When is a Tyre replacement needed

[Redmamba]

I am a relative newbie. I have been riding for about 10 months. Yesterday I found a shard of glass stuck in the front Tyre of my road bike. I removed it and it didn't go all the way though so the tube is not visible. There is a scuff over the rubber only about 3mm x 6mm and about 2mm deep. I am concerned as I am riding my first 100km race in 10days. Should I replace the tyre?

 

[curzons246]

New tyre, you know it makes sense. Good luck with the race.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

It sounds to me as if the tyre is still perfectly usable and safe. Tyres have two basic components: a webbing of cords that criss-cross from one side to the other forming a kind of net and, rubber moulded around the webbing.

Punctures go through the rubber and sometimes glass cut one or two of the cords too. However, if the tyre doesn't bulge when inflated, the cords are fine and we re-use the tyre. Most of us have tyres with dozens of little holes and we use them right up to the point when the rubber is worn away from normal wear.

If we were to throw tyres away after each little puncture or mishap we would be very poor indeed.

 

[Smokin Joe]

I am a relative newbie. I have been riding for about 10 months. Yesterday I found a shard of glass stuck in the front Tyre of my road bike. I removed it and it didn't go all the way though so the tube is not visible. There is a scuff over the rubber only about 3mm x 6mm and about 2mm deep. I am concerned as I am riding my first 100km race in 10days. Should I replace the tyre?

Which race is that?

 

[Redmamba]

Which race is that?

Amashova 106km Classic Pietermaritzburg to Durban in SA.

 

[huggy]

New tyres for the race, there no reason not to and a busted tyre in the race, no matter how remote a chance will wreck the day. You can put the old ones back on after the race and ride them till they die.