A truly puncture-free tyre that replicates the handling characteristics of a pneumatic tyre is the Holy Grail of cycling. Cyclists who know their history will be wary of any claims made of any new technology, but the ‘Air Free Concept’ being touted by Bridgestone has, at the very least, have the credibility of coming from a long-established tyre company. The radical-looking new design uses a structure of flexible spokes connected to solid rubber tyres.
Unfortunately for cyclists on the roads today, the Bridgestone puncture-free tyres are at least two years from production.
Win 6,000 of puncture-free cycling
The Tannus may not be as high-tech as the Bridgestone design, but it has the advantage of being on sale today and offers 6,000 flat-free miles. Best still, we have a set worth £90 to give away.
Leave us a comment at the bottom of this page to let us know whether you’d like 700 x 32c, 16″, 700 x 23c or 26″ (559) MTB tyres and we’ll pick one lucky cyclist. Don’t forget, 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.
The folk at Tannus have done their bast to address the problems that plagued previous solid bicycle tyres. For a start, the tyres aren’t really solid at all – polymer compound is a dense foam. Weight is comparable to a conventional tyre. The 700 x 23c Tannus Musai model tips the scales at 380g, which is comparable with the combined weight of the puncture-resistant Continental Gator Skin, inner tube and rim tape. Furthermore, you can leaving your pump, spare inner tube and tools at home.
Nobody knows when the puncture fairy will strike, but many commuter cyclists are willing to compromise slightly on handling and price in return for 6,000 miles of puncture-free cycling. Oh, and you don’t ever need to check your tyres pressures either.
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 contributed towards the development of the first car by cycling fanatic Karl Benz. Since then, attempts to produce solid puncture proof tyres for bicycles have been too much of a compromise in terms of weight, rolling resistance, grip and stability on the rim to be considered a serious alternative to inflatable tyres.
Environmentally friendly cycle insurance
On the face of it, one cycle insurance policy is much like another, but the devil is the detail. How much excess you will be charged is just one of the things that varies wildly between providers. Another is so called ‘new-for-old’ replacement – many insurers use this term, but if your bicycle is more than a few years old, devalue it severely. This means you are left out of pocket when you come to replace it. Read our insider guide to cycle insurance.
ETA cycle insurance has a low standard excess of 5% (minimum £25) and offers a new-for-old for life – however old the bike, if it’s stolen you get enough to buy a new model. Furthermore, every cycle insurance policy you buy from us helps support the work of the ETA Trust, our charity campaigning for a cleaner, safer transport future.
For over 26 years we have been providing straightforward, affordable bicycle insurance. Whether you use your bike to commute, shop, race or amble in the park, ETA Cycle Insurance has you covered. We never devalue bikes no matter their age, allow you to buy your replacement bike wherever you like, replace stolen quick release components and handle claims in-house.
The Good Shopping Guide has rated us ethical in Britain.
Paul
700 x 32c please!
Arun Venkatesan
I would like to win the 700 x 32c tyres.
David Dunnico
700 x 32c [leas
Pete Hughes
700 x 23c would suit my bike
Lawrence Davies
I would like the 700 x 32c please.
Joel
Feeling pumped about this. 26″ (559)
Ian Harvey
26″ (559) MTB tyres would be superb and will really look cool on my bike.
Simon
700 x 32c please!
Maxime
I would be curious to try them… 700x23c
Alastair Wilson
26″ MTB tyres please for a puncture free summer on the bike 🙂
Ben Murton
700 x 32c – what a great idea
Eddie Kinghorn
I would love to get my hands on the 700 x 23c tyres.
Peter Clark
700 x 23 please. I just want bright orange tyres!
DougMilly
My bike has 700 x 28C wheels. I would feel flat if this size tyre is not available!
Mark Stack
26″ MTB for me 🙂
Mike Smith
700 x 23c please. I can feel all my CO2 canisters being jettisoned already !
Andrew Megginson
26MTB tyre, but I might have to buy different cycling kit to avoid some terrible orange combinations!
CraigS-A
700×32c would be nice to try 😀
Brian
Yes please 26″ (559)
VicK
Well I’m a 27″ x 1 1/4″ guy so I guess I’ll have to keep carrying my puncture repair kit!
Richard Scrase
Blue would do, saw these at the Bike show, ideal for my children who have yet to master puncture repair.
Nic Jones
700x 32c would be great to keep me cycling all through the summer! Thank you
Graham
700 x 32c please 🙂
Thomas Lankester
Typos?
‘Win 6,000 (what???) of puncture-free cycling’
‘The folk at Tannus have done their bast’
Sadly, I need 700 x 35C fro my bike
Richard Gregory
700x32C would suit my hybrid nicely. Yes. please.
Vincent Procter
OMG no more punctures or pinch flats ☺️
Please ship me 700 x 23
I’m excited.
Jill
700 x 23c please
Andrew Harmsworth
For the sake of Cambridge’s roads, 700 x 23c please! 😀
Dick Willis
700 x 32c please
stefano franco
700 x 32c please
Krzysztof
700 x 23c please!
Ed Pearce
I have 700 x 28c rims, but think the 700 x 32c would fit. Love the colours!
william white
24 by 1.75 please
Andrew M
700 x 23c please
Alastair Seagroatt
Too many punctures over the winter to count so these are worth a try, be interesting to find out how the 700×32 does.
Anu Gbolasere
I would like the 700 x 32c please
Edward Breeveld
My Brompton tyres are usually OK with very few problems, but when there’s a puncture it’s a disaster 🙁 A 16″ set would solve this problem and be brilliant!
Ron McCraw
700 x 32 please. The future is orange once more!
Ron McCraw
700 x 32 please. The future is orange once again!
Keith Quinton
Sounds like a dream! 700×23 fingers crossed!
Liz MacGregor
700 x 26″ – this would encourage me to get back on my bike. When I can find a bike pump, I never seem to be able to get it to work – so the bike never gets out on the road!
Steve Ashfield
700 x 23c would be nice.
stuart webster
26″ Mtb tyres please
Gareth Wells
Oooh, I’d like 700x 32. Perfect for my commuter / cross bike!
Mark B
700 x 25C please. I’d love to give these a go.
Deborah Hey-Smith
Please, I would love the tyres, but would like a bike to go with them, so that I can fulfil my ambition to cycle from York to Oxford and raise money to support my ‘adopted’ children in Guatemala. Thank you.
Mike Davies
A pair of 26″ would go down nicely (or maybe not!)
Gail
26″ (559) MTB, if my name comes out of the hat
Gordon Pells
I would just love to try the 700 x 32
Roger Birchall
Using veloflex corsas at the moment at £30 a go!!, these would make an excellent alternative 700-23 please 😊
Anthony Johnson
700 x 32 MTB please
Damon Parsons
You need these when you ride in Essex! 700 x 23c Please
Dawn taylor
700 x 26
Wow they looks amazing!🚴🏻🚴🏻😀
Andrew Cole
700 x 32c would be great
The next Lance
700×23 please.
Anything else would be a let down!
Dave Jones
If my Lucks in, then I don’t really mind the but they would need to be 559 round the outside.
Rory Harkins
I’d love to try the 700 x 32c set.
I had a set of solid tyres on my bike for my paper round back in the day. Would be interesting to see how the technology has moved on.
Peter Shirley
26′ for my hybrid commuter would be great.
greg
700 x 32c, please
John aka TheCyclist
26″ x 1.75″ for me please. Just what I need for my long haul bicycle tours. 🙂
Pawel
700 x 32c please! My road bike will be so happy with them 🙂
Francis Voon
A pair of 700 * 23 C please. Thanks.
Kris
700 x 32c would be great, would love to try these
Greg
Yes please to a pair of 700 x 32c.
stephen
700 x 23c would be just perfect, thanks!
Mark D.
700 x 23 for me.
Thanks!
Gill
My commuting bike would just love a pair of 700 x 23c please.
Giuseppe
Two punctures a year less? Every year? Yes, please!!
craig
These look fab, 700 x 23c for me please
stevo
What a great idea!! So simple. 700 x 23 for my hack please
Neil Earley
700×25 please
Philip
Wow, they look amazing. Would love 700 x 32 in orange or a bright colour for those dark winter commutes – fingers crossed!
Stephen Perry
Please may I have 700x32C. I had them fitted to my hybrid bike which was stolen in September last year. I now have normal tyres on a dutch style bike with hub gears – so it is not easy to repair a puncture at roadside. They would compliment my bike now making in virtually maintenance free
russ Jefferies
26 mtb please
Jeanette Hanley
Orange is the new black. 26” (559)MTB please.
Julian Carter
700 x 23 please, & a set of steel thumbs for fitting!
James McDonald
My cycling pal is a magnet for thorns, broken glass, nails, you name it. I can’t bear to watch him trying to fix a flat AGAIN! 700×23’s please.
Mick
26″ mtb tyres would be great please
ColW
Yes please to a pair of 700 x 32c.
Richard Newman
700 x 32c – two would be plenty for me.
Martin
700 x 32c please!
T Deave
700 x 32C would be great!
R Layland
26″would be great 🙂 Been wanting to try these for ages – no more commuting stress!
Paul Rock
700×32 would be perfect for commuting 🙂
David Easton
I had already had 2 punctures by the beginning of March, only a few days after starting to use my bike this year (I am a fair-weather cyclist!), so a set of 26″ MTB tyres would be great, please.
Phil
Saw these at the London Bike Show and they look great. Would love a set of 700 x 32 for my daily commute!
Helen Taylor-Carter
There’s no excuse that your bike has a puncture and you’ll have to use the car ever again.
700×23 please
Annette
My commuting road to work is a nightmare of potholes, these tires would be fantastic!
700 x 23c please!
Frank Lee
26 inch no maintenance tyres for my Hardtail MTB please?
Jamie Johnson
Is hard to find a hole in their arguments… 700X32C for me please.
Philip Thompson
Maybe a little late to the party, but I’d like 700×23 in red.