit in the rubber and migrate down over time. If there is one thorn there is good change another is in the tire but not made it through.

#2 Where are the punctures? On top of the tube or inside? If they are inside then you know the rim or spoke nipples are the issue. New rim strip needed.

#3 Are they pinch flats? Do you ride with low (10-15 psi) tire pressure? If so pump them up. More pressure, less chance of pinch flats.






handlebar

Quote from: Radio Runner on March 22, 2022, 10:49:48 PM
Quote from: surfer8210 on March 22, 2022, 08:06:37 PM
Buy my Tannus Armor tire inserts.
I have an ad posted for those and nice tires too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not the be all end all solution.

#1 you have to identify what's causing the flats. Sounds like a nail and thorn account for one or two however there still could be thorns in the tire just waiting for the new tube. Did you feel the inside of the tire b4 putting a new tube in? Sometimes they can just sit in the rubber and migrate down over time. If there is one thorn there is good change another is in the tire but not made it through.

#2 Where are the punctures? On top of the tube or inside? If they are inside then you know the rim or spoke nipples are the issue. New rim strip needed.

#3 Are they pinch flats? Do you ride with low (10-15 psi) tire pressure? If so pump them up. More pressure, less chance of pinch flats.

My punctures were so small that the tube lost air intermittently, and I didn't see any bubbling until the third time I inflated the tube and held it underwater. I found two pinholes. In fact, there were three. Never before having seen such tiny punctures, I thought the tube was defective. I checked the tire and installed a new tube. A few days later, it leaked. I checked the tire and put in a third tube. When I found a tiny puncture in the second tube, near the centerline of the tread like the first three, I knew to mark the tire and tube when the third tube went flat.

I marked the tire at the valve on the chain side. Before removing the tube, I marked it on the chain side. When I find the pinhole, I laid the tube on the tire as a guide. I never would have found the problem if I hadn't known where to feel, to the square inch. It was a wire about the same diameter as window screen, sticking right through a knob at the center of the tread. I would have expected such thin wire to bend or break instead of penetrating 1/4" of rubber.

LarryM

Another possibility: check the accuracy of your tire pressure gauge to ensure that your tire is not getting overinflated, causing a failure.

surfer8210

Quote from: Radio Runner on March 22, 2022, 10:49:48 PM
Quote from: surfer8210 on March 22, 2022, 08:06:37 PM
Buy my Tannus Armor tire inserts.
I have an ad posted for those and nice tires too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not the be all end all solution.

#1 you have to identify what's causing the flats. Sounds like a nail and thorn account for one or two however there still could be thorns in the tire just waiting for the new tube. Did you feel the inside of the tire b4 putting a new tube in? Sometimes they can just sit in the rubber and migrate down over time. If there is one thorn there is good change another is in the tire but not made it through.

#2 Where are the punctures? On top of the tube or inside? If they are inside then you know the rim or spoke nipples are the issue. New rim strip needed.

#3 Are they pinch flats? Do you ride with low (10-15 psi) tire pressure? If so pump them up. More pressure, less chance of pinch flats.
The inserts probably would have stopped a good majority or the seven flats I'm guessing.
Those that it didn't prevent, would still be able to be ridden home too I'm assuming.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Radio Runner

QuoteThe inserts probably would have stopped a good majority or the seven flats I'm guessing.
Those that it didn't prevent, would still be able to be ridden home too I'm assuming.

Assume if you want. Lots of variables at play with no further information given from the OP.

surfer8210

Quote from: Radio Runner on March 26, 2022, 10:40:55 AM
QuoteThe inserts probably would have stopped a good majority or the seven flats I'm guessing.
Those that it didn't prevent, would still be able to be ridden home too I'm assuming.

Assume if you want. Lots of variables at play with no further information given from the OP.
Well one of the positive attributes of the Tannus Armor inserts is that you're able to pedal the bike despite having a flat.
So having no further information from the OP wouldn't dissuade me from installing them and feeling more confident because I had them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Eric7

I sympathize with you.  It is discouraging.

The nail and the thorn - that is really beyond the control of any manufacturer (Rad, tire manufacturer, tube manufacturer).

Maybe you can try a sealant at least.  I would put a double dose of sealant into each tube.

How many miles have you gotten?  I never had a flat so far but I've only gone close to 200 miles.

Considering your frequency - maybe you need the ride flat tire insert as others have suggested.  I hope it gets better.

Support the rad owners forum