Tannus: The puncture-proof bicycle tyre reinvented

Nobody likes to spend time fixing a puncture, especially in winter, so it’s with impeccable timing that Tannus has started selling its solid, puncture-proof tyres in Britain.

Tannus solid bicycle tyres

Constructed from a polymer compound, the solid tyres are available in two grades that imitate different tyre pressures – 85psi or 110psi.

Cyclists who know their history will be wary of the claims made of solid tyres.

When British inventor John Boyd Dunlop in 1887 developed the first practical pneumatic tyre (for the wooden disc wheel of his son’s tricycle), the innovation transformed the performance of bicycles – and even made possible the development of the first car by cycling fanatic Karl Benz.

Since then, solid tyres have had a reputation for being heavier and less efficient than their inflatable cousins. However, the 700x23c Tannus Musai model weighs in at 380g, which is comparable with the combined weight of the puncture-resistant Continental Gator Skin, inner tube and rim tape.

Pundture-proof tyre for bicycles

Tannus tyres have a slightly increased rolling resistance, but many cyclists will be happy to trade the marginal extra effort in return for a puncture-free life.

The tyres are available in a choice of 13 colours and from £89 per pair.

Cycle insurance from the ETA includes Cycle Breakdown for free. If your bike suffers a mechanical breakdown or puncture, we pay for you and your cycle to be taken up to 25 miles to a cycle shop, railway station or home.

For more indformation about the Tannus puncture-proof solid tyre visit tannus.co.uk

Taking different apporach to the solid tyre, a puncture-proof design similar to those fitted to the American Humvee military vehicle may soon be available for your mountain bike.

Colorado designer Brian Russell has developed what he describes as an Energy Return Wheel, which he hopes will soon be fitted to cars and bicycles around the world. Russell claims the wheel will save motorists fuel and cyclists the faff of having to repair flats at the roadside. The wheels can be adjusted to suit different types of terrain and may be offered with a thin sidewall to keep the inside of the tyre free of mud.

Protect your bike

Cycle insurance from the ETA includes cover against theft, accidental damage and vandalism. It mirrors the cover you would expect from a fully-comp car insurance policy by including third party liability, cycle breakdown recovery (yes, you can get it for bicycles), replacement bike hire and legal advice all for one price. Get an instant quote here, or give us a call on 0800 212 810.

Comments

  1. Andrew Culture

    Reply

    It’s interesting to see this from the perspective of an insurer. I guess solid tyres could mitigate some crash-risk (caused by getting punctures when travelling at speed) rather than transfer the risk entirely. I’ve just done a test-ride on a pair of Tannus tyres and my initial reaction wasn’t what I expected, neither was it conclusively good or bad. Please feel free to delete this comment if you feel it is inappropriate but if your readers / customers would like to know more about these tyres from an independent ‘normal commuter’ then they’re welcome to read my full report at http://veloballs.com/go/tannus

    I hadn’t heard of the Hummer type solid tyres before, that could be an interesting new development.

  2. Ray Earl

    Reply

    If it goes the same route as the solid Green Tyre, it has a bumpy road ahead. The Green tyre has a some adverse features, the major one being that the tyres start stretching after a while and start moving around on the wheel rim bed. This can be exciting in bends on fast descents while heavy braking and hard acceleration (particularly when standing on steep climbs), results in a feeling of looseness and a lack of precise control. Apart from that, solid tyres give a very harsh ride as they are far less forgiving than the super efficient pneumatic tyres where air pressure reacts a hundred time better to changing road conditions.

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