Time for new tyres? Superglue?

[EasyPeez]

Hi,

I'm currently eyeing up tyres for my road bike for next Spring. Was planning to put some on my Christmas list. But after another puncture at the weekend (that's 4 flats in the 4,000 miles I've done on them, 3 on the back tyre, 1 on the front so not all that bad for stock racey tyres?) I'm wondering if these tyres have about had it now.

Now I also have my winter bike (shod with Marathon Deluxe) I won't be using the road bike for more than another few hundred miles up until xmas, so maybe these will last me that long (and more?)

This is my first road bike so am not sure when to change really - in the past I would go by tread wear but that doesn't really apply to slicks. They do look a bit squared off in the middle, and have quite a few nicks in the rubber as pictured. My friend reckons you can bung these up with superglue to prevent nasties getting through - is this good advice or would it affect the safety/performance of the tyre?

Thanks, Andy

 

[TissoT]

Would be wise to replace ...

 

[Joshua Plumtree]

After five punctures in the last two wet rides ( 2 front, 3 rear) I can confirm that the Yksium tyres that came fitted to a Mavic Cosmic Elite wheel-set have as much puncture protection as a half set strawberry jelly.

Some continental four seasons now on order from Wiggle.

 

[EasyPeez]

Would be wise to replace ...

Superglue not the way to go as a stop-gap?
Is 4,000 miles about par for the course for mid-range road tyres?
Cheers.

 

[TissoT]

Superglue not the way to go as a stop-gap?
Is 4,000 miles about par for the course for mid-range road tyres?
Cheers.

I think you have done well 4.000 miles
It all depends on maintaining the pressure and on the surface you ride on to get the max out of a tyre
as for the super glue

 

[Milkfloat]

In my experience super glue can give you some inner self confidence in the tyre and not just by sniffing it. However, I would have relegated those tyres to turbo trainer duty a long time ago.

 

[EasyPeez]

It all depends on maintaining the pressure and on the surface you ride on to get the max out of a tyre

Yeah, I keep my tyres at 90-100psi (I only weigh 9.5stone) and check them a couple of times a week but the tyres have been used for commuting and the roads/cyclepaths round here are littered with holes, lumps and broken glass so they haven't done too bad on that basis I guess.

I would have relegated those tyres to turbo trainer duty a long time ago.

Thanks for the advice. I was kind of expecting a raft of responses along the lines of "don't be so soft, there's a couple of thousand miles left in them yet", but I did think when setting out on a century ride at the weekend that I'd do well to get away without any flats on all those back roads with so many nicks in them. Maybe I was lucky to only get one puncture in the end...

 

[Mo1959]

They are your only point of contact with the road............not worth skimping.

 

[mjr]

Superglue not the way to go as a stop-gap?
Is 4,000 miles about par for the course for mid-range road tyres?

4000 miles sounds a fair go but it depends how you ride and over what, really. I've certainly destroyed tyres in far less, but on the other hand, I've still got the moulding marks on a pair of Vredesteins after 1000 or so, including lots over tracks strewn with glass and gravel!

Superglue doesn't work well for any but the hardest tyres at the highest pressures IMO. Flexible shoe sole repair or not-too-solventy rubber solution from a puncture kit works better on many... but if they're squared off, it's probably time to order in new tyres before you see the canvas

 

[DWiggy]

Blimey my Conti 4000s II are much worse than that??

 

[mjr]

Blimey my Conti 4000s II are much worse than that??

Amazing you're still upright, innit?

 

[TissoT]

I think we would be surprised out many people are out there still riding on the "Rim"

 

[DWiggy]

Amazing you're still upright, innit?

I just thought all tyres cut up like that as standard!?, my old gators were much worse and (touch wood) the only time I had a major tyre blow out was when my brakes were miss aligned!
Currently on about 3300miles on the 4000s so I'm guessing they will need changing soon

 

[mjr]

I just thought all tyres cut up like that as standard!?

I'm not sure. That looks fairly bad to me, but I usually have some tread on mine, so I'm going from memory of other people's very slick tyres. I think gatorskins are pretty weak - 4000s are better, as are good tyres from Schwalbe, Michelin, Vittoria and Vredestein.

I'd order new tyres in mainly because of how worn down the centre tread looks in the photos. Squeezing the tyre should help guess if there's much rubber left!

 

[EasyPeez]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.
I don't think they're massively squared off, but it is definately noticable when looking along the centre of the tyre at eye level. I'll try the deflate and squeeze to see if I can ascertain how much rubber is there - I suspect a fair amount still judging by the depth of the rubber before it becomes canvas around the various nicks.
Strangely the rear tyre seems more worn along the centre line than the front. As they've both covered exactly the same ground and the front one does the turning I would have expected the opposite if anything - and no I've not been pulling skids!