Every rider dreads the moment when they feel like something is wrong with their bike. In one moment, you're cruising along, and the next, your ride feels unwieldy.

You signal to get off the trail so you can figure out what's going on. Your heart sinks as you see what's going on. A flat tire.

A sudden flat can ruin the ride. Fortunately, there are preemptive steps you can take to make them rare, especially if you follow these tips:

1. Ride Defensively

Isn't it true that prevention is better than cure that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure? When you try to prevent tire damage, that definitely plays a role.

Ride defensively to avoid tire damage. Avoid riding in the gutters since that's where everything sharp and nasty on the road ends up after it's been blown, washed, or swept away from the lane. You should avoid construction-heavy spots where you may encounter stray screws or nails. If you see a broken bottle (or anything sparkly, for that matter!) try to keep your distance.

Threats aren't always obvious. Water can obscure hidden dangers under the surface, and you never know what might be hidden under that wet pile of leaves on the road. When you can, avoid them entirely.

2. Keep the Air in There 

It is important to maintain proper tire pressure. Smoother and faster rides are possible when your tires are properly filled. Another benefit? Flats are less likely to occur.

As a result of an underinflated tire, you're more likely to experience a pinch flat -- a flat caused by the tube being pinched between the rim of the wheel and the road. Low air pressure also increases the risk of your tire picking up sharp debris and suffering a puncture flat, which occurs when a sharp object (such as an upholstery tack, a drywall screw, or a pinot grigio bottle fragment) punctures it.

Use a bicycle pump and a bike tire gauge to ensure your tire is always at the recommended PSI (or pounds per square inch). Make sure to top off the pressure every 1-2 weeks. Your tires will lose a little pressure as they age, just like a balloon.

3. Perform Regular Tire Inspections 

Make sure your tires are in good shape before and after every ride. Check them for any shrapnel you may have picked up while riding.

If anything becomes embedded, pick it out with a sharp blade or needlenose pliers. You can also use a dental pick if you have one. Leaving it in there allows it to slowly work its way in deeper and ultimately puncture your tube.

Depending on the size of the object removed and the extent of its penetration, the tire may still be usable, but if the threads of the casing are visible, you will need to replace it. It's disappointing to replace a tire before its time, but trust us, it's better than waiting until your tire breaks on the trail. 

4. Up Your Protection With Tire Armour 

Do you need a little extra peace of mind? Tannus has partnered with E-bikes to create a new line of tire armour!

Tannus Armour is an insert that wraps around your tube to provide extra puncture protection of 15mm. With this, your inner tube will be less likely to be punctured by sharp objects. It's also designed to protect your rim on those hard hits, stabilize your tires on corners, and cushion your ride for improved comfort.

Tannus helped us create custom sizes that fit all of our models. Two liners and two tubes are included with each order.