Mr. Tuffy: Saving Tires Since 1996

Rarely do I come across a product that performs so well that it deserves such a one-sided review and recommendation. Mr. Tuffy is one of those products. Made from extruded urethane plastic that’s feathered on one side and reinforced on the other with an even harder rubberized plastic, this product costs about the same as three new inner tubes but will save you a lifetime of headaches from flat tires.

If you think about it, it’s probably one of the simplest yet most effective products on the market for bikes. Further development by the manufacturer is leading to breakthroughs in plastics technology that will allow Mr. Tuffy products to better protect against puncture flats as well as those pesky pinch flats which can come from many things such as low tire pressure or not seating the inner tube between the tire and the rim correctly. Mr. Tuffy tire liners fit between your tire and inner tube and work to deflect as well as keep sharp objects from puncturing your tubes.

You may not think much of the cost of replacing an inner tube, but the time lost can add up quickly, especially if you ride quite a bit on city streets with all the debris and sharp objects that one could encounter. Even I was skeptical when a friend of mine gave me a set for my birthday and told me that it wasn’t some sort of weird gag gift or gimmick.

I’ve watched a friend of mine who installed Mr. Tuffy tube liners in his tires ride over multiple barb wire lines, nails, glass shards, and other sharp pieces of wood, plastic, and metal. Never once have I seen any of these pieces of debris push its way through the tire liner and into the inner tube. Personally, I’ve owned a set of Mr. Tuffy’s for about 10 years and have only had about 3 flats in that time frame. Amazing, considering I’ve put over 22,000 miles on that set of wheels and gone through multiple sets of tires. Just like anything else though, it’s important to inspect your tire liners for wear and damage, and replace them at the first sign of distress. Not doing so could result in a pinch or puncture flat from inside the tire itself. Not fun.

Mr. Tuffy products are available at most local bike stores as well as many other retail sporting goods chains. Online they can be had from many sources for about the same price as in the stores. Expect to pay between $15 and $30 dollars per set, depending on which type you feel suits you best for the job. These tire liners come in just about every wheel size, from road rims to wide, aggressive mountain rim sizes. I have yet to find a person who uses these tire liners that has had a negative experience with them. They are so easy to find in almost any city or town and installation is something a 5 year old could do. Go and pick up a set and see for yourself. It’s a basic need to have in my opinion and will save you tons of time and money in the long run.