Anything I can do with a small split in the tyre?

monkeypants · 11-03-2012 09:37PM #1

I had a puncture in the rear tyre, so I changed the tube. Was out for a spin today with no trouble. However, when I got home, I noticed that there's a tiny little slit in the rear tyre, between 1 and 2 mm and the tube (inflated to 115psi) is causing it to bulge slightly.

The tyre is a Schwalbe Ultremo and isn't cheap. Came with the bike in January. I was thinking of putting a patch on the inside of the tyre; would this be enough or do I have to replace the tyre?

MidlandsM · 11-03-2012 09:39PM

nope, replace only

Captain Havoc · 11-03-2012 09:40PM

You could put a boot as a short term solution but you're gonna have to replace it.

Keep_Her_Lit · 11-03-2012 09:46PM

A patch makes a poor substitute for an intact tyre. I wouldn't risk it. If the patch fails to restrain the tube inflated to 115psi, you'll suffer a blowout, with a good chance of coming off the bike. Could be nasty.

kenmc · 11-03-2012 09:47PM

depends on how deep the gash is. i've ridden a season on a tyre with a glass cut, which I superglued closed. It totally depends on how hard you ride, and how comfortable you are with the risk. My tire wasn't bulging though, so I was happy to continue to use it.

macnab · 11-03-2012 10:09PM

I regularly check tyre condition and fill any gashes with super glue. The bulge would worry me though.

monkeypants · 11-03-2012 10:38PM

When I say bulge, maybe I'm overstating it. I mean I can spot the slit because it opens it the tiniest bit, enough to make it noticeable if looking carefully. I'll replace the tyre, try and superglue and keep the old tyre as a spare.

macnab · 11-03-2012 11:04PM

That sounds harmless enough, i have at least 5 similar cuts on my rear tyre for the last 2000km or so. Glue it up and keep an eye on it. Move the tyre to the front if you dont think it can take any more abuse.

High Nellie · 11-03-2012 11:18PM

macnab wrote: »

That sounds harmless enough, i have at least 5 similar cuts on my rear tyre for the last 2000km or so. Glue it up and keep an eye on it. Move the tyre to the front if you dont think it can take any more abuse.

What glue?

macnab · 11-03-2012 11:25PM

High Nellie wrote: »

macnab wrote: »

That sounds harmless enough, i have at least 5 similar cuts on my rear tyre for the last 2000km or so. Glue it up and keep an eye on it. Move the tyre to the front if you dont think it can take any more abuse.

What glue?

Super glue

kincsem · 12-03-2012 12:06AM

Deflate the tyre and use Loctite.

tomasrojo · 12-03-2012 12:21AM

macnab wrote: »

That sounds harmless enough, i have at least 5 similar cuts on my rear tyre for the last 2000km or so. Glue it up and keep an eye on it. Move the tyre to the front if you dont think it can take any more abuse.

This came up earlier in the week in another thread. There's respected opinion against this practice; you're better off having a blow-out on the rear wheel, as at the front you're liable to lose control badly.

Tonyandthewhale · 12-03-2012 01:00AM

Maybe post up a pic and we can give a better opinion on whether or not it's rideable.

dom17 · 12-03-2012 10:23AM

i had similar problems with the Schwalbe Ultremo, cost me about 90 for a pair did the w200 and the rear tyre wall was destroyed, i know some of these tyres were faulty. If it was me i'd bite the bullet and replace it, as Keep_Her_Lit said you wouldn't want a blowout at speed on either tyre, can be quite scary. i found the GP continental great tyres, or you could get a cheaper kevlar tyre for the rear, a bit heavier but alot tougher, i use them on my training bike and they do last and half the price

Paul Kiernan · 12-03-2012 10:39AM

If it's an Ultremo R1 it's a known problem and you should be able to get the tyre (or set?) replaced inder warranty.

el Bastardo · 12-03-2012 11:02AM

Paul Kiernan wrote: »

If it's an Ultremo R1 it's a known problem and you should be able to get the tyre (or set?) replaced inder warranty.

That's old news though, isn't it? Or has there been another, new issue?

If it's not a deep or long cut, it'll be fine. My tyres are full of little glass cuts - I've never had a blowout n'or would like expect to unless the tyre were defective.

check_six · 12-03-2012 11:19AM

If the hole is in the part of the tyre that comes into contact with the ground (the footprint?), don't worry about it. The tyre is thicker there and the tube won't try to escape through the gap. Replace the tyre at your leisure.

If the split is in the sidewall, replace as soon as possible. The tyre is a lot thinner there and the tube will squeeze out the gap and give you a blowout.

monkeypants · 12-03-2012 04:39PM

Tonyandthewhale wrote: »

Maybe post up a pic and we can give a better opinion on whether or not it's rideable.

This is the best shot that I have. I'd love to salvage something from this as these are half the price of my car tyres and I have to do my own fitting. :eek:

macnab · 12-03-2012 06:12PM

Thats a bit more than 1 or 2mm, I would still glue it but keep a good eye on its condition. Bike24 have a great deal on Conti GP4000s tyres at the moment, €28.50 each I think, add €10 for delivery.

Tonyandthewhale · 12-03-2012 07:26PM

I'd say glue that and keep it. It's about as big a hole as I'd comfortable with so if you see it split any further then dump them but as it is now it's not exceptional and if it stays the way it is now then it shouldn't cause any problems.

Anything I can do with a small split in the tyre?

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