Does this sidewall damage warrant replacing? (Pics)
 

Keep in mind I already have a new race tire on the way, and I'm not even riding on this tire right now. These tires have a long way to go before the wear indicator dictates replacing. What do you think? Toss it? Train it? Race it still?


http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/...o/IMG_0227.jpg

http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/...o/IMG_0228.jpg

http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/...o/IMG_0230.jpg

http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/...o/IMG_0231.jpg

http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/...o/IMG_0233.jpg

Looks like the tube is pushing through a little.
I'd at least move it to the back wheel, but probably wouldn't ride it.

you've got better things to think about - replace it

bah. I'm tired of weak tires.

I've ridden tires that look much worse for several hundred miles. This one GP4000 was booted and I had to fill in the massive cut (massive on the outside, not so much on the inside) with Krazy Glue about once a week for a solid 3 months before I could afford to replace it. That said, if you don't have to, don't ride it. Put a boot in it to keep the tube from popping out and use it as a trainer tire.

Since the cut doesn't go all the way through the casing I'd be more concerned about casing deformation.

Crazy glue the cut and re-install the tire. See if it looks any better. Give it a spin and see if there is a funky wobble to the tire.

If the tire looks stable and the gash is closed I'd ride it but keep my eyes peeled for a tire sale.

I've ridden the same tire with the same type problem. I took a used gel pack wrapper to boot it and then rode the tire until it wore out.

as far as booting goes, do you glue the wrapper to the inside of the tire? and what are some other boot options? Sheldon suggests denim jeans, hah

had the same problem as well, and being a poor college kid i put a couple hundred more miles on it till the sidewall blew out. Im not one to carry a spare tire with me and a patch kit wasnt gonna solve that issue, so the walk home was lonely.

if you got a tire on the way, replace it and throw that one on a rim for your trainer.

dollar bills

I'd relegate that tire to trainer duty.

looks ok to me.

I use thick medical tape.

+1

Glue a tube patch on the inside, should get rid of the buldge.

I've done that, based on his recommendation. It works. Works damn well, as a matter of fact.

Cut up old tires. These. Dollar bills. Denim is good. Depending on what you use, gluing in place is an option, but I probably wouldn't do that with money.

I cut up FedEx tyvek envelopes.

I would boot it and ride it, but that's me.

Yes

I'd ride that tire.

I'd trash it

I'd recommend against those Park Tool boots. I tried them and the sharp edges ended up wearing cuts in my tube. Park Tool recommends that they be used only to get you home, not as a long term fix. Denim sounds like a better idea.

I'm going to cut up an old tire, cut the beads off of a section, and stick some 2-3" pieces in my seat bag.

I tried denim and it works pretty well, but if you're going to ride it as is then it's only a matter of time before the tube starts popping out enough to cause a flat like what happened to me a few weeks ago. I knew I needed to change the tire but pushed my luck, but fortunately DST was already in effect so I didn't have to change my tire in the dark.

no worth the potential danger

use it on the trainer

I've got the same tire, with the same problem. Eventually the tube got pinched in the hole and flatted. I replaced the tube and stuck a dollar bill in as a boot. It did the trick, and the new tube did not bulge at all. I didn't want to replace the tire since it was somewhat new, and the wear indicator showed hardly any wear... such a waste... so I left the boot in there and forgot about it. A few weeks later and I get another flat. When I took the tube out, I noticed the dollar bill had been ripped to shreds from flexing so much in the tire, and the tube was starting to poke through again. If you want a more permanent solution, I'd skip the dollar bill.