Bicycle Mechanics - Cut in Tire - Should I replace?

I'll post up pictures if you need me to. My front tire recently blew out, and once I patched up the tube and inflated it in the tire again, I noticed there was a cut on the side of the tire where my tube got deflated. It's a minor cut, about 2 cm wide, but the tire seems to stretch unevenly around this point, like a wrinkle. Is this okay? Thanks

I wouldn't keep the tire on the front.

If I insisted on using it I put it on back and expect a blowout at some point.

Al

I wouldn't keep the tire on the front.

If I insisted on using it I put it on back and expect a blowout at some point.

Al

Good advice. I would add, test it by pumping it up to 20-40 PSI more than the max. If it holds, it will probably be ok, but put it on the rear.

I'll post up pictures if you need me to. My front tire recently blew out, and once I patched up the tube and inflated it in the tire again, I noticed there was a cut on the side of the tire where my tube got deflated. It's a minor cut, about 2 cm wide, but the tire seems to stretch unevenly around this point, like a wrinkle. Is this okay? Thanks
Patch the tire with a tubless kit or you can simply stitch it up providing it is on the sidewall.

I don't need picture to answer. I simply won't ride on a "cut" tire, front or back unless it is just to make the ride home. Life is too precious and while injuries cut into cycling time, death cuts into it far more drastically. Tire are not that expensive when you weigh the risks.

Why take a chance?

If the tire rips much more, and you're a long way from home....you're a long way from home with a tire that doesn't work.

Why take a chance?

If the tire rips much more, and you're a long way from home....you're a long way from home with a tire that doesn't work.


Or worse! If you are on a screaming downhill cornering in your lane with auto traffic in the oncoming lane, we'll be offering your family condolences and honoring you in the annual ride of silence. The cost of a tire starts to look rather insignificant when you look at all of the potential outcomes.

I'll fix and ride a small nip in a tire, but NEVER a cut on, or close, to the sidewall. To much at stake if the thing comes apart at speed. A front tire coming apart is a crash you don't have a chance to stop...

Get a new tire. Why press your luck just to squeeze a little more life out of a used damaged tire? If you don't have good tires on the road, you've got nothing.

toss it!


If you're poor, get a $7 tire from Nashbar.

I'd just get rid of the tire because it bulges and it's a side cut. I got a 5 to 6 mm cut in the tread area of an ATB tire. I put a very large patch in the tire and added shoe goo to the outside. It didn't bulge before I repaired it, so I think it will do fine, but I keep an eye on it.

The tires are not as strong on the sides I would suppose

Al

A 2cm cut is not "minor". It's almost an inch wide! You could use an adhesive tire boot temporarily, but the tire needs replacing as soon as possible.

Replace it. It isn't safe.

Odd here , I have had as many as 4 stitchings on one tire before & never had a lick of trouble.
Most were between 1/2" & 1". 25/32" cut isn't really that big.
practically every tire i have ever had needed doctoring. I got tired of chucking new tires so i learned the proper procedure of tire stitching. Although i do use tubeless tire patching kits for smaller cuts, works fine too.

Thanks everyone, I'm replacing the tire!

Thanks everyone, I'm replacing the tire!
Good choice. You don't want that thing going bad while going down wildcat or pinehurst. ;)

The range of replies here run the gamut. The good part about cycling is that most of us don't ride at the extremes that would make a 2cm cut in a tire life-threatening. If your riding style will have you "screaming downhill cornering in your lane with auto traffic in the oncoming lane" then you already know that the answer for you is to replace the tire without question.

If your run-up to 35 mph is on the one downhill you encounter rarely on a straight run on a deserted road, then you could perhaps get some more mileage out of the tire.

I rode on tires that had cuts in the tread - LBS told me the cuts would do no harm, so I patched the area from the inside with tube repair kits, patches from spent tubes, double patches from spent tubes, etc.

There was no time I felt unsafe, but enough times when my tube would work its way into the cut area and either get pinched or contact the road surface causing it to fail.

Ultimately, the inconvenience of fixing flats along the road and, on some occasions, having the fix fail and having to be picked up proved much too inconvenient for me so I replaced the tires.

I ride a cyclocross bike set up with skinny 23's pumped to 140 lbs for max road speed, but really abused the previous set by riding across some spots with very course (I mean really course) cut stone that caused these cuts. Had I swallowed my pride and walked the bike across these areas, I would probably still be riding those tires today (they were puncture resistant with Kevlar bands or whatever).

Personally, I think it less a matter of safety in terms of you losing control than it is a matter of inconvenience (and perhaps safety) if you experience a failure (or multiple failures) when you are riding in a remote location. That's a bummer.

The Mrs and I were in Colorado riding through one of the parks looking at all the rock formations, boulders, etc. when we came upon a guy walking his MTB. He had experienced a blow out and didn't have a spare tube. We gave him a lift to the nearest gas station, but, I am guessing that only partially solved his problem. Having a flat that you are not prepared to fix (or having so many flats that you run out of what you need to fix 'em) is a sure way to ruin a ride.

Speaking from experience, I would replace the tire so you can ride without worrying about flats.

Since replacing my tires, I've tried to be more careful about where I ride - haven't had a flat since.

Caruso

Good choice. You don't want that thing going bad while going down wildcat or pinehurst. ;)
+1
You stand a pretty good chance of damaging a rim with a blown tire as well.

A 2cm cut is not "minor". It's almost an inch wide! You could use an adhesive tire boot temporarily, but the tire needs replacing as soon as possible.

Woa! I read it as 2mm. It would be suicide to ride a 2 cm cut. I guess my mind rebelled at considering anyone would even ask for 2 cm.

Al

My rule of thumb is that, if the reinflated tire is smooth over the cut, I'll continue to use it. I might put a piece of duck tape on the inside to protect the inner tube.

If I can feel a bump in the area of the cut or if the tire tread makes an "S" bend at the cut, I assume that one or more tire cords have been cut and I discard the tire.

If you are ever out on the road again and have this problem use a dollar bill or empty goo pack to reenforce the area where the cut is to get home. I have ridden some pretty chewed up tires to get home using this method...but I always throw away the tire as soon as I get home. Big deductable on the insurance...