Bicycle Mechanics - Silicone to seal tyre holes?

I got my very first flat (at least since I was a kid) today. A piece of glass that managed to (just barely) penetrate the protective weave.

The glass left a small hole in the tyre, and I can just imagine that over time, stuff will be "sucked up" into that hole and possibly cause another flat. Would it for any reason be a bad idea to fill such a hole with a drop or two of silicone (the kind used for wet areas)?

Why not just put a tube patch on the inside of the tire (and one more on the tube itself) ? That's what I did after my tire got badly pierced by a beer bottle piece of glass. Going strong since then.

YMMV though...

Why not just put a tube patch on the inside of the tire (and one more on the tube itself) ? That's what I did after my tire got badly pierced by a beer bottle piece of glass. Going strong since then.

YMMV though...

No, I don't want anything to be able to get stuck.

I'm only asking here if there's any chemical or mechanical reason not to fill the hole with wet-area silicone.

I always just dabbed a bit of super glue into the cut, never seemed to have issues.

I got my very first flat (at least since I was a kid) today. A piece of glass that managed to (just barely) penetrate the protective weave.

The glass left a small hole in the tyre, and I can just imagine that over time, stuff will be "sucked up" into that hole and possibly cause another flat. Would it for any reason be a bad idea to fill such a hole with a drop or two of silicone (the kind used for wet areas)?

Use crazy glue, the one that doesn't hardify. Use it to repair michelin PR2's with cuts. Can't tell the difference once the repair is done.

Super Glue, Crazy Glue, whatever, they both work just fine for that purpose. If time is not an issue Monkey Glue also works but it takes a bit longer for it dry the above mentioned glues. Never tried the wet area silicone. I carry a small tube of Crazy Glue in my saddle bag; but a glue on patch also works on small holes, I also carry a tire boot in case the hole is much larger then what a glue on patch will cover.

I've no idea what crazy glue is. Wet area silicone is what I have at hand. Will it work or not? And by not work, I mean that it will damage the rubber or the weave chemically.

I've no idea what crazy glue is.


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Do you mean something like a silicone caulk? It's not all that durable... It won't damage rubber or nylon...does tend to make bare steel rust, though.

Consider Mr Tuffy tire liners


FYI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_Glue

I'd bet a nickel that silicone caulk wouldn't last a week. Patch the tube, forget about it.

I don't think the silicone would hurt your tire. I don't think it would work well preventing debris from building up or getting caught in the hole either, but who knows. Give it a try.

Shoe Goo works.

Regards,

Yeah...cured Shoe Goo is much more durable. Silicone is very soft, and is easily rubbed off/worked loose...

...seems like even duct tape would do a better job, really.

Cyanoacrylates

I would use the medical type: Wiki "In 1998 the FDA approved 2-octyl cyanoacrylate for use in closing wounds and surgical incisions. Closure Medical has developed medical cyanoacrylates such as Dermabond, Soothe-N-Seal and Band-Aid Liquid Adhesive Bandage."

The irony here is that dermabond has been available in military circles for a fairly long time. Korean war era if my memory serves, just took the FDA that long to decide it was safe.

For tiny holes in tires, everyone I know recommends and uses small bits of tape to reinforce from the inside. the pressure of the tube keeps in in place. I've used duct tape, but prefer fiberglass reinforced strapping tape. I have a couple of tires that have gone through nearly their entire life with that fix, after an early flat.

But chances are, if it's a tiny puncture hole in the tire, nothing is needed.

For everything you need to know: http://sheldonbrown.com/flats.html

I've no idea what crazy glue is. Wet area silicone is what I have at hand. Will it work or not? And by not work, I mean that it will damage the rubber or the weave chemically.

Super Moment or the like. Bison makes some too, Bison Instant it think it's called.

My question has been answered. The conclusion seems to be that it won't damage the rubber. That is all I asked and all I need. None of the other substances are known to me, and very likely not available here.

This is NOT to patch the tube, but to fill the gaping hole (5x1.5 mm) left by the piece of glass I removed.

My question has been answered. The conclusion seems to be that it won't damage the rubber. That is all I asked and all I need. None of the other substances are known to me, and very likely not available here.

This is NOT to patch the tube, but to fill the gaping hole (5x1.5 mm) left by the piece of glass I removed.

Heeloooo? Look at post #19, I listed two super glues which are commonly available in Europe.

BTW, with a hole that big you might want to consider a new tire.

EDIT: http://www.henkel.com/cps/rde/xchg/henkel_com/hs.xsl/1844_COE_HTML.htm?countryCode=com&BU=ua&redDotUID=0000000235

http://www.bison.net/US/en/view.do?UID=af993e0fc2c7dd2dc07c78

But stuff like that is not generally available in Sweden. I've no idea why, but there seems to be a very small market for non-mainstream stuff.

Not that it matters, though. Again, my only question was if the silicone I ALREADY HAVE would work. I'm not interested in spending huge amounts of money on a bottle of something just to fill a hole in a tyre. I would have no other use for it.

It's very mainstream stuff.......and a few euro or less a tube.....

http://www.henkel.se/ses/content_images/39811_72dpi_171H_171W.jpg

Loctite är ett världsledande varumärke för alla snabblimsbehov.

Loctite erbjuder ett komplett sortiment snabblim för alla limbehov, även på svårlimmade material som plast och glas. Loctites snabblimmer är lätt att använda, säkert och snabbt.


Product Categories

* snabblim
* Limning av plast och glas
* Gänglåsning

5x1.5mm is a big hole in a bike tire. The tire has been seriously weakened if body cords have been cut. Sounds like it is time to replace the tire before it "blows".

String type automotive tire plug material can be used to fill small holes in tires. It is available at automotive parts stores. When cured, just cut and grind off the excess inside and out.

Holes in tires have been known to admit small particles of sand etc. The sand can cause additional flats. Sand can also work off a patch placed on the inside of a tire, -usually takes a while tho.

No, the hole is only in the rubber, not the cords.

And the hole was that big when the glass was still in it. Now, it's about 4x0.5 mm.

Grate off some rubber from an old tire or tube. Make it as fine a powder as can be. Make a thick slurry with it and some vulcanizing glue. Fill hole with stuff known to be compatible.

I would have already tried the silicon by now. You can at least read the instructions on the back or visit the mfr's website for further information for your particular formulation. What's the worst that can happen?

The silicon and tire rubber will combine into a synthetic dna converting your entire bike into a remorseless bouncing space alien that will then eat all your kittens.

As far as I can remember back when I was a kid we put silicone onto rc cars tires to make the worn knobbies a bit more knobby again, I also remember that when you used those tires on wet tarmac it was like trying to drive on ice.....so personally no I would not put silicone on my tires.

No, the hole is only in the rubber, not the cords.

And the hole was that big when the glass was still in it. Now, it's about 4x0.5 mm.

If the cut from the inside measures that long through the cords then the tire is dead meat. I would not ride it any longer even if the cut on the inside shows even 3 mm of cut cords. Any less and it's OK.

Bottom line is that when you put in the new tube and inflate it if the pressure forces the cut open so that you can look down from outside and see the tube then the tire is dead and it's time for a new tire. Or if you're feeling cheap like some of us, me included, then you'll buy what is called a tire boot and glue that onto the inside of the tire over the cut. A boot is a rubberized fiber patch that will resist the pressures of the tube and avoid stressing the cut cords.

Silicone caulk or RTV rubber used for sealing stuff of any sort is hellish slippery in the wet. And frankly I've never plugged any of the holes in any tire with anything and I've never had a single issue. If you can see the tube and there's a swelling around the hole then the tire is toast anyhow. And if you do get a boot and use that then the cut won't be forced open in the first place.

Resurrecting an 8mo old thread for what? I'm sure the deed is long done.

Already too cold and you're bored over there? Or just visiting the pubs too often?

DOH! Saw the 02 and a 10 and didn't think of the order of month to day.

Nick, when you read a thread from a Search or ten pages back you gotta stop and look at the dates!.... :D

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