First question from relative newbie - TYRES

simon12c

Hi all,
Great forum - full of useful tips and knowledgeable people - thanks!
Wondering if you can give me some pointers here. This may be a very dumb question, but anyway......

I've been riding for about a year now, and just did the Ride 100 (Ride 86!) on Sunday.
Whilst giving the bike a clean following the biblical weather, I noticed my rear tyre has a couple of cuts that at first glance seem to be quite serious. The tyre's only done a couple of hundred miles so I'm a bit disappointed if it already needs to be replaced. Photo below. I know if this was a car I'd be taking it straight for replacement - just wondering if it's any different with bike tyres. I'd be surprised if I should expect to change tyres every couple of hundred miles tho....
I'm not into the idea of a superglue fix. 3 young kids, busy job etc means I'm not scrimping on the £30 to replace it if it's in any way dangerous. But if this is par for the course, normal wear and just what happens, then I wont bother.
Tyre is a Schwalbe Durano. Front tyre is a Michelin 4 pro corse and is still in immaculate condition.
Photo below...

keef66

I had exactly the same dilemma with a cheap, but virtually brand new tyre. I stuck a heavy duty patch on the inside of the tyre to make sure there's no chance of the tube being forced into the cut, and I'm hoping to get at least a couple of thousand miles wear out of it. In my defence I was raised as a Yorkshireman.

I hasten to add that it's the rear tyre. I wouldn't want to risk the possibility of suddenly losing my front.

Dippydog2

On your bike you will be flying down hills at 30,40,50 or even 60 plus kph. Wearing nothing but a bit of polystyrene on your head and some Lycra.

A puncture at high speed would not be fun.

I am sure someone will tell you it's fine.

I would bin it.

arran77

It'll be fine, you'll only reach speeds of upwards of 60kph downhill, plus you'll have a bit of polystyrene on your head and some Lycra for protection

simon12c

OK. I'm gathering I should bin it!!
Thanks for the replies...

Mark_P

Yes, I'm afraid those are expensive tyres to ride around on crappy UK roads. In other countries people have an obligation to clean up after they have an accident and leave glass all over the road. Here, drunken chavs smash those horrible green bottles on the side of the road, and it will often stay there for months, gradually being dispersed by the traffic.

drlodge

If its just a split in the rubber (not structural) then a patch (TipTop) on the inside might do it. If the split doesn't then open up when you inflate the tyre, you'll likely be ok, but if the split is too large or structural it will open up and then I would definately bin it.

I have a small split (bit smaller than your photo) on my Vittoria Open Pave tyres, a tiptop patch sorted it but it is just a small nick in the rubber