Bicycle Mechanics - Tire Boot - When not to use...

When is a cut on the sidewall of a MTB tire too big to use a Park boot for permanent repair? 1/2 ", 3/8", 1/2"?
Thanks.

When you're about 15 miles from your truck. :p


Frankly I don't see the Park boot as a permanent repair, ever. Better to find a large patch and glue it on the inside of the tire, then carry the Park boot in case it fails.

I don't recall seeing you on the Hiking and Fitness Walking forums, so I'm going to assume you're not that into walking.

If this is the case, I would not use a tire boot as a permanent repair unless your finances prevent you from buying a new tire.

Don't use the Park boot to patch a cut or slice in the tire over 1/3rd of an inch long. I have seen $50 tires with 50 or less miles go into the trash because of a little slice in the tire wall, rescue them, stick a park boot on the inside (which is much stronger and more rigid for taking a beating than a patch) and you can get near its original life span.

I ran over a big splinter with my cruiser tire. Patched the tube and the tire, didn't think much about it. The hole was maybe 1/4" long. But some time after that, I started feeling a "bump bump bump" as I rode. I got to looking, and where that spot was, the tire had shifted slightly on each side, so that it kind of made a zigzag at that point, and bulged out a little. Problems like that mean time for replacement.

If you're riding in your neighborhood, it's not as much of a factor- far far from roads and home, best to have things in good shape.

If you're riding in your neighborhood, it's not as much of a factor- far far from roads and home, best to have things in good shape.

+1

Frankly I don't see the Park boot as a permanent repair, ever.

+1

Any damage that needs a boot to repair and get home on should probably be retired from service. I recently retired a slashed tire for this reason. The first time it was damaged, I had a big nail go in the top and out the side. I booted it to get home, and did a relatively successful repair with several layers of duct tape. That lasted for a few hundred miles before I ran over some road debris and slashed the tire good and proper. I booted that with a dollar bill that was folded over twice, and was able to finish the 10 miles to home without incident (Who says the dollar is weak? :)).

I removed the tire and replaced it - just not worth the trouble or chance that it would let go too far from home or at a really bad time.

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2008%20rides/boot-1.jpg

When to use: the only option is that or walk.
When not to use: any other time.

I used a soy sauce packet for 5 years without any problems (without the soy sauce). I now carry an empty packet as part of my repair kit. Take one with you, it's much better than walking and can be used for extended periods of time.

I use plum sauce as it helps to stick it in place inside the tire.

I don't recall seeing you on the Hiking and Fitness Walking forums, so I'm going to assume you're not that into walking.

If this is the case, I would not use a tire boot as a permanent repair unless your finances prevent you from buying a new tire.

:lol:

Oh well, there goes forty bucks.