Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

I was heading out for a city run this evening and after only 3k I picked up a piece of glass in my rear tire. Tube went flat almost instantly, and I prised a 8mm x 2mm x 5mm shard from my rear tread. The tube only had a small nick in it, easily patchable, but my concern is for the integrity of the tire. They're Continental Town and Country MTB tires, only done about 100ks, the gash is about 8mm long and away from the side walls of the tire.

Is it bad practice to keep using a tire after damage like this ? Or will it hold for a while longer ?

Depends, if it bulges, then it's wise to give up on it. If it doesn't, then an internal patch would be worthwhile. In any case, put it to the rear. Never use a suspect wheel at the front. Obviously, if your rides are only 15km/h and no more, then the risk is far lower than someone who rides at 60km/h speed regularly.

patch the tyre same as a tube.

Luckily it was the rear already so that's not so much an issue.

So its just a regular patch installed in the regulation way on the inside of the tyre ? I'm guessing a larger one is better?

toolong bet me, put a patch on the inside of the tyre.

Post a picture of the hole and we can refine our advice.

Click for larger version. Its bloody hard to get a good photo with my cameras poor macro capabilities.

Long as it doesn't bulge, a bit of superglue in the cut should be ok. I'm assuming the cut is now a small slit in the tyre now you've removed the glass. You're more likely to pick up another bit of glass somewhere else on the tyre than to run over something on the same spot.

My old MTB had a much larger slash than that and it lasted till I wore the tyre out. I wouldn't worry.

itsaghostcar wrote:Long as it doesn't bulge, a bit of superglue in the cut should be ok.

Do you do that superglue trick? I practiced it for a good 6 months last year and eventually gave up. Unless the cut is very small, invariably they'll split back open after a ride or two. So now I've given up.

What I have thought of doing instead is to use rubber cement or similar eg. Shoe Goo. These can act as filler and may even have some wear resistance. I suspect this would work better for the purpose. Haven't tried it yet.

Yip, not a big deal, you have 4 options;
1. Patch underneath
2. Superglue or the like
3. 1. and 2.
4. Do nothing

khendar wrote:Click for larger version. Its bloody hard to get a good photo with my cameras poor macro capabilities.

Trivial. A patch on the inside and you are back on the road.

mikesbytes wrote:Yip, not a big deal, you have 4 options;
1. Patch underneath
2. Superglue or the like
3. 1. and 2.
4. Do nothing

I figured it wasn't a big deal just wanted to find out the best way to deal with it.

I'll lock in option 3 Eddie. Patch underneath and rubber cement in the slit.

Cheers guys.

I'd say nothing to worry bout. Patch on the inside if you wish, though I doubt you'd find much hassle even without one..

Of course this is your golden opportunity to justify buying those new super dupa tyres your being drolling over. Tell your partner that its a safety issue.

sogood wrote:Do you do that superglue trick? I practiced it for a good 6 months last year and eventually gave up. Unless the cut is very small, invariably they'll split back open after a ride or two. So now I've given up.

Not really I guess superglue is something everyone has lying around, so if you were worried, it may help close the gap a bit. Have done it once, but never bothered after that.

I didn't seen the pic before I posted, but was expecting the cut was something similar given the size of the glass. My tyres are full of nicks like that and I don't do anything to them.

Just whack a patch on the inside - or get a Tuffy tyre liner if you're really worried. [crosses fingers to ward off bad luck] I have only had one puncture in several months since I gave in and put a liner in my rear tyre [/crosses fingers to ward off bad luck] and my rear tyres (and they were 23 mm road tyres) has several nicks like that in them before I replaced them.

I had a slash similar to that in a 1.25" slick MTB tyre. I patched it with a muesli bar wrapper between the tube and the tyre. That lasted a good 6 months before I replaced the tyre ..... and it was pumped up to 100psi.

Cheers,
Graeme