Puncture-proof tires are a great option for added reliability, especially when commuting.
Fixing a puncture is a pain at the best of times but is all the worse when you’re trying to get somewhere on time, or just wanting to enjoy a ride without the threat of deflation looming over you. Flats have a habit of happening when it's cold and wet too.
We're sorry to admit this, but a pneumatic tire will never be truly puncture-proof - there will always be some chance that you will sustain a puncture. The alternative is to go down the route of the solid tires, such as those offered by Tannus.
However, today’s pneumatic tires can be constructed so as to be effectively puncture-proof and the bone-shaking ride that solid tires deliver means that in the vast majority of cases a robust pneumatic tire will be the best rubber for the job.
If you are only cycling short distances around town, opting for the absolute toughest tire may well be your best choice, although rolling resistance may increase. But if your rides are a little longer, you may well benefit from factoring speed and comfort into the equation with a less resistant tire that has thinner walls and is more flexible to smooth out road imperfections.
We've reviewed a wide range of puncture-resistant tires and have selected a few of our favourites here. We divided them into hybrid and road models to better help you find the right one for you as well as providing plenty of detail on how to choose a puncture-resistant tire.
The Quick List
Hybrid tires
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Best overall
1. Schwalbe Marathon Plus
Best overall
Delivers great protection, grip and durability without sacrificing the ride quality. Reflective sidewalls aid visibility.
Schwalbe embeds a super-strong puncture protection belt in the Marathon Plus tire, which it reckons is 7/7 on its scale for puncture protection and effectively puncture-proof, although the tire is not tubeless compatible.
The tread uses Schwalbe's durable Addix compound and there's a wire bead. Together they add up to 750g per tyre, although we didn't feel this when riding, with the tires feeling comfortable and not inert. Harder cornering felt a bit nervous though. A reflective sidewall ups your visibility and the tire is also e-bike compatible.
Versatile for rides over all types of roads, trails, and gravel
+
Reflective sidewalls for added visibility
+
Affordable cost
Reasons to avoid
-
Feels heavy over long distances
-
Heavier tire contributes to a slower pace
We rode hundreds of kilometers on the H2 Hard Case Lyte and were left impressed by both the degree of puncture resistant and it's overall durability. Despite riding over a mix of broken pavement and gravel, often littered with debris and even broken glass, we didn't experience a single flat tire. And what's more the tire is still in one piece, with no cuts or tears, demonstrating a decent life span - and all this after a year of riding that encompassed a harsh winter and a hot summer.
Perhaps unsurprisingly we wouldn't recommend the tire for longer or faster road rides; it's just too heavy. But if you're looking for reliability on your daily commute, especially if you like to tackle multi-surface rides, then it's well worth considering. It's appeal will likely grow when you compare it's competitive price tag to that of some other all-weather commuter-specialist options. .
Best for visibility
3. Specialized Nimbus Armadillo Reflect
Best for visibility
Specifications
TPI: 60
Weight: 645g (32c)
Widths: 28–45c
Reasons to buy
+
Reflective strip improves side on visibility
+
Hard compound fends off punctures
Reasons to avoid
-
Not as grippy as some
Specialized’s Armadillo casing has a reputation for fending off flats. The durometer (hardness) of the tread compound comes in at 70a, which is relatively hard. This has the effect of making the tire more durable but sacrifices some grip.
With a reflective strip around the sidewalls of the tire, side on visibility is greatly increased. This is of particular benefit for evening commuters as it increases your visibility to drivers.
The standout feature of the Durano Plus is its superb grip. The more we rode the tire the more we came to trust it, which did wonders for our confidence in less than ideal riding conditions.
When it came to puncture resistance, the Durano Plus also performed admirably. We rode it for several hundred kilometres and have yet to suffer a single puncture. Our testing including city streets and gravel trails, where the SmartGuard strip stopped the small flints found in the tire from penetrating beyond the surface compound.
The only real downside is the tire's weight, but given it's performance we were happy to trade a bit more rotating weight knowing that it's preventing a puncture and the hassle that goes with changing a tube on the roadside.
The Hutchinson Challenger tires have a 66 TPI construction with a reinforced puncture protection layer - and there's a harder compound in the middle of the tire to lower the rolling resistance combined with a softer one at the sides for a better grip.
We found that the puncture protection layer worked a treat; we suffered no flats during our testing. The tire's durability also impressed us and matches its 'endurance riding' credentials. Likewise the softer compound that promised improved traction rang true, especially when cornering.
The combination of speed with puncture protection make this a good choice for those who don’t want to be slowed by having to repair a flat or by the tires themselves.
Users of Continental's Grand Prix road tire will recognise the tire pattern, which features the familiar side grips and wear indicators in the slick center tread. The addition of the Gatorskin protection adds about an extra 30g to the tire's weight in comparison with the GP.
We ran the tire at around 90psi, and found the ride to be adequately fast and subtle over bumpy tarmac. That said you can feel the tire’s increased rigidity from its more substantial sidewalls and increased puncture protection. But like most tires that place a premium on keeping flats at bay, it's a trade-off that you're likely to be happy to make; we experienced no flats during our testing.
What to look for in a puncture-proof tire
Are wider tires more puncture-resistant?
Wider tires can be run at lower pressures than narrower tires without increasing the risk of punctures. This can make them more comfortable and gives you more grip, useful if you are an all-weather cyclist.
Narurally you should make sure that you don’t go too wide for your bike though, as rubbing will damage your tires and can damage your frame - as well as slowing you down.
Are tubeless tires more puncture resistant?
Tubeless tires provide many benefits, decreasing weight, decreasing rolling resistance and increasing resistance to punctures as they can self-seal.
However, tubeless sealants do dry out (with the exception of Finish Line’s offering, but that has had a mixed reception at best) and this can happen surprisingly quickly in hot weather. The guys from Orange Seal themselves say in the right (or rather, wrong) conditions sealant can dry up in as little as a month.
With the sealant dried out, the tires become significantly more vulnerable to punctures. For a commuting or town bike where simplicity and reliability are most important, the need to keep topped up on sealant makes tubeless tyres a less compelling option in this area. Although heavier and with greater rolling resistance, a puncture-proof tyre won’t need a second thought once it is set up.
What are Threads Per Inch (TPI)?
Rubber coats the outer of tyres, but beneath that are the threads that make up the carcass. Some manufacturers opt to use a smaller number of thicker threads, whilst others use a greater number of thinner threads.
A higher number of Threads Per Inch (TPI), will make the tyre more supple. However, the thinner threads are not as robust and are damaged more easily than their thicker alternatives. A tire with a moderate TPI count makes the best compromise for a robust tire.
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After winning the 2019 National Single-Speed Cross-Country Mountain Biking Championships and claiming the plushie unicorn (true story), Stefan swapped the flat-bars for drop-bars and has never looked back.
But his favourite rides are multiday bikepacking trips, with all the huge amount of cycling tech and long days spent exploring new roads and trails - as well as histories and cultures. Most recently, he’s spent two weeks riding from Budapest into the mountains of Slovakia.
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