Riding on a flat tyre

pb21
pb21 Posts: 2,171
edited November 2010 in Workshop
On the way home last night I had to ride the last three miles with a flat back tyre. I took it slow and put as much weight over the front as possible.

I know you are not supposed too, but does anyone know why, will the back tyre still be OK?
Mañana

Comments

  • gavintc
    gavintc Posts: 3,009
    You have wrecked the tyre, so change it before refitting the new tube.

    The tyre walls are thin and not made for running on. The weight of the rim applied to the tyre wall will make lots of cuts and damage it. If you now blow it up, there is a very strong likelihood of a side wall blow out.

    You have also probably damaged the wheel rim as these are not made to run on the road surface. Little snags and imperfections may cut your tyre wall. It depends what surface you ran on - but I think you have caused a significant amount of damage.
  • Holyzeus
    Holyzeus Posts: 354
    Buckling the rim etc?
    Nicolai CC
  • pb21
    pb21 Posts: 2,171
    Awww f*ck :evil:

    It was the second puncture and I was cold and it was dark. Is there anyway to tell about damage to the rim. It looks OK and isn't any less true than what it was.
    Mañana
  • ozzzyosborn206
    ozzzyosborn206 Posts: 1,340
    i have ridden home on a flat before and the rim has been fine, just inspect the rim for any major cracks or dents and keep your fingers crossed it will be ok
  • desweller
    desweller Posts: 5,175
    The rim may well be fine, just look for dings. They are stronger than people think.

    You might have damaged the carcass of the tyre though; the fibres are not good at sustaining high contact pressures.
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  • pb21
    pb21 Posts: 2,171
    Just put on a new tyre and about to head out to give it a whirl....
    Mañana
  • peter101cycle
    peter101cycle Posts: 298
    ozzzyosborn206 wrote:
    i have ridden home on a flat before and the rim has been fine, just inspect the rim for any major cracks or dents and keep your fingers crossed it will be ok

    Agree, I have ridden back on a lightly inflated (but seriously torn) tyre on Zipp 404 clincher....check the rim for damage but the tyre will be wrecked.

    Always take a spare tube with you as riding completely flat is not a good idea. Even if the tyre is wrecked, you can often temp repair the hole by putting a piece of material between the tube and tyre
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  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Riding a flat rear is easier than a flat front - the tyre tends to stay centred on the rim but do corner carefully. A flat front is a different proposition - the tyre is far more likely to roll and bare metal on tarmac has little grip. Inspect the rim carefully - they are quite strong, but do file / sand off any snags. Unless you hit something hard, it's unlikely you've trashed the rim. Finally - the above is for alloy rims - If it's a carbon rim - stop. Some don't event like a bump in the road.
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  • pb21
    pb21 Posts: 2,171
    You will be pleased to know I didn't get a puncture :D

    I got a broken spoke :evil:

    Fixed now but will see how things pan out...
    Mañana
  • markos1963
    markos1963 Posts: 3,724
    Resurect the arguement for tubulars? :wink:
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  • geebee2
    geebee2 Posts: 248
    pb21 wrote:
    On the way home last night I had to ride the last three miles with a flat back tyre. I took it slow and put as much weight over the front as possible.

    I know you are not supposed too, but does anyone know why, will the back tyre still be OK?

    Depends a bit on the road surface, but never mind the tyre, there is significant chance that the wheel is damaged ( as in a write off ).

    Could you not have walked?
    My new bike
  • andrew_s
    andrew_s Posts: 2,511
    geebee2 wrote:
    Could you not have walked?
    Well, if you are 10miles from home and there's nobody at home to phone for a rescue, it takes 3 hours to walk and about an hour and a quarter to ride on a flat tyre (btdtgtts).

    The rim should be OK if you've managed to keep it running on the flat tyre. Check the edges for any burrs that might damage a tyre sidewall, and sand them off if there are.
    The tyre could well be OK too. Pump it up extra hard (max + 50%), leave it overnight, and check for any bulges or places where it isn't straight. If you don't find anything it should be OK.
  • andrew_s
    andrew_s Posts: 2,511
    andrew_s wrote:
    geebee2 wrote:
    Could you not have walked?
    Well, if you are 10miles from home and there's nobody at home to phone for a rescue, it takes 3 hours to walk and about an hour and a quarter to ride on a flat tyre (btdtgtts).

    The rim should be OK if you've managed to keep it running on the flat tyre. Check the edges for any burrs that might damage a tyre sidewall, and sand them off if there are. It is of course different if you insist on riding such fragile items as carbon rims.

    The tyre could well be OK too. Pump it up extra hard (max + 50%), leave it overnight, and check for any bulges or places where it isn't straight. If you don't find anything it should be OK.
  • rake
    rake Posts: 3,204
    could you not have tied a knot in the tube?

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