AnonymousYep, I ride into San Francisco from the East Bay Monday to Friday and it happens occasionally (twice in the one-year I’ve been commuting in my case). Back tire punctures aren’t too bad (depending on traffic conditions), but front tire punctures can be lethal. That’s a good reason, if anyone needs another, not to exceed the speed limits (yes, I know, and I’m no saint either).
I carry a cheap Leatherman type tool (pliers) to pull out the puncturing nail, “Slime” (as I have wire-spoked wheels and tubed tires) and CO2 inflator tubes; these may or may not get you home. One time the Slime plugged the hole and got me home and another time it didn’t (depends on the size of the puncture hole). You shouldn’t run the tires with Slime full time; just as a *temporary* repair. If you’ve got tubeless tires, you can use tire plugs to get you home.
I also have AMA Motow towing insurance as a backup, but who wants to hang around on the side of the road for an hour or so if you can get home under your own steam.
I read somewhere that something like 90% of tire failures happen in the last 10% of tire tread depth. That said though, one of the times I picked-up a nail, my Metzeler Lasertec was about two weeks old (go figure…).
