Woke up this morning to a gash in the front tire
 

I guess we all get a first flat tire sometime or another. This morning I was getting ready to go out on my ride and I found about an inch long slit nearly through the tire in some parts. The tube was flat of course, with about an 1/8" hole of rubber missing. I'm going to keep the tube and patch it later for a backup if desperate. But, I'm not sure if I should replace the tire. Can I "patch" it too, just to keep the tube from poking through? I would rather not like to buy a new tire for this bike if it can be avoided.

thanks!

An inch long gash will need replacement. (It compromises the ability of the tire to contain the tube.) I wouldn't even mess with patching the tube. That big a chunk will make it really hard to seal. At their worst, tubes cost 5-7 bucks. Pick up a couple.

+1 on both points. The tire is toast. The tube likely is, too.

The only way I know to repair a tire like that is to take another tire and cut a section of it to use as a "boot" to line the inside of this tire with. It's really only a temporary, emergency-get-me-home kind of solution, and it will be felt by you when you ride, every time the wheel goes around. So I'd say what the others have said - get another tire and tube. Save this tire, if you want, for making boots the next time it happens. Or toss it.

Patch the tube if you wnat. I've patched bigger holes than 1/8" with no problems. Use one of hte big patches, make sure you rough up the rubber well, make sure the glue is DRY and bigger than the patch, and then after you patch and let it sit for a while inflate it -- should be no prob.

Or get a new one, if you're not sure. Definitely replace the tire.

Just ended up getting a new tire and a few tubes to spare. Got a free wheel truing of the deal, so I can't complain!