Have these tires had it?

[C R]

I had a look at the tires in my road bike today, and noticed a couple of cuts in the rear one

The front one seems to be revealing some voids as it wears down

It isn't clear in the picture, but it seems to be a void in the rubber, rather than a cut.

They're the original decathlon tires that came with the bike, happy with them so far. They've done 2600 odd miles, and no punctures as yet, but wondered if I should consider retirement for them.

 

[vickster]

I would keep using myself unless having punctures.
If you do want to replace you’ll need to look for tyres, all assuming you’re not in Worcester MA

 

[Darius_Jedburgh]

Nope.
Last picture is a gas bubble from manufacture unless there is a pattern of them to indicate wear.
The first two are routine. If you are worried fill them with superglue then deflate the tyre and let the superglue harden. But I wouldn't bother with those.

 

[PpPete]

Any tyre will become more susceptible to punctures as it wears down, so I'd be looking at the profile of the tyre as well. If it's squared-off in the centre then time for replacement. If still nicely rounded I wouldnt consider those defects cause for replacement

 

[C R]

Yep, tyres here in Worcester, Worcestershire. Autocorrect and lack of attention has a lot to answer for, .

 

[C R]

Thanks all, no flattening as yet, will keep them on.

 

[vickster]

Yep, tyres here in Worcester, Worcestershire. Autocorrect and lack of attention has a lot to answer for, .

Three times no less...
Obviously retirement is acceptable

 

[C R]

Three times no less...
Obviously retirement is acceptable

Retirement for me, you mean ...

 

[Cycleops]

Look fine to me. As per WSC's famous saying KBO (keep buggering on).

 

[davidphilips]

Only my view but any time i see a even a small cut in a tyre i look very close and if theres any bulging then i replace the tyre.
But as long as its only the outer rubber then i either put some super glue into the cut (usually washes out first time i use them in the wet) or just use them, always a good policy to check your tyres both before and after every cycle, ttfn

 

[I like Skol]

Are you sure that tyre has done so many miles? Looks more like a few hundred to me, can still see the moulding centre line.

As for damage, as long as the tyre carcass is still holding its shape I wouldn't give those minor nicks a second thought, plenty of riding still to be had with that tyre.

 

[C R]

Are you sure that tyre has done so many miles? Looks more like a few hundred to me, can still see the moulding centre line.

As for damage, as long as the tyre carcass is still holding its shape I wouldn't give those minor nicks a second thought, plenty of riding still to be had with that tyre.

2608 miles on this bike since I bought it, and they are the original tyres. I'm a fairly light rider at about 65kg, and all my riding with this bike has been on paved roads, which might explain the lightly used look.

 

[sleuthey]

I would keep using myself unless having punctures.
If you do want to replace you’ll need to look for tyres, all assuming you’re not in Worcester MA

Ditto

 

[Edwardoka]

I don't think I've ever had tyres last more than a few weeks before they're covered in nicks and cuts.
The only time I'd be concerned is if they're in the sidewall as there's very little material there compared to the rest of the tyre.

The main signs of a worn out tyre are
- gashes, cracks or visible "lines" like this //////////// in the sidewall where the casing is starting to fail
- if you flex the tyre you see cracks in the rubber
- cleaning and drying a patch on the tyre's surface and running your thumb over it. If friction, good. If it leaves a mark on thumb, deteriorating but still rideable, if smooth, bin.

The last one of these is an extremely unscientific test and I have no idea how valid it is.

 

[Big John]

Ditch a set of tyres that have done 2600 miles without so much as one puncture? They're your lucky tyres, man. They're faithful old friends. I hope they forgive you for having such evil thoughts 😉