Could simply walking a bike with a flat tyre damage the sidewall?

bungle73
bungle73 Posts: 758
edited June 2019 in Road general
A few months ago I had to replace a tyre that had a cut in the sidewall, which I put down to riding the bike when it was flat, so I replaced it. Today I was out on my bike and almost home, when I heard a loud bang and then a hissing noise as I my tyre quickly deflated. This time I thought better of trying to ride it, so I got off and walked the ~1 mle home. Because home was so close I didn't think it worth stopping to repair it on the spot. Having got home I inspected the tyre and removed a few items embedded in the tyre that I thought may have caused the puncture. However, I also found a cut in the sidewall, maybe about 1.25 cm long. Now I'm wondering if that happened pre or post puncture. The cut only seems to go through the rubber, and not through the lining, but I'm guessing I'm going to have to replace it anyway? I think it's actually the tyre I only bought a few months ago to replace that last one that had a cut in it...........

Comments

  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,325
    I once rode 5 miles on a flat Brompton tyre to no ill effect... so I'd say no
    left the forum March 2023
  • bungle73
    bungle73 Posts: 758
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    I once rode 5 miles on a flat Brompton tyre to no ill effect... so I'd say no

    Yeah, but this is a lightweight Pirelli P Zero Velo.

    I did ride through some debris that looked like the remnants of a car collision a few miles prior to that, and there was some glass on the road. I guess that could have cut the tyre? Except the cut looked the same as the previous sidewall cuts I had, diagonal and the same size.
  • Matthewfalle
    Matthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    no. it will not.

    caveat: normal unladen bike will be fine. stick a 40kg rucksack on it and things will obviously be different.

    #no
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • bungle73
    bungle73 Posts: 758
    OK. Thanks.
  • mrfpb
    mrfpb Posts: 4,569
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    I once rode 5 miles on a flat Brompton tyre to no ill effect... so I'd say no
    I've ridden 2 - 3 miles on a flat 25mm tyre without damaging the tyre further. Presumably it's possible to do damage, but as OP said, he'll be checking it over when fixing the puncture.
  • Matthewfalle
    Matthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    you're more likely to do damage to the rim than the tyre totes tbh, see.
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,499
    Looks at who the OP is.
    Walks away from the thread...
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • homers_double
    homers_double Posts: 8,332
    Sure you walked or did you ride off on a deflated post?
    Advocate of disc brakes.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    I know someone who rode a few miles on a flat tubular tyre on his carbon disc wheel. He destroyed it and I think won £20 for third place.

    I'd not ride any distance on a flat tyre. Walking isn't an issue.
  • step83
    step83 Posts: 4,170
    Simple answer, no bike doesn't weigh enough for the rim edge to cut through the tyre. If your that worried CX it an lob it over your shoulder.
    Titanium Px Spitfire
    Easty commuter
    Tripster AT
  • First.Aspect
    First.Aspect Posts: 17,397
    Did you leave the tyre out in the sun, or wash it with anything other than warm water? That could be the problem.
  • bungle73
    bungle73 Posts: 758
    First Aspect wrote:
    Did you leave the tyre out in the sun,
    No. But most people's bikes are out in the sun when they ride them, no?
    or wash it with anything other than warm water? That could be the problem.

    Like what? I wash them with the same thing I wash the rest of the bike with: car shampoo.
  • First.Aspect
    First.Aspect Posts: 17,397
    Bungle73 wrote:
    car shampoo.
    Ah, should've use bike shampoo. Except on the tyres, obs.
  • darkhairedlord
    darkhairedlord Posts: 7,180
    Is there any sign of cracking on the sidewall? Excessive flexing from a deflated tyre, especially when wet and exposed to sunlight can damage the internal structure.
  • joe_totale-2
    joe_totale-2 Posts: 1,333
    What weight are the sidewalls rated for? I mean cycling with a 40kg backpack on may have placed too much stress upon them hence compromising them.
  • darkhairedlord
    darkhairedlord Posts: 7,180
    I blame Merlin.
    Send them back.
  • lesfirth
    lesfirth Posts: 1,382
    Bungle73 wrote:
    First Aspect wrote:
    Did you leave the tyre out in the sun,
    No. But most people's bikes are out in the sun when they ride them, no?
    or wash it with anything other than warm water? That could be the problem.

    Like what? I wash them with the same thing I wash the rest of the bike with: car shampoo.

    I can't work out who is doing the winding up. :lol:
  • bungle73
    bungle73 Posts: 758
    darkhairedlord wrote:
    Is there any sign of cracking on the sidewall? Excessive flexing from a deflated tyre, especially when wet and exposed to sunlight can damage the internal structure.

    I haven't left them deflated.
  • bungle73
    bungle73 Posts: 758
    lesfirth wrote:
    Bungle73 wrote:
    First Aspect wrote:
    Did you leave the tyre out in the sun,
    No. But most people's bikes are out in the sun when they ride them, no?
    or wash it with anything other than warm water? That could be the problem.

    Like what? I wash them with the same thing I wash the rest of the bike with: car shampoo.

    I can't work out who is doing the winding up. :lol:

    How the hell is saying I use car shampoo......as do many, many other people.....to wash my bike a "wind up"??????
  • First.Aspect
    First.Aspect Posts: 17,397
    Bungle73 wrote:
    darkhairedlord wrote:
    Is there any sign of cracking on the sidewall? Excessive flexing from a deflated tyre, especially when wet and exposed to sunlight can damage the internal structure.

    I haven't left them deflated.
    That means they've been exposed to oxygen in the air over a long period. This will oxidize the rubber and they will perish from the inside out. You need to use CO2, like all the pros. Team Ineos (Sky) use xenon but that's really expensive and adds to global warming.
  • bungle73
    bungle73 Posts: 758
    First Aspect wrote:
    Bungle73 wrote:
    darkhairedlord wrote:
    Is there any sign of cracking on the sidewall? Excessive flexing from a deflated tyre, especially when wet and exposed to sunlight can damage the internal structure.

    I haven't left them deflated.
    That means they've been exposed to oxygen in the air over a long period. This will oxidize the rubber and they will perish from the inside out. You need to use CO2, like all the pros. Team Ineos (Sky) use xenon but that's really expensive and adds to global warming.

    Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.
  • PhilipPirrip
    PhilipPirrip Posts: 616
    Bungle73 wrote:
    darkhairedlord wrote:
    Is there any sign of cracking on the sidewall? Excessive flexing from a deflated tyre, especially when wet and exposed to sunlight can damage the internal structure.

    I haven't left them deflated.
    Good. It's important to bolster the psychological wellbeing of your tyres.

    A happy tyre is a fast rolling tyre.
  • darkhairedlord
    darkhairedlord Posts: 7,180
    Bungle73 wrote:
    darkhairedlord wrote:
    Is there any sign of cracking on the sidewall? Excessive flexing from a deflated tyre, especially when wet and exposed to sunlight can damage the internal structure.

    I haven't left them deflated.

    Thats no the problem, its rolling the bike along, loaded or unloaded, while they are deflated (after a puncture) that will damage the side walls.
  • First.Aspect
    First.Aspect Posts: 17,397
    darkhairedlord wrote:
    Bungle73 wrote:
    darkhairedlord wrote:
    Is there any sign of cracking on the sidewall? Excessive flexing from a deflated tyre, especially when wet and exposed to sunlight can damage the internal structure.

    I haven't left them deflated.

    Thats no the problem, its rolling the bike along, loaded or unloaded, while they are deflated (after a puncture) that will damage the side walls.
    mountain bikers stopped using side walls ages ago for just this reason. Eventually it will transfer to the road.
  • chippyk
    chippyk Posts: 529
    First Aspect wrote:
    Bungle73 wrote:
    darkhairedlord wrote:
    Is there any sign of cracking on the sidewall? Excessive flexing from a deflated tyre, especially when wet and exposed to sunlight can damage the internal structure.

    I haven't left them deflated.
    That means they've been exposed to oxygen in the air over a long period. This will oxidize the rubber and they will perish from the inside out. You need to use CO2, like all the pros. Team Ineos (Sky) use xenon but that's really expensive and adds to global warming.

    Do tell me.
    How does Xe contribute to global warming?
    If you were free to use any gas to fill your tyres, why would you use xenon?
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,719
    Shimano Xenon is rubbish. Campag Xenon is what you want! It just wears in not wears out you know...
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • First.Aspect
    First.Aspect Posts: 17,397
    ChippyK wrote:
    First Aspect wrote:
    Bungle73 wrote:
    darkhairedlord wrote:
    Is there any sign of cracking on the sidewall? Excessive flexing from a deflated tyre, especially when wet and exposed to sunlight can damage the internal structure.

    I haven't left them deflated.
    That means they've been exposed to oxygen in the air over a long period. This will oxidize the rubber and they will perish from the inside out. You need to use CO2, like all the pros. Team Ineos (Sky) use xenon but that's really expensive and adds to global warming.

    Do tell me.
    How does Xe contribute to global warming?
    If you were free to use any gas to fill your tyres, why would you use xenon?
    personally I'd use helium, because this helps in the mountains.

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