Repairing a cut in a tyre - advice please?

Thebigbee

Hi I have some Continental Sport Contact tyres which had been great puncture wise.

However I got one the other day, repaired it well or so I thought. Did about 10 miles and then got another one. I have bought a new tube and don't know if it failed the 2nd time because of my shi7 repair job.

However - I noticed that the tyre actually has a tear in it, on the top. It is probably 1cm long but appears to go all the way through. I didn't notice it when I was repairing the tube. Only when I had refitted the tyre and tube. I guess the air filled out the tyre and made it more prominent.

I was just wondering if there was any way to repair the actual tyre and does it actually make a massive difference?

I was thinking some super glue over the hole and a new tube?

Like I said- these tyres were meant to be "puncture proof" and I had found them great up until recently.

Even so I try to avoid the majority of detritus on the road so am puzzled how such a big tear occured.

I have only done about 800 miles on these tyres so would be quite pi55ed off if I had to replace so soon.

Any suggestions or advice received with big thanks.

Cheers

Yes this post has been edited as I got the miles wrong!!

Anonymous

Repace it mate. If your tyre blows out at speed and you know it has been compromised then it is not worth the hurt. Spend £20 on a new tyre and peace of mind. If you have a turbo, use this tyre as a turbo tyre on the back.

Its just not worth the risk as you would not be able to repair it properly.

solsurf

what he said. Not worth the risk

Bobbinogs

these tyres were meant to be "puncture proof"

No tyre claims to be puncture proof, just puncture resistant to a certain degree. I got a P last week with a dog tooth shaped piece of sharp glass. Not a lot would have resisted that (even cut my blinking thumb removing it and ended up with blood all over the rim ).

As per the above, just replace it. You can look on this as unlucky, I would spin it the other way and say you were lucky the bad cut didn't cause a spill.

Thebigbee

OK - Thanks for the replies guys.That law of sods determined that when I used my other bike, on the same day, that would get a puncture to.

What are the chances lol!

Both the tyres are contis. I am not impressed and will be going back to some Schwalbe Marathons I think.

800 miles is nothing. - No it is actually pretty good but I have edited this post. However 800 miles for the life of a tyre which advertises protection and then is completely useless because of multiple damage isn't great IMHO.

The thing is, you don't realise quite how much shit is on roads and cycle paths.

I went out on a dawn ride the other day, where I must of picked it up. And the way the sun was shining made every piece of glass glisten which you just can't see at other times.

Anonymous

Thebigbee wrote:

OK - Thanks for the replies guys.That law of sods determined that when I used my other bike, on the same day, that would get a puncture to.

What are the chances lol!

Both the tyres are contis. I am not impressed and will be going back to some Schwalbe Marathons I think.

500 miles is nothing.

The thing is, you don't realise quite how much shoot is on roads and cycle paths.

I went out on a dawn ride the other day, where I must have picked it up. And the way the sun was shining made every piece of glass glisten which you just can't see at other times.

Broken Stella bottles are prevalent in Medway and swale, I hate 'em.

Buckled_Rims

I've tried lots of different repairs, but none of them work. Superglue only works well if it's a surface cut. If it's a right through cut, then the super glue will form a sharp pointed edge at the bottom (like a stalactite shape) and will probably puncture the inner again.

Interestingly, I've heard that there's some repair kits for tubeless tyres that cut a uniform hole and there's a repair plug that is bonded, but I haven't really explored that repair yet.

desweller

I'd boot the tyre with a strip of toothpaste tube wrapped around the inner tube a couple of times in the relevant place. I've had a couple of tyres now that have picked up early damage where that method has allowed them to run the life of an undamaged tyre.

Thebigbee

DesWeller wrote:

I'd boot the tyre with a strip of toothpaste tube wrapped around the inner tube a couple of times in the relevant place. I've had a couple of tyres now that have picked up early damage where that method has allowed them to run the life of an undamaged tyre.

I stubmled across the Continental tyres website and apparently my tyres and tube are covered by a 1yr warranty.

Which I duly proceeded to claim from the shop that sold me the bike - new! I have to say that they have been pretty arsey about it but are now allegedly ordering me an exact replacemet and will fit it for me.

If it wasn't for the net I wouldn't have even realised that the tyres were under "warranty".

Continental themselves were very good and responded quickly. If you advertise a tyre as having puncture protection most consumers would expect the tyre itself to last over 800 miles.

The fact that the tyre got a puncture after I covered 800 miles on it wasn't the issue. The problem was that the tyre was completely riddled with cuts, tears and holes so was basically useless after 800 miles. Not great.

Garz

Part of that is down to the condition of the roads today and how unkept they are by councils. In fact I cant remember the last time I seen a road sweeper doing the rounds...

Anyhow a tyre is a tyre and on grounds of wear and tear I'm very surprised that you got a new one. Riding around the block and getting the nick is one thing but after 800 miles the tyre is used end of.

Bully for you though, congrats on pushing for it!

craker

I've cut sections out of an old tyre and super glued it under the cut. If there's alot of rubber then you'll probably feel a bump (eg use a piece of worn tyre). Serves me fine on a couple of commuting tyres.

smurfylicious

I used to have a pair of Continental Ultra Sports:
Good: Very grippy
Bad: Regular punctures and cut very easily

I now ride Specialised Armadillo Elites:
Good: Not a single puncture in 1000s miles and far fewer cuts
Bad: Have to be a bit more careful in the wet

For me, the convenience of not having had a single puncture far outweighs the loss of grippiness.

Thebigbee

Garz wrote:

Part of that is down to the condition of the roads today and how unkept they are by councils. In fact I cant remember the last time I seen a road sweeper doing the rounds...

Anyhow a tyre is a tyre and on grounds of wear and tear I'm very surprised that you got a new one. Riding around the block and getting the nick is one thing but after 800 miles the tyre is used end of.

Bully for you though, congrats on pushing for it!

I know - the roads near me are literally patched and potholed every 20 metres. I actually take longer routes just so I can get the thrill of riding on a newly surfaced road!

The thing about the tyre was that the tread wasn't actually that worn - it was just torn and riddled with holes - not surprising I guess.

I am surprised that more people don't know about the warranty that Continental offer on certain tyres. I wonder if I have a new year warranty on my replacement!

mikeyboy12345

Conti have told me in the past that any replacements across their Contact range also come with a 1yr unlimited mileage warranty (although they may have changed their stance). The only stipulations were to keep the original receipt, the orange sticky label from the actual tyre, and to use a Conti inner tube (which must be returned with the punctured tyre).