fixing a bad/blown tire (Gatorskin)
 

British roads seem quite tough on the bike.

Seems that I blew a hole through the Gatorskin with 1896 km (1200 miles) on it :(

Is the tire junk now?

Could you let me know in the next 6 hours such that I could pick one up in order to ride the rest of the week :D

View from outside of tire:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=440858

View from inside of tire:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=440861

Light passes through the tire:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=440859

Bike as of now :(

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=440860

As long as it isn't through the bead, I would think it is okay. If it makes you nervous, you could always put a boot on it

I'd think it depends on your tolerance for future problems vs spending money. I'd buy a new tire though I think a lot of folks I know would patch it. My biggest concern would be the flap of rubber on the outside coming off and leaving a much bigger hole that debris could get in or tube could get out.

Put a piece of duct tape over cut, on the inside.

Then Get a New Tire soon.

old sew up tires make good temporary boots , but you can afford a new tire , bin that one.

I had something like that happen on one of my Gatorskins as well. I swapped it for a Gator HardShell and it has been fine.

Dab some shoe goo on both sides...and ride.

It's just a matter of time before it gives out completely or makes you sick of readjusting or reapplying a boot. A boot may work, but you're better off knowing that the problem is gone by buying a replacement. You got a little bad luck. This doesn't happen often, but it does happen.

oh well, such is life ...

i'll throw an old green one I have lying around and ride for a few days until this arrives ...

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=440948

seems like it's the right thing to do as tubes are at least £3-4. i've always wanted to give one of those a shot on my single speed :)

edit: just dispatched 3 hours later ... let's see how it rolls and handles the new seaside weather :D

I bought a gatorskin once, worst tire I ever got. It didn't last long and It's the tire I got the most flat with and by far.
I know this doesn't help you but I like to trash the gatorskin everytime I get the chance, very poor quality for the price.

N=1, not an outstanding sample size. I've worn out a couple now, 3,500-4,000 miles, and two more are on the bike. Flats? I've had a few, but no more than with any other comparable tire. I really like the balance between flat-resistance and low rolling resistance Continental has hit with the Gatorskin.

The tire was very very disapointing so why buy another?

I know that a lot of people like it and have only good things to say about it but I get a better milleage and a lot less puncture with tires that cost a lot less

Like what?

I had good experience with the schwalbe durano but my favorite is the vittoria rubino, both didn't last much longer than the gatorskin but the rubino is half the price of the gatorskin and the schwalbe is 2/3 of the price.
the last 3 tires I bought were Vittoria rubino and I think I may have had 2 or 3 flats total with the 3 tires.

This is just my personal experience, you will easily find a lot of people to tell you that I know next to nothing, which is true.

That is a lot of severed fibres.... I vote no.

- Andy

I had a Schwalbe Lugano split after about 150km.

I shouldn't buy tires at the shop but I did again today to hold me over until the new tire arrives :)

Yeah, I was quite impressed. It was a slow flat as well without really feeling that I hit anything :(

+1

a tiny gash like that would not worry me at all as long as the carcass is not compromised (e.g. if it holds shape under pressure).

i've shoe gooed (or super glued) plenty of similar size gashes and cuts without any problem.

The problem is you can't see how the inside fibers are wearing, thus you have a time bomb. However if the bike is primarily used on flats and basic transportation without doing huge hilly descents I'd ride it till it blows. Just repair the inner casing with some shoe goo or a tire boot.

Tire boots do work well. The brand of tire doesn't matter, that can happen to any tire. In fact it happens to very expensive racing tires with light weight casing and high thread counts...

for me it depends on how much tread is left. with a gash like that i'd replace the tire if the tread is really squared off but if the tread is still a bit concave i'd repair and ride without hesitation -- especially so for a rear tire.

I will save the tire as it seems that only about 30% of the depth hole is worn out.

It is funny as I'd figure that everyone would say to junk the tire ... I'm curious if some of you guys want to see my BSO have more flats :) partially based on my posting history :P

I've got about 1500 miles on my front Gatorskin. Not sure how many on my Gator Hardshell on the rear.

How many miles are people typically getting out of the Gator* tires?

I only did 3000 kms (1850 miles approx) with mine, which contributed a lot to the fact that I didn't like the tire.

About 3,500 to 4,000 miles on the two I've worn out (down through the tread layer). I was pretty pleased with myself on the last one, I saw it was worn out before I got a flat from it! Oh, I think it was the plain vanilla flavor.

Is anybody else aggravated that tire manufacturers can't think of different names? Specialized Armadillo, Schwalbe Marathons, and now Continental Gatorskins; some of them are almost "event" racing tires, and some with the same base name are more than twice as heavy. Doofus Lighweight Solid Rubber XD is not the same tire as Doofus Lightweight XL.