Bicycle Mechanics - How thick are standard road tires?

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CarlJStoneham
07-27-03, 11:11 PM
I've got a nick on my rear tire (Matrix CD3K) that I guess is going to necessitate and eventual replacement. How long can I ride with this? Are road bike tires sufficiently thick to take a few cuts and scratches? The nick is less than 1mm deep.

MichaelW
07-28-03, 02:38 AM
If its just the outer rubber which is cut, its not a problem. Tyre strength comes from the fabric. Even if some of the fabric is showing at the bottom of the nick, its can be quite usable. Like most commuters, my tyres are covered in nicks and cuts.
CarlJStoneham
07-28-03, 10:37 AM
Yeah, it's just the outer rubber and no threads are showing through. The nick is on the "road-contact" surface. I assume that's where some of yours are?

greywolf
07-29-03, 04:55 AM
Originally posted by MichaelW
If its just the outer rubber which is cut, its not a problem. Tyre strength comes from the fabric. Even if some of the fabric is showing at the bottom of the nick, its can be quite usable. Like most commuters, my tyres are covered in nicks and cuts. What I do is deflate the tyre a bit , clean out the glass or whatever (don't use a air line to do this as it could start to seperate the rubber from the casing:( )Then I use super glue in the cut ,wipe off the exess then pinch the cut to-gether till the glue dries ( super glue is the same as the Locktite we use to join rubber "O" rings) After the tyre has been re-inflated & ridden a mile or two you cant even see where the cuts were ;)