Using plastic to reinforce thin tire?

[PistolSlap]

I have just discovered that one of my tires is bald to the point of nearly having a hole in it. I thought that until I am able to get into the shop to get new tires in a couple of days, I could reinforce the spot to prevent further punctures in that area. I decided that since I have no thick rubber, I would use a strip of plastic from a vitamin bottle. I cut a long strip and rounded the edges, and fit it into the tire, two layers thick, then inflated the tire as usual. It seems to be fine, although I haven't ridden on it yet. I figured that since it conforms more or less to the shape of the tire all the way to the bead, and that I removed any sharp corners, it won't damage the tube.
Is there any reason why this is a bad idea, or is it a fine jerry-rig for the next couple days in which I'll do probably do about 80 minutes of riding?
Please let me know your thoughts. Pictures are attached. Thanks!

 

[Yellow Saddle]

I think you'll be OK. Prepare for a schlopp, schlopp sound each time that vitamin bottle hits the road but it will be fine. In spite of your careful rounding of the edges, the tube will show some damage eventually since even soft vinyl tyre liners erode a tube. It may sacrifice the tube, but time will tell. Let us know how the vitamin ride went. Innovative McGyver solutions are always amusing.

 

[RebornBumbler]

Cut-up plastic toothpaste tube is more usual, and the edges likely less sharp enough to damage the tube.

 

[MartinQ]

I butchered an old tyre and cut it into a few strips just in case this happens (keep them in the saddle bag with the spare tubes). Luckily, not had an "opportunity" to test them out yet.

 

[Smurfy]

As others have suggested, the insert will probably rub on the tube, and cause a hole and a flat.

 

[Deleted member 23692]

Cut-up plastic toothpaste tube is more usual, and the edges likely less sharp enough to damage the tube.

This

 

[ufkacbln]

Park make a "Tire Boot" for this very reason

 

[cyberknight]

Another reason to always have a spare tyre at home , i personally would not ride it but if needs must .

 

[jayonabike]

I butchered an old tyre and cut it into a few strips just in case this happens (keep them in the saddle bag with the spare tubes). Luckily, not had an "opportunity" to test them out yet.

This.

I have had the opportunity to try it out and it works

 

[CopperCyclist]

As above, have heard of using an old tyre to do the same. I would imagine yours will work as a temporary fix, but I'd only use it for the minimum time I had to!

 

[jay clock]

As a triathlete the bodge of choice is the foil wrapper off an energy gel..... but I suspect you will be fine

 

[jack smith]

Put the tyre on the rear dont want a front blowout

 

[zacklaws]

I used to use plastic bottles as a source for tyre boots, but I stopped using them when I found that they can become brittle and break up into shards of plastic and puncture your innertube. As a replacement I started useing bits of an old tyre and find that as good as they are for a short term fix, for a long term fix, they will wear a hole in the innertube eventually, even covered over with duck tape to smooth it out. I know, because I ruined a brand new tyre and rather than waste it, glued a chunk of old tyre inside, covered it over with duck tape, it was unoticable whilst riding, but after a few hundred miles, I would puncture through a hole worn in the innertube

 

[andrew_s]

is it a fine jerry-rig for the next couple days in which I'll do probably do about 80 minutes of riding?

It will be fine.
Tyre boots, whether made from vitamin bottle, old tyre or something else, can wear holes in the tube, but it takes a lot longer than a couple of hours. A few hundred miles is about right. It's time to stop riding when you can see what you used to boot the tyre with from the outside.

 

[tyred]

This was commonplace not that long ago and if you read cycle manuals of the 1960s or before, there will be a chapter given to repair of damaged tyres using all sorts of things like tobacco pouches.