# mars versus bike tyers **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 30, 2015, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-versus-bike-tyers/711292 "2015-01-30T00:46:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-versus-bike-tyers/711292/21 "2015-02-01T07:07:41Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > Be glad you don’t have sewup tires and have clinchers instead. I’ll just say that I’m well familiar with the tenaciousness of Clement red glue. I almost miss it. ---
**Author:** ![Fridgemagnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/22d042/32.png) [@Fridgemagnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fridgemagnet)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-versus-bike-tyers/711292/22 "2015-02-01T17:20:18Z")
Get yourself some latex inner tubes - they’re very thorn resistant. I changed my mountain bike onto its winter boots last week and I pulled six thorns out of one tyre I took off. Each thorn had gone all the way through the tyre, but none had managed to puncture the inner tube. Latex tubes are also much lighter than standard butyl tubes. The downsides are that they’re hard to get hold of (Michelin still make them, if that helps), they bleed air a little so need to be inflated every day or two, and when they do let go they rip themselves apart. If inflating your tyres daily sounds like too much of a faff then a thicker butyl inner tube will be more puncture resistant, and there are tyres available that are designed to be more puncture proof, generally by incorporating a belt of kevlar weave. The downside here is a heavier tyre with increased rolling resistance. ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-versus-bike-tyers/711292/23 "2015-02-03T11:37:40Z")
> [@DeptfordX](#): > > These are the latest thing hitting the streets in the Uk. > > [Product and tech news from the world of cycling | Cycling Weekly](http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/new-lightweight-solid-tyres-hit-uk-154665) > > Main website [http://tannus.co.uk/](http://tannus.co.uk/) > > Basically it’s a solid tyre made of a advanced Polymer first developed in Korea. > > A casual aquaintance of mines got a pair, which I haven’t seen yet. He swears by them however. > > I am seriously thinking of getting a set of these new ones mentioned in the cycling weekly article for my Road bike. No longer having to worry about punctures in those narrow tyres (as well as having to check/keep them inflated the whole bloody time) sounds brilliant. Interesting link - bet they are an absolute bastard to fit. Although once they’re on, they’re on. Seems like they need to be a lot cheaper to have any impact. Who’s going to spend £120 on a pair of bike tyres? Roadies would, without batting an eyelid. Who wouldn’t be seen dead with a pair of solid tyres on their bike? Roadies. So there’s a bit of an impasse there. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-versus-bike-tyers/711292/24 "2015-02-03T16:44:08Z")
> [@Busy\_Scissors](#): > > Seems like they need to be a lot cheaper to have any impact. Who’s going to spend £120 on a pair of bike tyres? Roadies would, without batting an eyelid. Mountain bikers would, too. Most mtn bike tires are in the $50 to $60 range (each), plus you have the regular maintenance with sealant at $16 per bottle. A tire that you never had to mess with would be worth a high price. ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-versus-bike-tyers/711292/25 "2015-02-03T17:38:23Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > Mountain bikers would, too. Most mtn bike tires are in the $50 to $60 range (each), plus you have the regular maintenance with sealant at $16 per bottle. A tire that you never had to mess with would be worth a high price. Don’t think they’re on the horizon for MTB tyres as a realistic prospect - typical tubeless pressure would be 30 psi (give or take) with the tyre deforming a lot over the rocks - a solid tyre can’t come close to replicating that, it would be death on wheels. I doubt they come close to replicating the feel of a road tyre at 100 psi, either, but it could be close enough for a lot of commuters. Write up here from a guy who is broadly positive; [http://whosatthewheel.com/2014/12/27/zen-and-the-art-of-travelling-light-with-tannus-solid-tyres/](http://whosatthewheel.com/2014/12/27/zen-and-the-art-of-travelling-light-with-tannus-solid-tyres/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-versus-bike-tyers/711292.md?page=1)