Is this unrideable?
 

Take a look at the pic, it's a brand-newish tire (<50 miles). Got a thorn flat and noticed this when I was putting the tire back on-

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=203692

Thanks,
Chris

Looks like it to me :(

All depends on how far you want to walk - home.:50:

definitely un-rideable; and not safe.

did u use a pocket knife to take the tire off? bead is in pretty bad shape.

@#$% walking! If I went to repair a flat and discovered that, I'd try to get a ride home from a friend. If I couldn't, I'd just ride the thing flat-slowly of course. Once as a kid I rode 15 miles to the LBS on a flat without damaging the rim. Wore me out, but all I needed was a new tire and tube. Childhood made me an expert at riding on flat tires:lol:

Of course this may not work for everyone. My super-Clyde friend who weighs over 400 pounds tried it and dinged up the rim. I sanded it smooth and put a new tire and tube on for him. All good now;)

I wouldn't ride it for safety reasons. Looks like something that would "explode" off the rim. Walking never hurt anhyone, but tire exploding on a 30 mph descent will. I had a GP4000 on Gina's bike (500 miles:mad:) that ended up flatting and slice in a similar fashion. As much as I hated to spend another $62 for a tire, it wasn't worth the risk.

Agreed. I would toss the tire. I still hate walking though. Since the tire is a goner anyway, I would have a little fun riding it flat:p:D Luckily the last tire-ruining flat I had I was able to boot and put enough air in to make it home. Riding on 26 psi wasn't as fun as 80, but it sure beat walking.

Depending on the terrain, I would ride it home and then replace the tire.

Thanks for all replies, that's pretty much what I figured.

I used a plastictire lever and as far as I know didn't do anything out of the ordinary.

The tire had gone slowly flat over night, I noticed it in the morning and found a blackberry thorn in the tread/tube; don't think that the flat was related to the blown bead. With some of the roads I ride on the bead may have been caused by hitting a bump.

Damn shame, good money down the toilet, oh well.

Thanks everyone.