B1KE

Hey everyone,

I got my first road bike back in Sept and have been riding passionately ever since. Here in Canada it gets snowy and salty but on the off days I've taken my bike out for a quick spin. I recently came back from a ride and saw a slight abrasion/puncture. I suspect it could be from all the salt on the roads.

I'm wondering if this is something I should be concerned about and what can I do to solve it? (perhaps patch it?)

AnkleWork

Is there an actual puncture in the tire?

FBinNY 

Looks more like something that might happened when you slid off a stone, or pinged one out to the side. The tire appears to be fine, ie. co cuts deep enough to damage the cords. I say this because cut cords cause lumps, bumps or twists in the tire, and there don't appear to be any.

They make tread filler stuff to fill/cover this kind of damage, or you can try your luck with a thin patch, which you'll sand smooth to blend the edges in, but that 's a slow PIA process and the patch may not adhere anyway.

If it were my tire, I'd probably just ride it as it is, and wait until it wears down into the cords.

B1KE

No puncture.

B1KE

Thanks for your help!

Al1943

I could be wrong but from the picture it appears that the cords are showing, and if so I would replace the tire.

FBinNY 

BTW- here's the stuff that people use to fill this kind of cut. It'll probably wear faster than the rest of the tire, so keep an eye on it, but odds are it can last until the tire dies from other causes

lopek77

Looks like this is either Vittoria Rubino or Zaffiro tire. This tire is shot...you are almost riding on your tube.

fietsbob

If it's not there already, I'd put the questionable tire on the rear , this past week one of my friends got a front Flat, He went down as a result.

FBinNY 

As I said earlier, the acid test is the condition of the cords which are the structure of the tire. You'll know if they're failing by the tire developing a bump or twit in the area as they fray apart. So far you're in good shape since there's no visible damage, and no effects of any fraying.

But if you ride with the cords exposed, they will wear and begin to let go. So you're objective is to cover them with something -- anything -- so they don't get worn by the road surface. You could use the Shoe Goo, which some people report good luck with, you could use silicone caulk, or you could cut a small piece from an inner tube and glue it down, or in a pinch you could cut a small piece of cloth adhesive tape and stick it on. All you're doing is protecting the now intact cords from road abrasion, so the options are wide open, with the only differences between a good repair and a bad one being whether it's smooth enough that you don't feel it, and how long it lasts.

I've gotten hundreds and even thousands of miles out of tires with worst tread cuts than this. (I use black silicone sealing stuff, but can't read the name on the tube anymore)

Bill Kapaun

I'm guessing this is a rear tire and you skidded it on pebble etc.
It doesn't look like there's a lot of life/puncture resistance left in the tire

10 Wheels

Buy some new tires..

B1KE

I have just a little under 1000km (approx 700 miles) on the tires. Is that the range where they need replacement?

The tires are Specialized Espoir sport 30mm if that helps.

Bill Kapaun

Typically, one would expect more than that.
However, abrasive road surfaces, skidding and/or a heavy rider can certainly reduce tire life.

I've got about 2200 miles on my 25mm (labeled 26mm) Panaracer Stradius Sports.
I only ride rather smooth pavement, but weigh about 250.
I expect to replace the rear in another 5-700 miles.
It'll probably still have several hundred miles of "life" left, but I expect the punctures to start occurring on a frequent basis about then.
I have 3 spares waiting in the wings, so I'm not going to push the issue.

FBinNY 

Tires are like anything else. They can wear out over time and miles, which is a slow process. Or they can die prematurely from unfortunate events. I've had tires last almost 5,000 miles before the tread wore through to the under layer (visible color change), and I've had almost brand new get irreparably slashed on glass chunks.

Tire life is a lottery, but if you ride daily or near daily, always have your next tire on deck, so you won't be inconvenienced by a premature failure. While you're at it, buy 2 spare tubes, one to carry and one on deck.

hueyhoolihan

if it's holding air, i would consider it a beauty mark . i might boot it if i thought it had potential to cause a flat.

B1KE

Thanks for your help everyone. In terms of my tires being fully worn down I'm not sure exactly what to look for but I do see some spots forming. I took a picture so I can get every ones expert opinion on whether I need to replace or still have life left.

hueyhoolihan

looks like plenty of tread to me.

Drew Eckhardt 

They're great. You haven't even worn off the mold line in the middle.

lopek77

Looks like tires may look on pictures in similar way as people faces...
She was hot and sexy looking on one, but on the second one she looks 20 lbs heavier and 10 years older.
The first OP pic looks like the tire is in a bad condition...last one looks much much better

GravelMN

Black Shoe Goo on the outside just to fill the deep spots to keep it from picking up debris. Clean the inside of the tire well and apply a tire patch to boot the area under the damage. Let everything cure well, overnight or more, then ride the heck out of it. The patch may be overkill based on the OP picture. If it does start to bulge or deform, replace it.

hueyhoolihan

comprehensive advice. better than mine. i'd follow it.

FBinNY 

+1, on everything except the need to boot internally. The cords are undamaged and so at full strength as it is. The only issue is restoring the protection that the tread affords.