Just noticed this in my tire today, racing a 70.3 this weekend. It could have been there for a month or a couple days ago from my last ride. I can’t tell how deep it goes.
Would you replace the tire? Nickel shown for scale.
Can you retake the picture with dime. Possibly a new, shiny one?
I can’t tell how deep it goes.
Well then, take the tire off, pinch the tire there and/or use a small screwdriver to see if the piece of glass or rock is still in there, and then take the tire off to see if it punctured the tire casing. If it didn’t, there is no problem. If it did puncture the tire casing then make really sure that there isn’t a bit of debris still poking in, and put it back together… should be fine if it didn’t cut more then a couple of cords in the casing.
If there is a significant tear in the casing (more than 3 or 4 mm) then I’d be leery of using the tire at high speed (or in a place where I could end up stuck an hour’s walk from home) and I’d replace it.
When I first started cycling, I asked my shop the same question (pretty much the exact same cut.) They said those are really common. A few thousand miles later, the tire is still going strong. My vote is to not replace it. Good advice above to pinch it and make sure there’s no debris in there.
That looks pretty minor to me.
First, I would make sure that there isn’t still a stone or piece of glass in there. You can pick at it with a safety pin to make sure. I’d also take the tire off to make sure that the cut doesn’t go all the way through. If it does go all the way through, I would put in a boot and use it as a training tire, and replace this tire with a new one for racing. If it doesn’t go all the way through, I would race it.
for training, nope.
racing, maybe, if it is an A race with nasty roads, or raining.
B race, or nice roads, no that is fine. Just make sure nothing is in there.
You can put a dab of shoe goo in it, or a patch on the opposite side if you are truly paranoid.
I wouldn’t worry about that nick. Ive ridden on larger gashes for longer than I should have with no problem. The tire does look pretty squared off though which may affect handling a little bit if its at all technical. Is it a clincher or tubular?
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Thank you for all the replies. It is a GP4000s Clincher and it was put on back in Nov. 2013.
There is no debris in the gash/hole and it is about 1mm deep.
if you get a cut deep enough you can put your fingernail in it, you are more likely to get flats in the rain or on crappy roads. If you can see the cords or a different color rubber or if the cross section is square-ish, then it’s time to toss it.
I’m impressed that you would know when you put the tire on. I would never know in million years.
Fill it with super glue
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Thats nothin’! I get cuts like that more than usual. I just patch it up from the inside to be safe and get back at it. Can’t tell if thats a clincher or tubular though…
Now that we’re on the subject of tires being okay, I got some type of fuzzy cotton looking stuff that is sticking out through a crack in the sidewall of the tires rubber on my Continental attack front 22c tire, anybody seen this happen before? Looks like a tire that has been running on low pressure but I never ran it under pressured if my tire gauge is correct.
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Thats nothin’! I get cuts like that more than usual. I just patch it up from the inside to be safe and get back at it. Can’t tell if thats a clincher or tubular though…
Now that we’re on the subject of tires being okay, I got some type of fuzzy cotton looking stuff that is sticking out through a crack in the sidewall of the tires rubber on my Continental attack front 22c tire, anybody seen this happen before? Looks like a tire that has been running on low pressure but I never ran it under pressured if my tire gauge is correct.
Sounds like the chance of a sidewall failure is rapidly increasing. If it was me I would replace the tire. Any time the inside of the tire can be seen from the outside is a bad sign.
I agree that the tire is squared off, it’s marginal for replacement. Big race…yes. Local race…if you have the money.
If that was a race only tire I would replace it though.
jaretj
So long as there isn’t any debris still in the gash, you should be just fine. I actually just posted about my method for fixing tires like that. What I would do is squeeze open the gash and put a dab of super glue in it to seal it up, that way no other debris can make its home in there and eventually work through down to the tube. If I were you, I would also get a new set of 4000s’s, they are on sale for less than $40/each on almost every site right now and that tire looks like it has some miles on it. Best of luck in your race.
Fill it with super glue
Winner, winner! Chicken dinner!
As long as the casing as t cut that tire should be fine.
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Did I win that SRAM group you are selling? PM Ill send you my address.
Fixed it for ya!
Brian
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are those channel locks for the crank?
I ride Schwalbe Durano S tires (not the Conti GP in the picture). The Schwalbe are pretty bullet proof. I commute on tires way worse than that!
I hardly ever race, and generally race on new or very low mileage tires in perfect condition.
That cut on that tire looks harmless. As others have said, I’d let the air out, squeeze the tire to see if anything is in there. Pick anything that’s in there, out. Then ride the tire.
IF there is a detectable hole when looking from the tube side of the tire, get a new tire for race day. If it’s a training tire, ride the tire. If you’re uptight or broke like I used to be, put a standard patch on the inside of the tire, then re-inflate and ride it. If it’s a race tire, get a new tire and relegate that tire to training use. If it’s your A race for the year, replace the tire anyway. No use driving 2000 miles to get a flat, just for the cost of a tire.