Customer Reviews

STOP FLATS 2 BROWN TIRE LINERS 26 X 2.0 - 2.125

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

So far, I've had no flats on tires (front and back) that had at least two prior to the liner installation. I didn't have a issue with the "bump" where the liners overlap. I made sure that the overlap happens away from the area where the valve sits. Also on installing the liner the best way I've found was to install the inner tube and the liner at the same time, since this assures proper alignment of liner between the inner tube and the tire. There are also basic stuff that people forget - one is to slightly inflate the inner tube before installing into the rim, to hold the liner in place while installation and to avoid pinching the tubes while inflating up the tires, the other is to check that no inner tube or liner sections are out of alignment after installing the inner tube and liner (just peek inch-wise between the area of tire and rim on both sides of the wheel). Of course, the drawback on this type of protection is the "extra" weight you have to spin, but it's good weight, keeps you stronger and keeps the tires rolling.

Don't expect to never have a flat again. No product has or ever will provide that type of protection. That's the real world. If you use these, you will get fewer flats.

I ride a lot. Last year I rode 11,000 miles. I split my riding between my daily commute (~50 miles), and century+ rides on the weekend. Daily commuting is done on a mountain bike with commuter tires (non-nobbies, inflated to 90 psi). Weekend rides are on a road bike with Michelin race tires. I use these liners in my commuter bike, and have for a couple of years. I wouldn't think of going without. I tried them briefly on the road bike, but removed them because of the extra spinning mass and rolling resistance.

- If you care about spinning mass and rolling resistance, these are not for you.
- These don't protect much of the side of the tire, so you are just about as vulnerable to sidewall punctures as before.
- These will usually (but not 100%) stop glass and thorns.
- They also usually stop metal that cuts rather than punctures. I have had cuts on my tires leaving big holes with the liner clearly visible through the hole. The liner kept the tube from blowing out through the hole, so I could finish my ride.
- They often will not stop sharp metal from puncturing. Of course, I don't know how many times they did stop puncturing metal, which fell out after a couple of turns of the tire. I only find out about the times they don't.

Look, they're inexpensive pieces of plastic, not magic. Expect that they will help, and you will be satisfied.

I bought two orange sets for two road bikes (mine and my son's) with 700x23C and 700x25C tires. Installation was not difficult but I read on the internet a little about how to install these. I followed the following sequence.

1. Slightly inflate the inner tube so that liner can be inserted and retained between the tire and tube.
2. keep the overlapping part of the liner away from the stem
3. after liner is inserted completely and tire is installed both sides of the rim, let all of the air out.
4. going around the tire circumference several times, press on top of the tire down to the rim with your thumb so that the liner is aligned in the middle.
5. install the wheel and inflate.

With this method, both of us did not feel any bumps, difference in weight, and inferior riding conditions, nothing. We have ridden both bikes more than 100 miles already and no flats yet although we had to ride over broken glass many times. We have preferred this liner although our local bike shop recommended more expensive tires with Kevlar protection. Because we will be able to reuse the liner and and buy cheaper ordinary tires from now on. I had many flats with Kevlar protected tires due to tiny glass pieces before. Finally we are enjoying our rides with more peace of mind.

Update after ~1000 miles: still no flats and I have installed on three road bikes now. I can't imagine riding my bike without these anymore.

I installed a blue set in my 700 tires on a hybrid bike today. The instructions say install the curved edge to the tire. Both sides are curved, one concave ... one convex, so I installed the dark strip toward the tire and the solid color toward the tube. The ends overlap about an inch (both ends are rounded). I installed the ends at the valve stem area for troubleshooting issues. Each rotation of the tires you will notice a bump in the otherwise smooth ride. Maybe on Mt bikes on terrain you wouldn't notice, but road bikes are a different story. I think I will us them 20 or 30 miles to form them to my tires, then mark and trim one end to meet the other and inflate and see if it rids me of the bump. If not, I'll remove them and see about getting a better brand of tire. For what I paid for these I could have bought three tubes. I emailed the company about their instructions and asked if there were other reasons not to trim the liners except the small area where they meet that would not be properly protected, we'll see if them get back to me.

I had high hopes for this product but was so disappointed in product and manufacture. After installing the Tube Protectors in both front and back tires (with new tubes) I got a flat in both the front and back tires within 5 miles of riding. They were Both flats at the seam of the tube, not from punctures. I thought it was strange since both tubes were of different makes and the only thing different were the Tube Protectors. I thought maybe somehow the tube protectors could have been pulling on the tubes. Additionally, where the tube protector's ends met and overlap (instructions said to allow ends to overlap) there was a bulge in the tire which made for a very uncomfortable ride. I tried calling and emailing the manufacture for assistance. No one ever answered the phone and I never received an response from my email. I definitely would not recommend this product. I would recommend (as others have on other sites, spending a few extra dollars and buying better quality tires with puncture resistant qualities. I have found there are many on the market.

When I bought my road bike, I knew that running 700c x 23 tires would be an issue for me. I live in NYC, so there's constantly some kind of road debris to deal with. After researching my options, I figured this product was worth a shot. It was a cheap alternative to puncture resistant Kevlar tires & the only (uncommon) downside I'd read about was the possibility of flats from the end of the liner rubbing on the inner tube.

Buying the liners was a problem because most bike shops didn't carry them, & even the ones that did tried to get me to buy Kevlar tires instead, basically insisting that this was outdated junk that would add weight & wear away my tubes. I bought them anyway, online instead, & sanded down the ends before installing.

After 6 months of daily commuting, I have only ever had 1 flat caused by valve problems. A properly installed liner overlaps itself by about an inch, but even with my skinny, high pressure tires, I don't feel any bump from the overlap. Also, I inspect & refill my tires every week or so, & kind of enjoy digging out all the bits of glass & metal that never made it to deflating my tubes.

Currently, my tires are starting to go bald & I'm probably going to spend $25-$40 on replacements instead of the $100-$140 I'd be shelling out on the puncture resistant tires. These liners have more than paid for themselves in inner tube savings, but when I factor in savings from riding on any old brand of tire, I think this may be the smartest addition to my setup.

I short: Stop Flats 2 liners are key to my riding with confidence on any tires and any urban terrain. Sand down the ends & you should be fine.

I purchased two set of the Brown Stop Ftats2 liners for my 2-bikes and when installing, I couldn't determine what side of the liner went against the tire or the tube. The instructions said "curved side down;" both sides of the liner are curved. I went to the stopflats.com website, no help. I sent an e-mail; no reply. I phoned their 800-245-3737 and was instructed to call 562-943-5599; when I phoned I got a recording saying I had reached California Bike Gear and to leave a message; I did. So far, no reply from e-mail or phone. I went ahead and installed the liners, took a chance and placed the "Brown" side toward the tire, grey side toward tube. This may or may-not be a good product, but, thier communication needs help.

While possibly providing some protection against glass cuts, they are utterly worthless against thorns. You can easily prove this to yourself. Take a stick pin (much, much less sharp than a needle) and try to push it through this stuff. It goes right through - no problem. You won't need a thimble or even get a sore thumb. Totally, utterly, worthless.

Get the Spinskins Race 700c x 18-23mm instead. They're made by the same people who make the cloth for bullet-proof vests, and they work. You can then ride your favorite tires protected from flats, not some clunky tire made heavy and dead using lots of cheap, heavy, 'puncture-proof' materials.

Adding insult to the injury done to your wallet, these things are heavy, change the shape of your tire when inflated, and make your supple tire feel dead as a truck tire. You will find your back wheel hopping all over the place traversing asphalt washboard, or broken trail.

By making the middle of the tire bulge out, these things make the center of your tire wear faster, and destroy the ability of the tire to make smooth transitions from the crown to the sidewall when turning. An all-around awful product.

If you're having chronic flats, get a new rim-strip. Your spokes are puncturing your tubes from the inside. Amazon sells Velox. Still the best. For effective external puncture protection, get SpinSkins.

PS: If for some inexplicable reason you feel compelled to waste your $$$ on these, be very sure you leave two rounded edges by removing the end-plug, shaped like )===( , left on at the factory. If you don't, the sharp edges of the waste plug will puncture your tube. Yeah, really. A real POS.

Three flats in two months. I think that pretty much sums it up. Definitely not worth the money nor the weight. The last flat was a small little piece of wood. If it can't stop that it surely won't stop metal or glass. Save your money.

I have the lavender 29er liners. Since I've installed them, I haven't gotten a flat yet. I was getting flats after every ride from those damn star-thistles where I mountain bike. I will admit though, I also installed Slime Tubes at the same time. So I can't say for certain which one is doing the job, but together there AWESOME!!