[darnold87]

I LOVE the 5.10 K270 I have on the front. I've ridden it hard for many many miles on every kind of terrain, and it's not even showing any wear. It's almost kinda weird... But I didn't know they were this tough until today...



I knew my front tire pressure was a little low from a recent 165 mile dualsport trip through the Oregon Cascades, about a month ago... Since then, I've been riding on it around town, sweeping alleyways, doin' wheelie's, exploring parking garages and downtown passageways, etc... Well, I finally remember to check the actual tire psi this morning before heading off to work.

Hmmmm, that's strange, the tire gauge isn't moving... must have gone bad? The second tire gauge didn't read either! So I blast some compressor air into the tire for just 1-2 seconds. Now the tire gauge reads 5psi. Well, that confirms it. I've been riding around with a deflated front tire for weeks!

Now I'm not one to miss a flat or even low tire. But these tough tires don't even hint at being flat. Only reason I knew it was low is because I deflated them down to about 14psi for the trip a month ago. And for some reason, they went ahead and deflated all the way down without me knowing. So hopefully its just a leaky air valve.



Anyway, it's kinda nice to know that a flat 5.10 K270 on the front will still get you home. Heck, it will get you to and from work and let you ride for weeks without knowing! crazzzzzzy.

 

[jbfla]

Thanks for the report.



Running flat has been my flat-tire plan all along. Instead of carrying all the flat tire repair tools and supplies, I was planning to ride on the rims as far as I could.



Since it's so hard to break the bead on the rear tire, riding on a flat tire, very slowly, shouldn't be a problem.



It's good to know it is possible on the front tire as well. Looks like the K270 should be my next front tire.



Jb

 

[darnold87]

Thanks for the report.



Running flat has been my flat-tire plan all along. Instead of carrying all the flat tire repair tools and supplies, I was planning to ride on the rims as far as I could.



Since it's so hard to break the bead on the rear tire, riding on a flat tire, very slowly, shouldn't be a problem.



It's good to know it is possible on the front tire as well. Looks like the K270 should be my next front tire.



Jb

Wellllll, the rear tire is a different story. I got a flat on the rear last spring... part of a chain link fence poked through the tire and tube. INSTANT flat. And it wasn't rideable. It would have destroyed the rear tire to ride it. They can do 10psi easily but not zero.

I think the front has made it so long because there's so little weight on the front and the K270 in the 5.10 size is insanely thick and tough.

For flats, I carry a tiny 12v air compressor and the green slime. I hate the slime, but if I get a flat again, I'll be replacing the tube anyway, so the slime won't be an issue. That's my thought anyway...

I should mention, we repaired the rear tube when I got the flat but it required a tire machine at a shop to get the tire off the wheel. Basic tire spoons would NOT get it off.

 

[evan]

Wow, thanks for the info. Thats the tire I've been eying to replace my original stock one. # hey darnold87. Could you walk next to bike with the rear flat?

 

[jbfla]

Wellllll, the rear tire is a different story. I got a flat on the rear last spring... part of a chain link fence poked through the tire and tube. INSTANT flat. And it wasn't rideable. It would have destroyed the rear tire to ride it. They can do 10psi easily but not zero....

Thanks, again. More good info.



I do carry a couple of cans of Fix-a-Flat type tire repair/inflator. Thankfully, I haven't had to find out if they work.



Jb

 

[lizrdbrth]

Just a headsup. If it's any consolation the ATV tires aren't a run-flat strategy for the rear, either. The ATV rear tires probably won't come off the bead or shred a tube as quickly, but they won't run flat without self-destructing, either. And they're stiff as rocks compared to the stocker.



I haven't had a flat, per se, but I had a shrader valve stick open after airing down and had it leak all of the air out further down the trail. It flopped so badly that it was unrideable.



The front is another story with almost any tire other than the stocker There's so little weight up front that I routinely run as little as 5 PSI. Sometimes I forget to air up and I won't even feel it til I hit pavement. Half the time I just ride it on home.

 

[darnold87]

I think you could walk beside the bike with a rear flat without hurting the tire, at least for a little ways... but the bike is ~300lbs, so I can't say for sure.

When my rear was flat, it was very visually obvious.



I've used the CO2 inflators on typcial dirt bike tires (130/80/18) and it takes 2 or 3 of them to inflate. So our rear tires would take more. Thats why I carry the little 12v compressor on adventures. It's about the size of your wallet and weighs almost nothing. Was like $10 at Walmart. It's almost a joke its so small, but it might save me someday. Or I'll be cursing at Walmart / China for selling/making junk. haha.

 

[retmotor]

Running flat has been my flat-tire plan all along. Instead of carrying all the flat tire repair tools and supplies, I was planning to ride on the rims as far as I could.

...

I've tried running on a flat on one of my brother's bikes I borrowed for a ride. It got a flat on the rear. Running on the flat worked for about half a mile then the rim started spinning inside the tire. (Should've worn better walking shoes...)

 

[evan]

yep, I carry the c02 cartidges and the small slime air pump but big hole in rear tire/tube and they aren't gonna do any good. Thats one of the reasons I've starting trucking my bike to riding areas instead of riding there. Get a flat or other problem and your in trouble. at least with the truck somewhat close by you can probably walk it/get rope towed (I carry a towrope)or hobble back. Plus having an ice cold beverage waiting for you is really really nice! I've also decided riding pavement back when your tired is not really a good idea.

 

[n2o2diver]

Just a thought...





Remember these 5.10 Shinko's and Kenda's we are putting on the front are really intended to be rear tires on other bikes. Often much heavier dual sports than the TW.

 

[srs713]

Just a thought...





Remember these 5.10 Shinko's and Kenda's we are putting on the front are really intended to be rear tires on other bikes. Often much heavier dual sports than the TW.

The Big Boy on my bike was completely down last month. Didn't show any movement on the gauge, and aired up fine.



I knew it was low because I could feel a bit of wobble when turning on pavement, but I didn't realize it was below 5.

 

[bbagwell]

Going to go check my front tire now. I am running the Pirelli MT21 on the front. OK this is really weird... 0 PSI in my Pirelli MT21, I guess it is a run flat too! I thought it was a little weird the other day, but rode and handled fine.