Tyre Boot

[summerdays]

Yesterday the fairy paid my tyres a visit (first one for 18 months) and stuck a nail in - but I suddenly realised quite how worn my back tyre had become (6000+ miles). But it was only the second patch in the inner tube - which are in from when I bought the bike. So can I turn my old tyre - once I've got a replacement, into a tyre boot. It's a Marathon one but not a Plus one, next one down from that. Or does what ever there is in the tyre make it unsuitable.I've never seen a tyre boot and not sure what I would use it for even, but I've heard it mentioned on here. I assume that you use it if your tyre becomes very weak/cut and your inner tyre would start to bulge out at that point. Are tyre boots only of use on skinny road tyres or is it also of use on my hybrid tyres?

 

[ASC1951]

You can use a boot on any tyre provided the pressure is high enough, because unlike a patch it is only pressure holding it in place. Given that a boot is only a 'get you home' measure and the tyre is by definition already dead, all that matters is that it is in good enough condition to take 60+ psi for a few miles. My MTB friends often carry a section of Squeezy bottle big enough to wrap round the whole inner tube, which does reduce that risk.

An old tyre is perfect for the job provided it isn't so worn that it too would bulge through the cut. It does need to be much bigger than any patch. I've carried one for years without ever needing it, but TBH as the roads get worse I never let my road tyres get too worn before binning them - even if you don't get a sudden blowout, you start getting so many punctures that you lose the cost of a new tyre in new tubes.

 

[piedwagtail91]

a plastic toothpaste tube with then ends cut off is the best thing that i have found for a tyre boot. a clubmate used one for almost twelve months when he punctured and got a small cut in a brand new tyre. i've always found bits of tyre too bulky.

 

[yello]

I've carried one for years without ever needing it

Same here. That's kind of how you want it to be, I guess... like insurance.

I have a 'proper' Park Tools one, plus a bit of old tyre but I really like the toothpaste tube idea. In truth, pretty much anything like that will do. Bits of cardboard laying about in the gutter, grass verges, etc etc etc

 

[RedBike]

Anything that can be put on the inside of the tyre to stop the tube ballooning out of the hole.

I've only had the need to use a tyre boot twice.

The first time I simply 'repaired' the hole by stuffing a gel wrapper in there. The second time i stuffed a handfull of leaves in there.

On both occations the 'repair' was sufficent to get me home, but the tyre was binned shortly after.

 

[fossyant]

I carry a bit of sand paper - usually tough enough - had to use it yesterday (first time in years) together with a patch to plug a big slit in my tyre wall. Managed 110 PSI for 12 miles before getting chucked in the bin.

 

[tyred]

Definitely worth carrying something. i found myself in this situation with the prospect of a 15 mile walk home. There was an old crisp packet lying on the grass verge at the side of the road so I used that and it was fine.

Even litter bugs do serve a purpose....

 

[summerdays]

So basically given all the junk I carry around in my pannier all the time I would be able to fashion something out of that anyway.

So is there any other use for an old tyre ? It's the first one I've worn out - so I've never had to think of what I do with one before. Bin it I guess?

 

[TheDoctor]

The few times I've needed a tyre boot I've found one within a few minutes. Last time was a peanut bag just off Lindesfarne IIRC.
Worked long enough to get back home - about 15 miles that day and 30-ish the next.

 

[RedBike]

So basically given all the junk I carry around in my pannier all the time I would be able to fashion something out of that anyway.

So is there any other use for an old tyre ? It's the first one I've worn out - so I've never had to think of what I do with one before. Bin it I guess?

I used to just use old tyres on the turbo trainer. Run them until I could see the carcass.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

I always have a bit of cut down old tyre as a boot. I've got many a pal home by handing them over - I have used them myself too. Sometimes I forget I've put one in and the trye can go on for ages.

As for using old tyres - I used to use old tyres as covers for the tubs fitted to my sprint in yee olden days when I were silly young enough to race.

 

[youngoldbloke]

I carry a couple of pieces of green plastic roofing 'underfelt', cut to suitable size. It is thin but incredibly tough.

 

[yello]

I carry a couple of pieces of green plastic roofing 'underfelt', cut to suitable size. It is thin but incredibly tough.

Good call. Easy to stick in the saddle pack too.

 

[canamrider]

+1 on the gel wrapper (you have to eat the gel first!). Got me home on an audax today. Of course, I have proper Park boots for my other 2 bikes but neglected this one.

 

[cygnet]

Paper money works pretty well too. A friend 'forgot' to replace their tyre for a couple of months after I used a note to fix a tear in his sidewall, so if necessary they will last a while.