Bicycle Mechanics - Would you still ride on this tire with the pictured damage?

The pictured tire is a Continental GP4000 (23-622), almost brand new. The small circular divot next to the "V" shaped damage is one of the tread wear indicators on the tire. The tear doesn't penetrate the "Vectran" belt in the tire, but it does appear to go all the way to it.

I don't have much riding experience at this point so I'm curious from folks with a lot more miles under their belts what they would do. I've ridden about 50 miles on the tire since it was damaged (with a spare tire folded up and tucked in with my other gear). I've kept the tire at 100 PSI for those miles, and there's no visible bulging at that pressure.

I'd like to keep riding on it, given that it's almost new and it feels like a shame to replace it. My main concern is that it might blow out on me in some spectacular manner. Much beyond that, I'm fine with changing it on the side of the road instead of at my house if I have to.

EDIT: Sorry about the lighting, I took the photo with my cellphone in my basement, using my headlight to illuminate the tire.

Super glue the cut shut.
Super glue some rubber in the round hole.
Small boot on the inside.
Use it on your rear wheel.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/10wheels/tireboot002.jpg

Super glue the cut shut.
Super glue some rubber in the round hole.
Small boot on the inside.
Use it on your rear wheel.

Wouldn't you want to use it on the front where you can get away with less tire pressure and less weight over the tire?

Wouldn't you want to use it on the front where you can get away with less tire pressure and less weight over the tire?

Nope. Front tire failures can cause crashes.

Wouldn't you want to use it on the front where you can get away with less tire pressure and less weight over the tire?

No. A front tire failure can result in more then just a flat aside the road.

Super glue the cut shut.
Super glue some rubber in the round hole.
Small boot on the inside.
Use it on your rear wheel.


Thanks for the speedy reply, that is all well within my abilities :) And it is already on the rear wheel.

If the carcass itself is unaffected, I don't see the point of a boot.

You may want to fill the split with silicone or something though... I doubt superglue would hold it closed, but it might be worth a shot.

If the carcass itself is unaffected, I don't see the point of a boot.

You may want to fill the split with silicone or something though... I doubt superglue would hold it closed, but it might be worth a shot.

You didn't have 28 flats last year.

It's fine... just keep an eye on it and do like the other posters say, patch the inside so the inner tube doesn't bulge out.

Let the pressure out of it, glue it shut with super glue, let it sit 24 hours to cure good, reinflate, ride.

The pictured tire is a Continental GP4000 (23-622), almost brand new. The small circular divot next to the "V" shaped damage is one of the tread wear indicators on the tire. The tear doesn't penetrate the "Vectran" belt in the tire, but it does appear to go all the way to it.

I don't have much riding experience at this point so I'm curious from folks with a lot more miles under their belts what they would do. I've ridden about 50 miles on the tire since it was damaged (with a spare tire folded up and tucked in with my other gear). I've kept the tire at 100 PSI for those miles, and there's no visible bulging at that pressure.

I'd like to keep riding on it, given that it's almost new and it feels like a shame to replace it. My main concern is that it might blow out on me in some spectacular manner. Much beyond that, I'm fine with changing it on the side of the road instead of at my house if I have to.

EDIT: Sorry about the lighting, I took the photo with my cellphone in my basement, using my headlight to illuminate the tire.

The tyre is no good when

1) The cords underneath are cut, and it is more than minor
2) When inflated the tyre visibly bulges or the tube is visible

You can determine this yourself. The picture shows nothing.

Yeah, look at the casing from inside the tire. That's where the tire's strength is. Superglue is OK to hold the rubber closed but it's not enough to hold a cut in the casing cords.

Yeah, look at the casing from inside the tire. That's where the tire's strength is. Superglue is OK to hold the rubber closed but it's not enough to hold a cut in the casing cords.

I don't have a picture of it, but there was no visible damage inside the tire at all. It looked completely undisturbed. I assume that the "Vectran" layer stopped the tear from getting any deeper than the surface rubber.

Thanks all, from the sound of it I'm not going to worry about it too much. I'll glue it shut and boot it for good measure.

I have cut tires like this and all have eventually failed. In my experience, the risk of an interrupted trip are worse are not worth the savings. I now keep such tires for use on indoor trainer bikes where a failure is merely an inconvenience.

good opportunity to try a new tire!

You didn't have 28 flats last year.

I'm not sure whether that qualifies you as the very best or the very worst person to give advice in this matter. :D

Superglue plus boot.

shoe-goo from athletic shoe store can be used to fill the hole

I'm not sure whether that qualifies you as the very best or the very worst person to give advice in this matter. :D

I now have many repaired tires waiting for my rear wheel.

If the damage doesn't go through the cord you are good to go. If the cords are cut I have 1/32 pipe flange gasket material that is stronger than the tire wall. I super-glue this inside and put a bit of duct tape over it to keep the stiff patch from fretting through the tube.

If there is no cutting into the cords/belt, can the OP just ride without gluing the rubber shut? What is the main disadvantage of not repairing the cut in the rubber? Thank you, just want to learn...

A new tire is cheaper than a trip to the ER. Why play games with your safety?

A new tire is cheaper than a trip to the ER. Why play games with your safety?

Isn't that cycling is all about??

If there is no cutting into the cords/belt, can the OP just ride without gluing the rubber shut? What is the main disadvantage of not repairing the cut in the rubber? Thank you, just want to learn...

Gluing the rubber shut keeps small rocks, glass, etc. out of the tire structure.

A new tire is cheaper than a trip to the ER. Why play games with your safety?

... seriously?

Gee, there are some nervous Nellies around...

If the damage doesn't go through the cord you are good to go.
And gluing the split shut is optional. I've ridden around for months with such tyre damage; it doesn't make a lick of difference.