Quote Originally Posted by MomOnBike
Hmmm, when do I replace tires? The mental checklist goes something like this:

Am I getting a bad rash of flats on that tire? Do I know each little nick by name? Nickname? (change)

Is there a honkin' big lump in the tire that goes thumpity-thump as I ride and is going to give way with a loud bang? (change before it happens - really, that loud bang can give a girl a heart attack - or a busted bone at speed)
Nickname? LMAO. You must really know your nicks, MOB.

Exploding tires... I've heard enough of those to last me a lifetime. When I worked in the bike shop in the 70s, we had a compressor that inflated tires too fast and frequently blew them off the rim. Sometimes we blew so many in a week that whenever someone walked toward the compressor, everyone else ran the other way. It was really embarassing if a customer brought in a bike asking for air, we wheeled it into the back, and then they heard the bang. Of course they got a new tube. When you install a new tire, check that the bead seats evenly around the rim. If some of the bead doesn't rise enough, deflate and put some liquid soap on that section of the bead. If the bead rises too high, deflate and try to set it better to avoid blowing it out.

Good advise on proper inflation to avoid pinch flats. If you have a tube leak on the side of the tire (or frequently 2 leaks close together) it's probably a pinch flat. If a leak on the inner surface of the tube, check for spokes protruding through the rim strip or sharp spots on the rim. Gaping holes in a tire can be successfully patched with a double-edged razor blade. Tape it to the inside of the tire to keep the tube from bulging through while you finish your ride.