• By Ryan Cook

  • Photos by Tannus America

  • November 25, 2024

Gravel cycling has taken the biking world by storm. I got into gravel riding about seven years ago after spending most of my life racing road and mountain bikes. From the very first ride, I was hooked. It felt like my road bike and mountain bike had a baby, and they named it "awesome."

Not only does gravel riding take you on roads you’d never otherwise explore, but it’s also safer. The dirt roads around my house see almost no traffic—usually just the occasional dude on a Surron. However, gravel biking isn’t without its challenges. Flat tires can quickly derail even the best rides, but the right gear can make all the difference.


Why Flat Tires Are the Enemy of Gravel Riders

Gravel biking demands tires that can handle sharp rocks, thorns, and unpredictable terrain. Traditional inner tubes are prone to punctures, often leaving riders stranded far from home.

When Flats Wreck a Ride

One of the worst moments I’ve had as a gravel rider was when a flat forced me to call my wife for a rescue. I was 80 miles away from home on a remote dirt road, with no cell service until I reached higher ground. By the time I got ahold of her, she had to drive for three hours on rough terrain to pick me up.

Fortunately, my wife is a saint, and she picked me up, and didn’t even make me sleep on the couch after that ordeal—but it was a wake-up call. I knew I needed a better solution. That’s when I started using Tannus Armour, and since then, I haven’t had to make another desperate rescue call.

Challenges of Tubeless Systems:
  • Tubeless systems can work well for small punctures, but they’re not foolproof.
  • Large gashes or punctures may still require a spare tube or complete tire replacement.
TANNUS ARMOUR INSERTS

SAY GOODBYE TO FLATS!

Garmin Unbound, When Tubeless Let Me Down

I signed up for and trained my butt off to do the Garmin Unbound race in Emporia, Kansas. I added extra sealant to my tires and brought a couple of bike tire plugs, but at mile 160, I got a flat that neither the sealant nor plugs could fix. Out came the spare tube, which got me to the next rest stop, where I luckily had another tire waiting.

That one sharp rock cost me at least 20 minutes. While tubeless systems are helpful, they’re not always the perfect solution for gravel adventures.
TANNUS ARMOUR

The Benefits of Tannus Armour for Cyclists

Tannus is an industry leader in anti-puncture solutions. They create inserts for nearly every type of bike and e-bike, using advanced foam technology to provide unmatched protection against punctures, snake bites, and sidewall tears (like the one I encountered at Unbound). After putting over 2,000 miles on my gravel bike with Tannus Armour, here’s what I’ve found:

  • Flat Protection: Never worry about flat tires on your gravel bike again.
  • Enhanced Durability: Perfect for long-distance rides over challenging terrain. I’ve got a tire with a 1.5-inch sidewall gash that I’m still using, thanks to Tannus Armour.
  • Comfort and Stability: Absorbs shocks for a smoother ride, even on rough surfaces. As someone with carpal tunnel syndrome, I’ve found the shock absorption to be a real lifesaver.

Here’s how Tannus Armour compares to other flat-protection systems:

Flat-Protection Options for Gravel Biking

  • 1. Tubeless Systems

    • Works well for sealing small punctures.
    • May fail for larger holes or gashes.
    • Requires additional gear, like sealant, plugs, and a CO₂ pump.
  • 2. Tubeless Plugs

    • Effective for small-to-moderate punctures.
    • The Stan’s Darts® have been my go-to option.
  • 3. Tubeless Inserts

    • Products like Tannus Tubeless®, CushCore®, and Vittoria Airliner®  protect rims and improve ride quality.
    • However, they’re more focused on performance enhancement and rim protection than flat prevention.

Additional Posts...

  • You Only Get So Many Weekends This Fall. Don't Lose One to a Flat.

    You Only Get So Many Weekends This Fall. Don't Lose One to a Flat.

    Fall doesn't last long, maybe six good weekends if you're lucky, and every one of them is already spoken for. Hunters are hauling gear off-trail before first light. Leaf peepers are chasing color down roads they've never ridden. And everybody's running their fat tires soft for grip, which is exactly what leaves them open to the flat that ends the day early. Here's why fall is the toughest season on a fat tire eBike, and how Tannus Armour keeps you rolling through all of it.

  • America's Worst Cities for Bike Flats, Ranked

    America's Worst Cities for Bike Flats, Ranked

    Every cyclist swears their city is the worst for bike flat tires. We checked. Using current state noxious weed registries, city task force records, and PeopleForBikes' 2026 City Ratings, we ranked America's 10 worst and 10 best cities for bike flats, and the answer isn't just "wherever it's dry." Denver runs two street sweepers for its entire bike lane network. Salt Lake City pays a bounty on the goathead thorns wrecking tires along the Jordan River Trail. Meanwhile, some of the most celebrated bike-friendly cities in the country, Fort Collins, Davis, Provo, sit smack in the middle of goathead's mapped range, proof that great infrastructure and flat-proof riding are two different problems.

    See where your city lands, what's actually causing your flats (goatheads, glass, or both), and why the fix isn't a better bike lane. It's the right tire for where you actually ride.

  • Sealant Has One Job. You're Making It Do Five.

    Sealant Has One Job. You're Making It Do Five.

    Tubeless sealant seals small punctures up to about 5-6mm, and checking it every 2 to 4 months keeps it working, that's the entire job it was built for. It won't stop a rim strike, cushion a pinch flat, or keep your tire from squirming at low PSI, three failure points that have nothing to do with a hole in the tread. This post breaks down exactly what sealant can and can't do, how goathead thorn country changes your maintenance schedule, and why pairing sealant with a tubeless tire insert covers the gaps sealant was never designed to close.

    Tannus Tubeless Inserts use hydrophobic Aither 1.1 foam that doesn't absorb sealant, so you get rim protection, pinch-flat resistance, and confidence at lower pressures without adding maintenance or wheel weight. It's the same setup racers run at events like Leadville and the Unbound Gravel Grand Prix: sealant handles the punctures, the insert handles everything else.

  • Armour, Tubeless, or Airless: Which Tannus Belongs in Your Wheels?

    Armour, Tubeless, or Airless: Which Tannus Belongs in Your Wheels?

    Nobody's ever finished a ride bragging about the flat they fixed on the shoulder. Tannus makes three flat protection products that stop that from happening, and yes, all three share the same name, which is exactly why riders mix them up. Tannus Armour is a 15mm foam insert built for tube setups. Tannus Tubeless Inserts protect rims and back up sealant on tubeless setups. Tannus Airless skips air completely with a solid foam tire built for commuters. Pick the one that matches what's already inside your tire and ride on.

    This guide lines up all three side by side, including who each one is actually built for: e-bike riders and commuters running tubes, gravel and mountain bikers protecting their rims, and city riders ready to retire air pressure for good. Read it once and you'll know exactly which Tannus belongs in your wheels, in about the time it takes to fix a flat.

  • A kid rides a bike at night, with fireworks in the background of the image.

    Why July Is the Worst Month for Flats (Nobody Tells You This)

    July doesn't have one cause behind its flat tires. It has four, all stacking up at once: softer asphalt that holds onto debris, tube pressure that climbs as the pavement heats up, and more broken glass and goatheads left behind after holiday weekends. That's the real reason bike tires go flat more in summer than any other season, and most riders only ever hear about one piece of it.

    This breaks down exactly what's happening to your tires this month, then shows what actually stops it. Tannus Armour is a foam liner that blocks debris before it ever reaches your tube, and Tannus Airless tires remove the tube and the air pressure altogether, so there's nothing left for the heat to work against.