Slit in new tyre

[Chutzpah]

I have this rather ominous looking slit in my rear tyre - it's quite wide and I think liable to pick up all manner of debris. There wasn't anything lodged in it when I spotted it, I have a hunch it's a manufacturing defect but I'm sure the retailer (who for now will remain nameless, as I've only just contacted them) will argue I've gone over something.

What's worse is that they've only done 123 miles

The roads I've ridden on have been relatively good, and only about half a mile of my commute is in an urban environment.

The slit is quite large and open - does anyone think that this could be dangerous to ride home on? (13 miles with some descents)

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

Looks like a bit of glass or something else has gone in and come out again.... I don't think its a defect personally. I would just ensure nothing was in the split and glue it with superglue.

I've got a few myself on one of my tyres

 

[Rob3rt]

Almost certainly not a defect. That's damage caused by something sharp. Usually if you see one of those and take some tweezers you can extract a sharp that made it through the rubber but stopped at the puncture strip. On the odd occasion, it made it all the way and when you pull it out...... "hissssssssssss".

I inspect my tyres regularly and always check any small slits, even tiny ones for embedded sharps.

I would still ride that, but maybe sling it on the back if at all concerned (hard to say how deep it is based on the pic). Easier to control the bike if the rear tyre suddenly deflates

 

[Chutzpah]

So you think something has gone in, not quite punctured the tyre and come out again? Grah

Would glue retain the strength of the tyre?

 

[Rob3rt]

So you think something has gone in, not quite punctured the tyre and come out again? Grah

Would glue retain the strength of the tyre?

Maybe, may still be in there, take some tweezers and inspect.

 

[Chutzpah]

I removed the tyre from the rim and then reinflated, there's nowt in there

 

[Rob3rt]

Then leave it be! If you want to prevent dirt getting in, maybe a dab of puncture repair glue?

 

[Chutzpah]

Nipped it to my usual LBS for a look, he reckons it's not terminal with a tyre boot for added puncture piece of mind - will be giving that a go along with a dab of glue!

Would you recommend gluing with the tyre inflated or deflated?

Cheers :-)

 

[Chutzpah]

Righty... so I've deflated the tyre, fitted a tyre boot, glued it, left it to dry, inflated and topped up the glue.

Touch wood it won't give me any issues on the way home :-)

 

[Chutzpah]

Well, I survived the 13 mile commute home! I've read that wetsuit glue is a good longer term plug, so I might nip up to the local diving centre tomorrow and see if I can get some.

 

[RWright]

Get a new tire. Not worth all the trouble and additional risk of the old tire.