A small nail went through my front tire and flatted it. Left a very small hole in the tire casing. I reinflated a new tube, and there's no tube protruding from the hole, but there's definitely still a small nail-sized hole there. (Not a linear tear)

I'll be changing the tire for sure since the tires are well-used in the past year, but just wondering if folks would otherwise boot this and keep riding, or even keep riding on it as is with a small nail-width hole in it.

If the tube doesn't actually stick out through the hole i would put something on the inside and just ride it down to the threads. I got a small hole in my front tire,patched the inside,and have been riding on it for atleast 1,000 miles now.

Not the cheap solution but I'd relegate it to the trainer. It's not going to get smaller. GL

Hi hhnngg1

I'd change it if it was already well worn. IMO booting a tire is a stop-gap measure to get me safely home for a more permanent solution.

Stay safe always.

It runs the risk of tearing and blowing out but that's a pretty extreme worst case scenario. If the hole wasn't visible I wouldn't be concerned of if I wasn't going to be riding at high speeds I wouldn't be concerned.

Duct Tape or a stronger boot. Use it on your rear wheel.

Roy booted this and got 9,000 more miles out of the tire.

I'd boot it with a cloth tape like duct or strapping tape. And keep an eye on it, but I don't think you need to toss it.

That's what I would do, unless NONE of the casing (the threads inside the tire) is torn. If no torn casing a boot should be ok.

Roy's a nut.

That's insane! I am assuming to "boot" a tire is to put something between the inner tube and it?

Guys - really? A small nail and you're recommending to purchase a new tire?

Put a flippin piece of rim tape in the tire where the hole is and keep riding. Honestly, some people are just far too paranoid.

The best high end tires (Conti GP 4000S and Mich Pro Race 3) are on sale (delivered to your door) for $30. Why risk flats? iF you want more durable ties, I'm sure you can find a similar deal.

If the casing isn't torn, boot. If there's no bulge, booted and inflated to full pressure, don't worry about it.

In a similar situation, I repaired the tire with a glue-type tube patch and used the tire for quite a while until it wore out.

I once had a car tire that had been patched from a nail puncture explode on me on the highway.
I barely could control the car. There was no warning what so ever.

How much is your life worth? Is $40. too much for you to pay for peace of mind and safety?
If a tire fails me, it's gone. Why risk it?

What 10 Wheels isn't telling us is that Roy had been messing with someone's wife, and that nail found it's way into the tire while his bike was sitting in the rack.

That was a New $44 tire with 400 miles on it.
Bought it in Austin Texas on a 4200 mile tour.

I'd boot it and put it on the rear wheel. I'm also a cheap-ass, currently running 6k mile gatorskins to the threads...

Figures.
I had a Schwalbe Marathon Supreme with only 200 miles on it, get the sidewall sliced wide open just outside Golden, CO.
The slice was ~5/8" long.
I booted it, and rode it 20 miles home, watching the boot bulging out the side.