Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - tires: should i be concerned?

this is a specialized armadillo at around 1500 miles, halfway off the rim before im taking the tube out
the sidewalls have a lot of "hairs" coming off and the red fabric area on the outside is coming off on some parts
the steel bead isnt visible and there is no bulging anywhere on the tire

im just wondering if this kinda thing is normal for the mileage or maybe these tires have an issue
these are the first set of tires ive really ridden seriously, and any tires ive gone through previously have been bmx tires that ive just obliterated on stupidness before they got to this point

271291
271292

should i be worried?

I wouldn't be, the fabric that's peeling is just overlap from the thread layer underneath the tire, the internal layer that the innertube comes in contact with. The exposed portion is non-essential to the tire as long as the layer underneath remains put which it should. Any gatorskin owner would be familiar with this problem.

I think they look alright. As long as you don't see the bead. I exploded a bunch of tubes one day a few years ago before I finally noticed just a little bit of the bead showing on the inside.

Armadillos are notorious for that. You'll be ok.

Armadillos are notorious for that. You'll be ok.

Reminds me of my first time. With an Armadillo.

I was very much not ok.

I've been having a similar problem with my Schwalbe Durano's. Every now and then a thread will start unraveling. Serious problem? Or should I be ok?

I've been having a similar problem with my Schwalbe Durano's. Every now and then a thread will start unraveling. Serious problem? Or should I be ok?

If it is as pictured or as I described above yes you'll be okay.

Awesome. Its just a thread or two every now and then. Doesn't even look as bad as the pictures. But I've read that even one or two threads is a sign that replacement is in order.

But I've read that even one or two threads is a sign that replacement is in order.

The gatorskin I have on my commuter has literally lost the vast majority of the horizontal threading on the overlap long ago and for the last two years and still counting it's still running like a champ in that condition daily.

thanks guise, youre the bestest :)

I've been having a similar problem with my Schwalbe Durano's. Every now and then a thread will start unraveling. Serious problem? Or should I be ok?

I had that problem with Duranos and Schwalbe replaced them for free.

I had that problem with Duranos and Schwalbe replaced them for free.

How long had you owned them? They've been on the bike for a good amount of time now, and have a decent amount of miles on them.

I think it was only about two weeks before the sidewalls started unraveling. Based on the code printed on the inside of the tires, Schwalbe told me there was a bad batch and sent me new ones.

I've had mine since Dec, been really riding them since March. So that might be a bit too long

Didn't want to make a new thread, but I just noticed this on my GP4000S. Should I be worried about it? I'm thinking no, but I just want to be on the safe side and get your guys opinion.

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o24/PeDDeR27/Tire.jpg

Everyone's going to be fine, I've had a rear tire in way worse condition for a few months now and it still runs fine.

Didn't want to make a new thread, but I just noticed this on my GP4000S. Should I be worried about it? I'm thinking no, but I just want to be on the safe side and get your guys opinion.


As long as the threads (in this case in the casing) are not damaged you will be fine. I just take a black marker and color it in. If the threads start fraying or separating then you can get concerned (referring to the casing in the previous picture, not in the pinch flat protection strip at the top of the page).