Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

Fixing a tire

2 views
Skip to first unread message

Brad

unread,
Aug 14, 2003, 11:01:43 AM8/14/03
to
Howdy all,

Recently I picked up a nice set of Conti Grand Prix 3000 tires and
I've already got a slash in one. The slash doesn't go all the way
through the tire, it looks to stop before the inner threads but does
go through the outter silica/rubber tread.

Is there any SAFE way to repair this? I the tire wasn't bulding or
anything but the slash was at least 3/4 an inch long so it made me
nervous.

One more reason to stick with cheap tires....

jobst....@stanfordalumni.org

unread,
Aug 14, 2003, 1:22:05 PM8/14/03
to
Brad who? writes:

> Recently I picked up a nice set of Conti Grand Prix 3000 tires and
> I've already got a slash in one. The slash doesn't go all the way
> through the tire, it looks to stop before the inner threads but does

> go through the outer silica/rubber tread.

> Is there any SAFE way to repair this? I the tire wasn't bulging or


> anything but the slash was at least 3/4 an inch long so it made me
> nervous.

Your description doesn't make clear whether the slash is only in the
tread or whether it goes into the casing (structural fabric of the
tire). If it is only in the tread rubber, you can fill that with
stuff called Shoe Goo (http://www.shoegoo.co.jp/en/).

> One more reason to stick with cheap tires....

That is the negative approach. Most of us do well with high quality
lightweight tires. How about watching the road more carefully while
riding. Consider that most bicyclists don't have your problem and for
those that do, it's a rare occurrence.

Jobst Brandt
jobst....@stanfordalumni.org
Palo Alto CA

Brad

unread,
Aug 14, 2003, 11:09:58 PM8/14/03
to
jobst....@stanfordalumni.org wrote in message news:<1zP_a.11763$dk4.4...@typhoon.sonic.net>...

>
> Your description doesn't make clear whether the slash is only in the
> tread or whether it goes into the casing (structural fabric of the
> tire). If it is only in the tread rubber, you can fill that with
> stuff called Shoe Goo (http://www.shoegoo.co.jp/en/).

Hmmm, maybe I will take a quick photo when I get home. The slash does
not look to have gone into the fabric. I know they sell Shoe Goo
locally so maybe I'll try it out.

>
> > One more reason to stick with cheap tires....
>
> That is the negative approach. Most of us do well with high quality
> lightweight tires. How about watching the road more carefully while
> riding. Consider that most bicyclists don't have your problem and for
> those that do, it's a rare occurrence.
>
> Jobst Brandt
> jobst....@stanfordalumni.org
> Palo Alto CA

Haha, there is so much crap on the roads around here that you are
bound to hit something now and again. This is especially true when
riding in a pace line where you can't see the road ahead. Most
bicyclists I know locally don't train on expensive tires because you
will eventually hit a patch of glass or road debris.

Werehatrack

unread,
Aug 14, 2003, 11:29:09 PM8/14/03
to
On 14 Aug 2003 08:01:43 -0700, br...@ieee.org (Brad) may have said:

>Howdy all,
>
>Recently I picked up a nice set of Conti Grand Prix 3000 tires and
>I've already got a slash in one. The slash doesn't go all the way
>through the tire, it looks to stop before the inner threads but does
>go through the outter silica/rubber tread.
>
>Is there any SAFE way to repair this? I the tire wasn't bulding or
>anything but the slash was at least 3/4 an inch long so it made me
>nervous.

My approach: If you can see the cut ends of any cords or threads, a
cut this long is probably grounds to chuck the tire. If the cords or
fabric plies are not cut but are exposed, filling the gash with Shoe
Goo (as Jobst Brandt suggests) may help to keep the plies from being
abraded by road crud. If the plies are not exposed, just keep
riding...and watch the debris a little more closely.

--
My email address is antispammed;
pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Yes, I have a killfile. If I don't respond to something,
it's also possible that I'm busy.

jobst....@stanfordalumni.org

unread,
Aug 15, 2003, 12:20:38 AM8/15/03
to
Brad <br...@ieee.org> writes:

>>> One more reason to stick with cheap tires....

>> That is the negative approach. Most of us do well with high
>> quality lightweight tires. How about watching the road more
>> carefully while riding. Consider that most bicyclists don't have
>> your problem and for those that do, it's a rare occurrence.

> Haha, there is so much crap on the roads around here that you are


> bound to hit something now and again. This is especially true when
> riding in a pace line where you can't see the road ahead. Most
> bicyclists I know locally don't train on expensive tires because you
> will eventually hit a patch of glass or road debris.

That's the excuse most people who get many flats give, "our roads are
so full of ..." Meanwhile, with what sort of jerks do you ride that
lead a pace line into hazardous debris? In my club, guys who do that
are asked not to ride with us.

Learn how to avoid glass and thorns and get some good tires.

kh6...@pe.net

unread,
Aug 15, 2003, 10:28:02 AM8/15/03
to
Brad <br...@ieee.org> wrote:

: One more reason to stick with cheap tires....

There are plenty of quality tires at a cheap price. You just have to look
around. IRC Duro road tire is very tough and priced around 12-14 dollars
at nashbar.

Those expensive tires are more delicate in my opinion.

--------------------------------
Bob Masse' kh6...@PE.NET
--------------------------------


Tim Lines

unread,
Aug 15, 2003, 4:32:05 PM8/15/03
to

I don't know about the roads where Brad lives, I only know about the
roads where I live.

Here's a situation for you. I'm riding in to work, riding up the nice
wide shoulder of HY 516 close to Seattle. Up ahead I see that some
cretin has launched a 50 gal aquarium out of their pickup (alright, I
don't KNOW it was a pickup) and onto the shoulder. Should I:

A) Turn around and go home.
B) Think "Here we go again. Two weeks ago it was a TV. When there are
a million pieces of glass you can't miss them all. Even with these
Turbo Armadillos, I may get a flat. Oh well, I'll try to miss the worst
of it ..."

I consistently choose "B". A couple times a year I get a flat anyway.
That's life. I try to minimize the risk by commuting on tires that'll
handle abuse.

I've got nicer bikes with softer tires, but I generally wont ride
through risky areas on them. I'd feel skittish about riding up HWY 516
with Conti GP 3000s. Mostly because I wouldn't want to ruin them.

Avoidance is not always an option.

Tim Lines

unread,
Aug 15, 2003, 4:33:45 PM8/15/03
to

kh6...@pe.net wrote:

> Brad <br...@ieee.org> wrote:
>
> : One more reason to stick with cheap tires....
>
>
>
> There are plenty of quality tires at a cheap price. You just have to look
> around. IRC Duro road tire is very tough and priced around 12-14 dollars
> at nashbar.
>
> Those expensive tires are more delicate in my opinion.

I second that endorsement. I rode IRC Durros all winter 2 years ago
through all sorts of crap without a single flat. They're awful good.
And the ride quality achieves mediocrity.

Per Elmsäter

unread,
Aug 16, 2003, 4:09:52 AM8/16/03
to

I don't understand your problem. Whenever I can clearly see an area of glass
in front of me, I stop and walk across with my bike slung over my shoulder.

--
Perre

You have to be smarter than a robot to reply.


Tim Lines

unread,
Aug 16, 2003, 12:08:46 PM8/16/03
to

Per Elmsäter wrote:

> I don't understand your problem. Whenever I can clearly see an area of glass
> in front of me, I stop and walk across with my bike slung over my shoulder.
>

Good answer! If it works for you...

Per Elmsäter

unread,
Aug 16, 2003, 12:37:49 PM8/16/03
to

It works as long as I see it soon enough. Problem is when it comes up all of
a sudden behind a corner or busstop, plus of course everything that is not
so obvious.

jobst....@stanfordalumni.org

unread,
Aug 16, 2003, 2:31:10 PM8/16/03
to
Tim Lines writes:

Oh! How wouldn't that work? This is the usual method for riders
aware of road hazards. You do as if this is a doubtful or ineffective
method. Could you explain on your perception more clearly?

Tim Lines

unread,
Aug 16, 2003, 3:55:52 PM8/16/03
to

jobst....@stanfordalumni.org wrote:
> Tim Lines writes:
>
>
>>>I don't understand your problem. Whenever I can clearly see an area
>>>of glass in front of me, I stop and walk across with my bike slung
>>>over my shoulder.
>
>
>>Good answer! If it works for you...
>
>
> Oh! How wouldn't that work? This is the usual method for riders
> aware of road hazards. You do as if this is a doubtful or ineffective
> method. Could you explain on your perception more clearly?
>

Hmmm ... when I said "Good answer" what I actually meant was "Good
answer". I don't understand what's doubtful there.

I think if he's got an answer that works for him, that's great. I don't
feel any particular need to shove MY OWN PERSONAL FAVORITE answer down
his throat and convince him of THE ONE TRUE WAY THAT MUST BE ADHERED TO
IN EVERY SITUATION.

So, I think Per is OK. He says he runs over glass ocassionally, just
like everyone else does, because he's not perfect. But he does the best
he can. Good for him!

You're probably OK too when you're not so cranky from carrying your bike
around over your shoulder all the time.

jim beam

unread,
Aug 16, 2003, 4:57:42 PM8/16/03
to
> You're probably OK too when you're not so cranky from carrying your bike
> around over your shoulder all the time.
>

lol!

Rick Onanian

unread,
Aug 16, 2003, 5:47:07 PM8/16/03
to
On Sat, 16 Aug 2003 19:55:52 GMT, Tim Lines <line...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>> I don't understand your problem. Whenever I can clearly see an area
>>>> of glass in front of me, I stop and walk across with my bike slung
>>>> over my shoulder.
>>> Good answer! If it works for you...
>> Oh! How wouldn't that work? This is the usual method for riders
>> aware of road hazards. You do as if this is a doubtful or ineffective
>> method. Could you explain on your perception more clearly?

> You're probably OK too when you're not so cranky from carrying your bike

> around over your shoulder all the time.

Does nobody just...ride AROUND the hazard?

--
Rick Onanian

Per Elmsäter

unread,
Aug 16, 2003, 5:48:06 PM8/16/03
to

I'm sure we all do whenever possible.

Chris Zacho The Wheelman

unread,
Aug 16, 2003, 7:20:00 PM8/16/03
to
Now,now Jobst, down boy! Don't bite the poor newbie's head off... ;-3)

May you have the wind at your back.
And a really low gear for the hills!
Chris

Chris'Z Corner
"The Website for the Common Bicyclist":
http://www.geocities.com/czcorner

Craig.

unread,
Aug 17, 2003, 4:02:55 AM8/17/03
to
"Rick Onanian" <spam...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:oprt0pgt...@news.east.cox.net...

Yep. Getting off and carrying my bike is just too impratical to contemplate
especially when you live in London like I do. I'd be getting off every
couple of km!!

Craig.


John Albergo

unread,
Aug 17, 2003, 4:59:11 AM8/17/03
to

Rick Onanian wrote:

It depends. Let he who is without flats throw the first scone.

Robin Hubert

unread,
Aug 17, 2003, 11:51:40 AM8/17/03
to
"Tim Lines" <line...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:c%v%a.132274$Oz4.26598@rwcrnsc54...

Why the shouting, Tim? Get a grip, man!

--
Robin Hubert <cv2...@earthlink.net>

Werehatrack

unread,
Aug 17, 2003, 12:12:55 PM8/17/03
to

Here it would be every other opossum.

Werehatrack

unread,
Aug 17, 2003, 12:13:08 PM8/17/03
to

Now, now, let's not start hauling out the ethnic dwarven weaponry just
yet.

Rick Onanian

unread,
Aug 18, 2003, 6:03:21 PM8/18/03
to
On Sun, 17 Aug 2003 08:59:11 GMT, John Albergo
<los...@PORKSHOULDERpacbell.net> wrote:
>> Does nobody just...ride AROUND the hazard?
>>
> It depends. Let he who is without flats throw the first scone.

My flats have been from a rim tape issue, and
a curb. None from such hazards as this thread
was concerned with, although I could possibly
have ridden around the curb, or dismounted.

I don't like scones anyway. I've got to go and
have a frozen pizza...or maybe I'll heat it
first.

--
Rick Onanian

0 new messages