Schwalbe Pro One, ~ 100 miles (second cut this month)

Tire did seal to get me home but only held about 30 psi. I was thinking of putting a tube patch on the inside...or maybe install a tube (not liking this tubless stuff so far!)

Your thoughts?

Thanks!

IMO tubeless is problematic in areas with plenty of glass on the road. It's far cheaper and more reliable to replace a tube than a tire.

In your shoes, I'd keep the tire, and patch it from the inside if I could get it to stick, or install a tube.

Thanks, I'm in agreement about tubeless.

Patch seems to be holding just fine so it's back in service and hopefully I'll wear it out this time!

inside patch works well for me

I can't tell from the pics, but if the casing/threads are not cut, it's probably ok. If several threads in the casing are cut, probably not.

I wouldn't ride a tire like that but I'm always in the minority when these threads come up.

60 miles from home, 15 miles to the next store stop, no cell phone coverage, 50 MPH descents.... reasons to not take chances. I'd change it.


-Tim-

I hear you Tim, but it didn't look like any threads were cut and it's not bulging with 100 psi. If it were any worse I would have pitched it without question.

If you want an affordable replacement or backup folding tire to take on longer rides, Jenson USA has the Schwalbe One folder in 700x23 for $15 (I just ordered a pair) and 700x28 for $20 each. Not the Pro, but good tires for the money.

FWIW, both of my Vittoria Zaffiros got cut like that, without punctures, within the first 100 miles on our terrible rural roads. I watch 'em carefully. Both are fine 400 miles later.

Usually I use Shoe Goo to fill in cuts like that on my hybrid tires -- usually it lasts for weeks or months. But it didn't work for longer than one or two rides with the Vittorias. Not enough tread material for the adhesive to hang on for long. I just use the goo to fill the cuts so gravel doesn't get trapped inside and burrow into the tube. I don't expect the adhesive to actually repair the cut.

To each his own but I don't take chances where descents usually involve speeds in excess of 40 MPH.

It doesn't look like threads were cut but no one can really tell for sure and any hole can grow bigger/deeper once the carcass is compromised like that pictured.

Large trucking companies x-ray their tires and toss them when there is a broken wire or other internal defect. It isn't the same application as a bicycle but the idea is the same.

I inspect my tires before every ride and sometimes during a long ride while at a rest stop. Watched the racers do the same at the velodrome. For some there is value in keeping a tire such as the one pictured. For me there is value in replacing that tire.


-Tim-

Man...I'm honestly not sure I'd keep that tire - with a tube in it.
Without a tube, not a chance.

Tube or no tube, doesn't make a difference.

The tube doesn't add to a tire's structure, which comes entirely from the cloth plies. If the plies are intact, or only very slightly damaged, the tire is still going to be sound until/unless the fabric starts to fray or pull apart.

The reality is that any tire can be cut by a piece of glass and blow out at any time, so the added risk of riding an OK but not perfect tire isn't that high.

So, IMO, this tire is fine, but like any tire needs to be watched for signs that the end is near. Those usually take the form of lumps, bulges and twist, often felt as thumping. Feel or hear the thump, thump, thump, it's time to stop and inspect, then possibly limp home at reduced speed.

This is what happened to my up-north bike tire (Specialized Hardrock) on the first ride of the season I noticed after the ride that a 3/8 chunk of rubber missing and 4" of threads on either side of the chunk were broken resulting in a large s shaped buldge. These were cheap tires purchased off Amazon (Rubino were the brand I think 26" x 2") I replaced both tires for peace of mind.