There are two kinds of people on this planet:
- Those who’ve had a flat bike tire.
- Those who will have a flat bike tire.
It’s the universal truth of cycling. Whether you’re pedaling a beach cruiser to grab your mornin cup o’ joe or bombing down a rocky descent on your enduro rig like you just rode into the, “Point Break” movie, flat tires happen. Sometimes it’s a goathead thorn, sometimes it’s a sneaky piece of glass, and sometimes it’s just bad luck.
But here’s the good news, fixing a flat doesn’t have to ruin your ride, your mood, or your afternoon. (And here's a little secret…if you play your cards right, you might not even have to deal with a flat EVER AGAIN, but more on that later)
First, let’s break down how to fix those pesky flats. Pay attention, this could in fact save you from having to walk your bike home like a fool.
The “In-the-Moment” Fixes
1. The Classic Inner Tube Swap
If you’re running a standard bike inner tube, the quickest way to get rolling again is to swap it. Pull off one side of the tire, slide the old tube out, check for whatever caused the puncture (seriously this is key, no one likes fixing the same flat twice, so check the inside of the tire completely.), pop in the new tube, and inflate.
Pro tip: keep a bike tire repair kit in your bag. A spare tube, a couple of tire levers, and a small pump are your ride savers. And yes, even if you’re “just riding around the neighborhood.” Flats are equal-opportunity fun killers, they don’t care where you ride!
2. The Patch Job
Maybe you’re not in a rush. Maybe you’re the MacGyver of your group ride. In that case, a patch kit is your best friend. Scuff the tube, stick the patch, and let it cure before reinflating. It’s cheap, light, and great for extending the life of your tubes, especially if you’ve invested in thorn resistant bicycle tubes or other higher-end bike tire tubes you don’t want to toss after one hole.
3. Tubeless Troubleshooting
If you’ve joined the bike tire sealant club, you know the drill, spin the wheel so the sealant finds the hole, give it a bit of air, and let it seal. If it doesn’t, that’s when a tubeless plug (like CushCore’s Bead Dropper or a bacon strip) comes in. Push it in, trim it off, reinflate, and ride.
Tubeless is great, but here’s the truth: it’s not bulletproof. That’s where prevention really comes in.
4. Boot It & Go
Sometimes a flat isn’t just a flat, sometimes it’s a gash in the sidewall or a hole big enough to make your tire look like it met a bear. For that, you need a tire boot. It’s basically a reinforced patch that sits inside your tire to keep the tube from bulging out.
Don’t have a commercial boot? Improvise. A folded energy bar wrapper, gaffer tape, a crisp dollar bill, even a section of old inner tube can save the day. Just place whatever solution you have on the inside of your tire, between the inside of the sidewall and the tube. It’s not a forever fix, but it’ll get you home without shredding your tire or your rim.
5. The Tube-Within-a-Tube Trick (Inception but for bike tires…)
This one sounds weird until you’ve seen it work. Let’s say you’re running tubes, you’ve already swapped to your spare, and that one gets a nasty tear, or you pinch-flatted in the exact same spot because the culprit was still in the tire. If you’ve got another damaged tube on hand (or even the original one you just took out), you can cut it open along its inner seam and wrap it around your working tube inside the tire.
It’s basically creating your own makeshift tire liner on the spot. The extra layer helps prevent whatever caused the puncture from hitting the new tube, and it adds enough beef to ride home without another blowout. It’s bulkier and not a permanent solution, but it’s saved a lot of riders from long walks.
Why it works: You’re doubling up the rubber layer inside the casing, which spreads out sharp impacts and buys you just enough time to finish your ride or reach a shop.
Pro tip: If you’re really in a pinch and don’t have a second tube, some riders will fold strips of an old tube (cut before the ride, just in case) into their repair kit for exactly this reason.
The “Let’s Just Not Get Flats” Options
Here’s where the Tannus Trio enters the chat. Three different products, three different personalities, all here to make sure your rides are about the ride, not roadside or trailside repairs.
Tannus Armour: The Overachiever
Think of it as a high-tech helmet for your bicycle inner tube. It makes your tires way harder to kill. Armour sits snug between your tire and tube, wrapping nearly 360° with a thick layer of protection. We’re talking up to 15mm of foam up top, plus sidewall coverage that keeps those dreaded pinch flats at bay.
It’s not just about stopping punctures. Armour absorbs big hits, making rim strikes a thing you read about but rarely experience. You can even ride flat in some cases, limp home without walking your bike like it’s the world’s least convenient scooter.
Perfect for commuters dodging potholes, mountain bikers smashing rock gardens, gravel riders chasing that perfect line, or electric bike tire users who don’t want to deal with roadside tube changes. You still carry a tube, sure, but it might just collect dust in your saddle bag for years.
Need more proof, we know a guy who rode the across the United States on an E-bike and didn’t get a single flat tire his whole ride. Read it here!
Tannus Airless Tires: The Flat-Free Purist
If you’ve ever stood on the side of the road or trail holding a shredded tube and thought, “There has to be a better way,” Airless is your answer. These aren’t just puncture proof bicycle tubes, they are the tire! 100% solid, flat proof bike tires. No tubes, no air, no sealant, no drama!
Made from Tannus’s proprietary Aither foam, Airless bike tires are filled with millions of micro-air cells that give you a ride feel surprisingly close to pneumatic tires. They’re perfect for city commuters, cargo haulers, or anyone on an e-bike who would rather ride than wrench.
And because they last thousands of miles, you’re not just saving yourself from flats, you’re saving money, time, and the frustration of roadside repairs. Sure, they’re a touch heavier than a high-end race tire, but the peace of mind? Worth its weight in…well, not tubes.
Tannus Tubeless Inserts: The Aggressive Rider’s Safety Net
Already tubeless? You know the benefits, lower PSI for grip, no pinch flats from tubes, sealant sealing most holes. But you also know the downside: big hits can still ruin rims, and sidewall tears can still end rides. And thus enters Tannus Tubeless Inserts.
These inserts live between tire and rim, absorbing brutal impacts and giving sidewalls extra support in hard corners. They also help prevent burping, so you can confidently run that lower PSI without feeling like you’re riding on the edge of a blowout.
Tannus’s modular design means you can choose the level of protection. LITE for gravel and XC, PRO for trail and enduro, FUSION for downhill and e-MTB. And here’s the kicker: if you do get a catastrophic flat, many riders can still ride out without destroying their rim. That’s the kind of insurance you actually hope you never use, but are very glad to have.
The Best Fix is the One You Don’t Need
Flats happen. But if you’ve got the right gear, whether it’s a spare bike tire tube and patch kit, you can turn them from ride-enders into minor speed bumps. And if you got Tannus…well you can just keep rolling because flats will be a thing of the past.
Ready to stop fixing flats and start preventing them? Explore Tannus Armour, Tannus Airless tires, and Tannus Tubeless Inserts...and make your tires the least stressful part of your ride.
