Punctured tire
 

So after several months, I still have the stock tire on my bike's front rim - Vittoria Zaffiro
Today I inspected the tire and noticed two deep, but small, gashes. I deflated the tube and managed to dig out a small glass shard from each gash. One shard just began to actually puncture the tire completely.

I now have $2 of tire boots to protect the tube. I want to know if I should just replace the tire now with my Bontrager Hard Case. Am I risking a flat by keeping this tire even though I booted it? I'd like to keep this tire for as long as I can but if it needs to go, then it will go.

No pics, there's not much to see.

You have a greater risk of a flat. I would replace it. Keep it for a trainer tire though.

If there's the slightest doubt in your mind (and apperantly there is or you wouldn't have posted), put it on the back. If your doubt is greater than slight, throw the tire away - keeping it around to use as a "spare" won't make it any safer to ride on.

My test is to inflate the tire to full operating pressure and feel the cut spot. If you can feel a "blister" or raised area on the tire, some of the tire cords have been cut and the tire is junk. If you can't feel a blister but you can still see a tiny bubble of inner tube projecting, stick on a piece of duct tape or something to retain the inner tube.

Any money that you might save by using up the last few miles of treadwear is going to look pretty insignificant when you're sitting in the reconstruction dentist's chair.

Well there are no blisters when inflated to 120 psi, which is what I ride at. I'm not worried about saving money so I have no problem switching to the new tire I have sitting around. I'd just like to know if there is anything I can do to safely continue to use the tire.

Use it for decoration. Take it off the bike and hang it on your wall. And install your Bontrager.