Eyenigma

Washed the bike with intentions of doing a lazy Sunday ride. Noticed there's a small gash in the rear tire, maybe about 4 or 5mm. Seems less than 1mm deep and not directly on the contact patch. I assume stuff like this is somewhat common. But is it just par for the course? Should I replace the tire? Experience and insight appreciated.

Solidjake

That's fine, no need to replace it.

Eyenigma

Wow; thanks for the quick reply. Just to educate myself, when should I realistically replace?

datlas 

When the casing (the threads that make up the carcass of the tire) are cut.

RR3

I superglue small cuts like that on good tires. Who tosses an $80-90 tire for a little rubber slice. Casing? gone.

CliffordK

I put about 1000 miles on this tire.
Which includes about 999 miles of borrowed time.



It is time to go if you have a significant hole through the threads of the casing and down to the tube (not adequate protection for the tube).

Or, if the tube starts poofing out.

Or the tire appears deformed near the hole.

One other tire I tried filling holes like yours with superglue with mixed results. I think it was reasonably effective for a while, but I found it a bit annoying as I couldn't tell the difference between the superglue that should stay put and debris that should be picked out.

Oh, and the hole above, I had a Park boot behind it. The park boot moved independently from the tire and eventually wore through the tube. So I taped over the boot which tore up the boot, and I found a hole that had gone through the tire and through the boot, and halfway into the tube. I haven't decided if I'll remount it this winter.

Carbonfiberboy 

And you can tell if the casing has been cut by inflating the tire to your usual pressure and then running your hand over the cut spot. If there's much of a lump there, I replace the tire. Imagine having it pop in a 40 mph corner. It the lump seems like it would make that a possibility, replace it. I boot tires with a lump during a ride, but toss the tire when I get home. Tubes squirm inside the tire and that's what wears them on a boot. Thinking that a boot will replace those cut threads is a fantasy. I've had booted tires unzip at a cut thread spot. Takes about 4 tire rotations before you're on the rim.

a1penguin

I had a number of small cuts on my tire (2-3mm). They were surface cuts only. A reminder that you should check your tires for more serious damage frequently.

Eyenigma

Agreed. I was doing a five minute bike wash and checking the bike over. Something I do relatively regularly.
Off topic, but here's the link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvzVRxlIUL0

TrojanHorse

You're doing it wrong.

$80. Pfft.

FIVE ONE SIX

Crazy Glue it with the tire off the wheel, let it dry for about 15 minutes, then remount the tire and inflate. after about 10-20 miles any of the extra Crazy Glue will wear off the tire so it won't look messy at all...

RR3

It is tough for some of use, only one LBS takes SNAP cards

TrojanHorse

qu'ils mange du gateau