I was just about home tonight when I noticed somethig odd on the front tire. The tire now had a slight "S" shape to it. (Core damage.) I'm not sure how this happened. I ddn't notice anything that might cause damage. My question is this, is core damage to a tire common or it something out of the ordinary.

If the rim s OK, show it to your dealer - may get a new tire out of it!

If the tire has a slight S shape then something is wrong with the casing (assuming the rim is straight of course), take it back.

If you leave a bike parked with the tires in the same position for long periods especially if its losing air, the structure can shift. Definitely get it checked out, though.

- Andy

How long is a long time? I have a bike that's been sitting now for about 2 years without ever adding air thus the tire is flat and I see no shifting. If the OP's tire has been sitting more than 1 year the tire manufacture isn't going to warranty it for defects.

Every tire i've ever had except the serfas drifters have gotten "wiggly" over time. Bike sits in garage on concrete. Sometimes i leave it loaded up which prolly isnt good, but yea. Even some new bikes with original tires on them i've seen at shops had the wiggle going on.

- Andy

Every tire? I've never in 40 years of road biking have I ever had a "wiggly" tire except one and it was wiggly brand new. After reading this I even mounted my spare tire that I've been carrying in my seat bag for about 18 years just to see if being tightly folded for that long would cause problems and it's not wiggly either. I've used all sorts of brands too, so I can't say that ABC brand is the best because I never had one them that was wiggly.

Anyone else having this issue a lot?

What kinda pressure & TPI? Mine have ranged from 58-80 and all of them were 60 tpi. The wiggle was only visual, i couldn't really feel it in my hands. The one i have on the front of the uptown is not 100% straight but it rides & handles like it is. Tire was on there 2 years sitting in a shop before i bought it.

- Andy

I knew you were talking about visual and that's what I was talking about too. Maybe since you ride an Uptown your buying factory stock tires, maybe try switching to a major brand like Michelin.

No, i'm talking about tires i've purchased.

- ANdy

Never. I've only seen wiggly tires due to significant damage or a manufacturing flaw.

Ok, so what tire did you purchase? By what I mean brand and model

Uh, i've gotten several tire brands and models over the years from serfas drifters to kenda kwik trax to hemispheres & nimbus to a few others that were too slashed up from road debris to keep as a spare. I was asking you about what tires you were using, you never answered...

- Andy

Never ridden on is different from damaged by having a Slice cut casing threads . during a ride .. only the 1st is a manufacturing Defect.

Oh, I'm sorry, I use several brands, mostly whatever I can find on a steep discount closeout price. But I prefer Hutchinson Intensive Hardskin I really like, Vittoria Rubino Pro Slick which I also really like, and had good luck with Kenda (Konstrictor but they're no longer made) too. I also like Specialized Roubaix Pro tires but they rarely go on sale but about a month ago I got two tires for the price of one, so when they do go on sale I usually grab a pair. I never pay more than $32 for a tire and routinely get tires that are worth at least twice retail then what I paid.

To add a note, I always read as many reviews as I can find before I buy a tire.

I had a Michelin world tour that developed a lump, after a couple of weeks it blew out in an impressive manner. The tire was nearly worn out, can't really say if it was a defect or wear.

Indeed. I paid around 32 for the contninental touring plus installed. It runs a bit larger than the 1x75 advertised but it works a lot better than i thought such a low psi (58) tire would for me.


Yeah, when my old kwik trax developed a bulge at the bead i quickly let the pressure out to just enough to keep it round to walk it home. Did not need to be wakened by an explosion at 3 am.

- Andy