Hole in tyre - do I need to replace?

[Joffey]

Got a flat the other day - a thorn had gone through the middle of the tyre.

I'm not sure if I have got all the thorn out as it broke but either way now there is a hole all the way through the tyre. Is it OK to still run the tyre?

I am using Michelin Lithion 2 that came with the bike - I'm not sure how puncture resistant they are so thinking of just replacing both with Conti Gators just to be safe?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Blue Hills]

Do check that you have got all of the thorn out - it shouldn't be too hard if you still know the spot - check the inside as well.

Yes of course you can still use the tyre - by definition if the tube gets a puncture because of glass/thorn/flint etc it will almost always have gone through the tyre to get at it. You can safely run tyres which have punctured multiple times as long as the holes are small/just slots.

Check your tyres for debris before any major or important ride and dig the bits out - you can then safely run the tyres, until, despite your best efforts, you get repeated frequent punctures.

Tyres last a long long time.

The other approach is of course to save all your punctured tyres and tubes for me

 

[Cycleops]

Not too puncture resistant if pierced by a thorn. Run you hand around the inside to see if can feel anything. Should be fine to run, you may as well get your moneysworth from them.

 

[robgul]

As always - it depends . . . if the thorn hole was quite large there's always the possibility of the inflated tube "bulging into" the hole in the cover and puncturing (I know this from experience !) - stop-gap is to stick a tube patch over the hole on the inside of the tyre cover.

Rob

 

[gbb]

If the hole is sizeable...ie 2 or 3mm or longer, as robgul says, the inner tube will or may push into the slit then puncture or burst.
If you're unsure or want to take no chances, insert a tyre boot, one can be made of emery tape for instance, abrasive side facing the tyre. It needs replacing every month say but extended the life of my tyre by roughly a year.(mine had a roughly 4 or 5mm slit in it)

 

[Blue Hills]

I'd be surprised if a thorn made the tube come through the tyre. I've had a fair few punctures from thorns - I don't unduly worry about them.

I have tyres with many many cuts but rarely puncture.

Agree of course that if the tube is coming through the tyre you are going to have to replace it immediately.

 

[keithmac]

Not too puncture resistant if pierced by a thorn. Run you hand around the inside to see if can feel anything. Should be fine to run, you may as well get your moneysworth from them.

I've seen hawthorns puncture motorcycle tyres.

Best bet is to push something small throught the hole to remove any remaining thorn, quite often there's a bit left in the carcass.

 

[Blue Hills]

I've seen hawthorns puncture motorcycle tyres.

yes - I don't see a thorn puncture as a particular criticism of a tyre.

 

[keithmac]

I used to repair my wifes friends daughter's bike, the tyre must have had at least 6 holes in it, all from thorns.

Every week she'd picked another one up!.

 

[Joffey]

In the end I don't trust the tyres and I want something I can trust in winter so swapped both tyres for Gatorskins. To the poster above who said save them for him you can have them both for a tenner ;-)

 

[Blue Hills]

I'll pass as not terribly handy for you and I don't know the tyres.

Good luck with the new tyres but take care of them/check frequently for debris.

Personally i would have been happy to stick with conti top touring but, to complicate matters, they discontinued them

 

[CanucksTraveller]

They'll be reet for a good while, so long as you remove the offending item thoroughly. I had some Bontrager tyres on my commuter a few years back and they cut up something rotten, in the end they looked like Freddie Kreuger had been at them with his pointy glove, but they lasted another year and didn't cause any issues. For any big cuts and holes (over a couple of mm), you can shore them up with a patch as already mentioned, should you want to. I personally haven't ever bothered.

 

[tyred]

Only if the tube is coming through the hole or there is a noticeable bulge/weakspot in the tyre.

 

[Kestevan]

Lithions are my default commuting tyre.
They're a good all rounder... reasonably puncture proof, reasonably fast, have decent grip and are pretty cheap.

Personally Ive never liked garorskins. They're wooden feeling, and have sod all grip in the damp.

Everyones opinion on tyres is different though. :-)

 

[fossyant]

Lithions used to be my default tyre - they did wear quickly. My commute route changed to a glass strewn shared path for 3 miles, and I had to go with Durano S - they do feel dead in comparison but were pretty bomb proof. Only a large shard of glass managed to hole them.