Did you notice that your wheels wobble while biking? If yes, that may be a sign of a flat tire. Let’s say that you got it fixed for the next trip, and the same thing happens. This time, you start to wonder “why does my bike tire keep going flat?”
It could be because of a tiny fixable hole, things trapped in the tire, or you have to change your internal tube.
Check out this article to quickly determine if you have a faulty tire. This way, you can easily avoid it in the future.
Table of Contents
Reasons Why Bike Tires Go Flat
I will go directly to the common reasons why a bike tire keeps going flat. So, take a look at this list:
- Cuts caused by a sharp object
- Valve stem failure or damage
- Rubbed or torn wheel
- Blowouts or over-inflated wheels
- Street dangers (speed bumps and debris)
- Unchecked damage
- Rim wear (tubeless wheels)
- Internal Tube Pinching
- Slow Leakage
- Snakebite flats
- Loss of air pressure in a tubeless wheel due to faulty rim seal
- External tire quality or wear
- Tire quality or wear
- Destroyed rim tape (high-pressure tires)
- Rim drilling that left sharp corners (spoke holes)
Now that I’ve introduced the common causes that make a bike tire flat, it’s time to thoroughly discuss some of these and fix them.
1. A Sharp Object is Stuck
If a sharp thing is stuck in the bike tire, the first thing is to remove the object that pierced the bike tube. Do this immediately before installing a new tube, as any sharp item can poke through the new tube if left unchecked.
If you got flat bicycle tires, I highly suggest examining the tire’s exterior and interior while wearing gloves. Remove any bits of glass and other sharp objects that are lodged inside the wheel. You may want to shake the tire to dislodge debris and small rocks as well.
2. A Worn-Out Tire
Old tires are often prone to shredding and ruptures, and their tubing usually expands beyond its average size. In this case, the fibers that serve as the wheel’s backbone become exposed. These circumstances make flatness more likely.
The best thing to do when the fibers are exposed is tire replacement. One sign to look for is when the bike’s rubber at the peak begins to crown and lose its round structure.
Even if your back and front wheels are not equally worn out, replacing the two simultaneously is the best thing to do.
3. Tubing is Pinched While Being Changed
If your tire is pierced with a lever or becomes entangled between the wheel and the braking system, it will go flat after inflation.
If this happens, the best option for bikers like us is to pump up the new tubing enough to keep it round before putting it on the tire.
Transfer the valve through the valve hole, then insert the tubing between the brake track walls to place in the tire. While reinstalling the wheel, ensure that no tubing part is outside the brake circuit.
Once the tubing is seated in the bike tire, manually snap the tire to the wheel rather than using a lever. This should prevent damaging the bike tube.
4. Biking With Low Tire Pressure or Bumping against an Object on the Highway
Another reason for tire deflation is snakebite flats. Snakebite flats happen when bikers ride on rough surfaces with pebbles or potholes and low tire pressure.
To avoid this problem, check the pressure of your tire and inflate this part if necessary. If you tend to under-inflate your tires, you should use broad wheels, as they don’t require much air pressure.
Another solution is to approach road obstacles slowly. When you ride at high speeds, it’s difficult to avoid bumps and other sharp objects.
5. Visible Spoke Holes Due to Insufficient Rim Tape Coverage
The sharp corners of the spoke holes can poke against the bike tubing, eventually causing a puncture if they aren’t fully coated with rim tape. Spoke holes can also damage bike tubes if your rim tape is too old.
I recommend using two rolls of rim tape to cover the spoke holes. Pick tape with strong adhesion and a sturdy, thick construction.
Other Things to Remember If You Have a Flat Tire
I always take note of these valuable tips, especially if I keep getting flat tires on my bike. It gives me a hint on what to do during flat tire incidents.
- Do note that punctures are more likely to occur if the tread on your tires is poor or deteriorated.
- Avoid subjecting your tire or bike tubes to extreme weather conditions. Both heat and cold have negative effects on tire quality.
- If your tire cannot hold air, your valve may not be tightened correctly.
- It is essential to know the recommended tire pressure for your vehicle model while inflating a tube. This information is usually printed on the tire’s sidewall.
- The quality of the tires and tubes is also an essential factor to consider if you want to keep bicycle tires from going flat. Make sure you only buy reputable brands of tubes and tires.
- Tubeless tires are less prone to flats than tube tires.
If you want to know how to diagnose the cause of your flat tire, here is a great video tutorial.
Conclusion
Being able to answer “why does my bike tire keep going flat?” is important. You can address the cause and quickly get on with your journey. If your tire frequently loses pressure, keep in mind the following:
- Run your fingers down the tire’s interior to discover if there’s a foreign object in it.
- Your inner tube cannot hold any air if you have a defective valve.
- It is essential to know the recommended tire pressure while inflating.
“I ride my bike to work for years, but is that enough? Our carelessness towards our surroundings has taken a toll on the environment. And now, everyone is responsible for changes; even the most minor contribution is counted. With this hope and spirit, I started with my partner to establish Biketoworkday to help more individuals commute to their work sites on their bikes.”