Green Slime Tyre Sealant

[gkilner]

Hello All,

I got a puncture on my way to work this morning. I was only a few hundred yards from home so turned round, pushed the bike back home and caught the bus!

My question is, has anyone tried that green slime tyre sealant stuff that goes inside the inner tube? Does it work?

Thanks,

Gavin.

 

[flecc]

We've had this crop up a few times Gavin, and there's huge disagreement. I won't use it any more since it's always let me down, leaving a slimy puncture far more difficult to repair. The stuff doesn't harden until after it's left the hole usually, too late to do anything. Some others have also found the same.

Many others have found it successful for them, though I believe even the most ardent fans would admit it doesn't always work.

The most certain solution is Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres, second is a protective kevlar belt, either added or incorporated in a tyre.

I've use the Marathon Plus for over four years on one bike and six of my bike wheels have them. I've never had one puncture with them, but had them regularly previously. One person in here has suffered punctures with them, caused by some regularly appearing sharp wire strands on a particular stretch, but that's an odd isolated occurrence.
.

 

[Ian]

My experience of Slime is not particularly good, it didn't seem to stop punctures, although obviously I don't know how many I would have got without it, but it did make the 2 punctures I did get easy to find by squirting out through the hole! I also found that by remaining semi-liquid it would settle at the low point of the tyre while standing resulting in a heavily unbalanced wheel for the first half a mile or so. another disadvantage was the messy way it would leak from the valve when attacing a pump. Almost all of it was lost in the 2 punctures I had before upgrading to the highly reccomended Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres which have so far proved trouble free.

 

[gkilner]

Thanks for the info.

I've just ordered 1 of the Marathon Plus tyres, I will have to wait a month or two to buy another. £25.99 each!! they aren't cheap are they.

I'm sure they will be worth it.

 

[flecc]

No, they're not I'm afraid, but they last for years and are worth it just for the avoidance of punctures. Occasionally they get discounted as low as £19.99, but the lowest I can see with a quick look at the moment is £23.99 from St Johns Cycles.

With your one on the powered wheel it will be the worst headache out of the way though.
.

 

[Steven Brandist]

Hooray for Schwalbe! Quality tyres for the gentry!

Just another positive report about Marathon Plus (I know, its getting boring isn't it?).

Myself and a friend fitted these in January this year to our (non assisted) bikes, our combined commuting mileage since then is about 4500 miles. No punctures.. we've both ridden over broken glass (obviously not intentionally) and pulled out thorns. We don't want to be spending 20 frustrating minutes mending punctures/changing tubes in the rain.

You'll notice that all newer Royal Mail bicycles have these tyres fitted. Says everything I think!

Just a quick tip, they can be * VERY * tight getting onto the rims, so you'll have to get your best tyre levers out to get them, plus the help of any willing person. I do believe they are easier to get on/off after the first fitting. Remember to fit new good quality inner tubes.

Steven

 

[Ian]

No, the Marathon Plus tyres are certainly not cheap! however if you take into account the wasted time and effort neither are punctures. Another benefit is that the Schwalbes are generally a far superior tyre to the Chinese ones fitted to most e-bikes as standard, having a lower rolling resistance and better handling charactaristics.

 

[flecc]

Their use is spreading quite a lot, despite the very much higher price. With the likes of Royal Mail using them as well, other tyre companies will start to sit up and take notice.

Given the profit premium they bring, this is likely to result in similar designs from the other companies which could do wonders in reducing the prices. Better still, we could end up with all general purpose bike road tyres made this way and make punctures almost a thing of the past.

Can't happen quick enough.
.

 

[Ian]

Wiggle discount

I see they are now £26.99 at wiggle, a substantial increase on the 19.99 I paid a few months ago.

I have a transferable wiggle e-discount voucher worth £5 on orders over £25 valid until 22/9 that I'll not be using so if anyone wants it post here and I'll PM the details.
Theres only the one so it's first come first served. No fighting

 

[flecc]

Ditto on Ian's message. I've also got a £5 Wiggle voucher number for anyone who wants it. Just post, mail or PM, first gets it. You can only use one per person.
.

 

[gkilner]

Voucher

Hello Ian,

If the voucher is still available I could certainly make good use of it.

Thanks,

Gavin.

 

[Ian]

Hello Ian,

If the voucher is still available I could certainly make good use of it.

Thanks,

Gavin.

Details on the way by PM Gavin, I'm glad it's not wasted.

 

[hobo1]

No, they're not I'm afraid, but they last for years and are worth it just for the avoidance of punctures. Occasionally they get discounted as low as £19.99, but the lowest I can see with a quick look at the moment is £23.99 from St Johns Cycles.

With your one on the powered wheel it will be the worst headache out of the way though.
.

Marathon plus still £17.99 @ All Terrain Cycles UK: MTB and Road Bikes

Cheers David.

 

[flecc]

Brilliant David, I had remembered your previous mention of the price but not the outlet, and doubted it still stood.

Hopefully Gavin will see your post and benefit.
.

 

[Ian]

Marathon plus still £17.99 @ All Terrain Cycles UK: MTB and Road Bikes

Cheers David.

Thats a great price David, it shows the value of shopping around. I usually make the mistake of assuming that because certain suppliers were the cheapest they still are.

 

[mastanlem]

All Terrain Cycles

Hi,

Just to say that I have just purchased a new Madison saddle from them at £10 cheaper than elsewhere. Ordered via internet Sunday received Tuesday. Excellent service.

Marina

 

[gkilner]

Thanks David.

I've already paid £25.99 for one tyre(Halfords). At least I'll save some money on the second tyre.

Thanks again,

Gavin.

 

[prState]

The slime has worked for me, except for a large puncture. HOWEVER, I did purchase extra tire valves as I occasionally had to replace clogged ones. It managed to seal those too!

Would I be able to put a Marathon Racer | Schwalbe North America on my Twist?

Right now I have a 26 1.75 on the front, and 26 2.10 on the rear.

The rear tire is from 1995! I'm surprised it has held up and has not cracked for the last two months I've been using it. But I really want to replace both tires now.

 

[flecc]

Yes, the 26 x 1.5 is for the same 559 rim, but you would notice a much harder ride as the tyre pressure range marked on it's wall is higher for this narrower tyre.
.

 

[Ian]

The slime has worked for me, except for a large puncture. HOWEVER, I did purchase extra tire valves as I occasionally had to replace clogged ones. It managed to seal those too!

Perhaps it dries more effectively in you considerably warmer climate prState, there's more chance of it freezing here.