Originally Posted by Crankycrank

Those look OK to me. I use Conti GP 5000's and they usually look worse than that by the time they get replaced after maybe 1 1/2 years of use from brand new. I've used the Gatorhardshell's as well and the slashes are nothing to worry about as long as they haven't cut through the casing. The weave on the sidewalls tends to separate but just cut off the excess as it happens. doesn't provide structural strength. I couldn't see the bulge so can't comment on that. For skinny road tires those are pretty tough but the only flats I had were goatheads unfortunately, but they survived most of them.