Tire Balls

[layoutd]

Anyone ever use them, seen them on a bike? seems odd. do they not add a lot of extra rotational weight to the wheels? i know that is bad for a mtn bike, is it bad for a motorcycle? is there a lot of maintenance? :think:

 

[DougRoost]

Never used them but read about them. Adds less weight than a bib mousse foam insert, which is what most off-road pros use to avoid flats. Also supposed to be a bit easier to change tires, though will still be a pain compared to a tube.

 

[kelseybrent]

I think Dirt Rider did a write up on them, but I can't find it on-line. From what I remember the benefits are that they don't feel "dead" like a tube and you can have a puncture, or a few punctures and you still have the rest of the balls inflated. I think it was fairly expensive ($100+) and they had a special mounting fixture.

If you absolutely cannot afford to have a flat, the inserts or the balls would make sense, but otherwise an ultra-heavy-duty tube works well. I haven't been able to flatten one yet.

 

[KiwiBird]

I'm getting a setup now - not cheap when you buy the tools and stand too.

Click Here for Tire Balls Site

 

[gn83tm]

I looked at the Tire Balls stuff at a GNCC race last spring. Neat idea, and it looks like it works well, but unless I was racing for a living I don't feel I can justify the cost ($260/tire) and the pain in the backside from changing a tire with them. I might feel differently though if I drove 1200 miles just to race with the big dogs and I got a race-ending flat on the first lap - especially if I ruined a wheel trying to get back to civilization.

 

[DougRoost]

I find it hard to beat HD tubes...I add slime if I'm riding a thorny area and the stuff really does work.

 

[louis]

Anyone heard of using tenis balls?

 

[rethnal]

You made that up didn't you Louis! :laugh:

There's a product for anything if you got the money and want to spend it. It doesn't mean you need it... but it's there! :)

I think these were made for EXTREME situations for sure....

 

[TheGrinch]

Very interesting. I had never heard of tire balls before. Thanks for the link KiwiBird.

At US$260, I'd hate to think what you're paying for them in NZ

 

[louis]

I am serious about the tenis balls. This has been done before. I have been working on this for a while. I'll let you know.

 

[4strokes_rule]

You could get $200 for them!! :clue:

 

[BJH]

Who makes REALLY heavy duty tubes?

Well bib mousse doesn't last, and tire balls are great if you can afford them...
Who makes the best heavy duty tubes?