sidewall repair

Since 2001, over 90,000 cyclist's have joined Cycling Forums to discuss topics from general cycling to equipment, training, racing and travel or vacation destinations (especially in europe during the tour de france). We also feature an great deals in our online store, 100's of articles, classifieds and product reviews.

I just got some brand new Continental Ultra 3000 tires, and in less than 20
miles I had a sidewall blowout. There's about a 1/8" tear in the sidewall
now. So I figured I'd try to fix the tire -- I cut up an old MTB tube and
pasted in two layers, and added a couple layers of electrical tape for good
measure. Now when I inflate it, I start to see a bulge at around 40psi. Is
this gonna hold if I pump it up to 110? Is there a proper way to fix these
things?

- mark

On Mon, 05 Apr 2004 18:43:04 -0700, Mark Vieselmeyer wrote:

> I just got some brand new Continental Ultra 3000 tires, and in less than 20
> miles I had a sidewall blowout. There's about a 1/8" tear in the sidewall
> now. So I figured I'd try to fix the tire -- I cut up an old MTB tube and
> pasted in two layers, and added a couple layers of electrical tape for good
> measure. Now when I inflate it, I start to see a bulge at around 40psi. Is
> this gonna hold if I pump it up to 110? Is there a proper way to fix these
> things?
>
> - mark

I did something similar - used one of those 'stick on' patches that I had
lying around. The area would bulge a bit when inflated, but held on until
I wore the tyre out.
--

phillip brown

Mark Vieselmeyer wrote:
> I just got some brand new Continental Ultra 3000 tires, and in less
> than 20 miles I had a sidewall blowout. There's about a 1/8" tear in
> the sidewall now. So I figured I'd try to fix the tire -- I cut up
> an old MTB tube and pasted in two layers, and added a couple layers
> of electrical tape for good measure. Now when I inflate it, I start
> to see a bulge at around 40psi. Is this gonna hold if I pump it up
> to 110? Is there a proper way to fix these things?

Only if you want the nickname "KaBoom!".

I'd return the tire and ask for a replacement (unless you hit something and
aren't telling us or don't know; any scuff marks near the tear?).

At the very least use a proper tire boot and only on the rear wheel.

Bill "some things just not worth the risk" S.

Mark Vieselmeyer wrote in part:

<< I just got some brand new Continental Ultra 3000 tires, and in less than 20
miles I had a sidewall blowout. ... >>


Bill "funny clarifying quote guy" S. is right.

Also: Conti sidewalls are notorious. Personally stopped buying them after
several bad sidewall experiences, but some months ago inherited the very same
tire in question on a wheel I bought used. So I have been using that sucker,
and, sure enough, the sidewall is completely falling apart. It seems to be
happening spontaneously, the threads popping out and flailing around in the
wind. The tire has a noticeably furry appearance with all the loose threads,
and you can see where it is about to "wear" completely through in spots. I am
not sure about the age of this tire but it seemed rather new and unfurry when I
started riding it. It is otherwise a nice tire.

Robert

"R15757" <r15757@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20040406005212.18671.00000882@mb-m07.aol.com...
> Mark Vieselmeyer wrote in part:
>
> << I just got some brand new Continental Ultra 3000 tires, and in less
than 20
> miles I had a sidewall blowout. ... >>
>
>
> Bill "funny clarifying quote guy" S. is right.
>
> Also: Conti sidewalls are notorious. Personally stopped buying them after
> several bad sidewall experiences, but some months ago inherited the very
same
> tire in question on a wheel I bought used. So I have been using that
sucker,
> and, sure enough, the sidewall is completely falling apart. It seems to be
> happening spontaneously, the threads popping out and flailing around in
the
> wind. The tire has a noticeably furry appearance with all the loose
threads,
> and you can see where it is about to "wear" completely through in spots. I
am
> not sure about the age of this tire but it seemed rather new and unfurry
when I
> started riding it. It is otherwise a nice tire.

I had Contis that had this kind of appearance... the tires were 10 years
old, dry-rotted, and they worked and cornered just fine. It was all well
until the cross-plies ruptured, bulging the tire off to the side and making
a noticeable bump in each rotation.

I began skidding the wheel out for shits and giggles because I wanted new
tires anyways. It never actually wore through.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

S o r n i <sorni@bite-me.san.rr.com> wrote:
: Mark Vieselmeyer wrote:
:> I just got some brand new Continental Ultra 3000 tires, and in less
:> than 20 miles I had a sidewall blowout. There's about a 1/8" tear in
:> the sidewall now. So I figured I'd try to fix the tire -- I cut up
:> an old MTB tube and pasted in two layers, and added a couple layers
:> of electrical tape for good measure. Now when I inflate it, I start
:> to see a bulge at around 40psi. Is this gonna hold if I pump it up
:> to 110? Is there a proper way to fix these things?

: Only if you want the nickname "KaBoom!".

: I'd return the tire and ask for a replacement (unless you hit something and
: aren't telling us or don't know; any scuff marks near the tear?).

I didn't hit anything at the time it blew, but there were various bumps and
debris earlier in the ride. It looks like all it would take is a small
scratch to initiate a tear. I got it for $10 via mail order, so it's hardly
worth the postage to return it.

: At the very least use a proper tire boot

Is that the little strip of vinyl that comes in the patch kit? It didn't
seem very substantial.

: and only on the rear wheel.

Good idea, I hadn't thought of that.

BTW, I went ahead and pumped it up the rest of the way and the bulge didn't
grow nearly as much as I'd expected. I think I'll go ahead and try it out,
but I'll mount it on the rear.

- mark (always wanted a cool nickname anyway)

On 5 Apr 2004 18:43:04 -0700, Mark Vieselmeyer
<mviesel@hpb15424.boi.hp.com> may have said:

>I just got some brand new Continental Ultra 3000 tires, and in less than 20
>miles I had a sidewall blowout. There's about a 1/8" tear in the sidewall
>now.

Was this due to a puncture, or did the tire fail without the action of
a foreign object? The latter would be a warranty matter.

>So I figured I'd try to fix the tire -- I cut up an old MTB tube and
>pasted in two layers, and added a couple layers of electrical tape for good
>measure. Now when I inflate it, I start to see a bulge at around 40psi. Is
>this gonna hold if I pump it up to 110?

Not bloody likely.

>Is there a proper way to fix these things?

In my experience, the only reliable long-term repair for a multi-cord
or otherwise significant cut is a replacement tire. In an emergency,
a sleeve or patch of some sort may get you home, but a cut in the
sidewall compromises the tire's structural integrity; it's not going
to do anything but get worse.



--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Mark Vieselmeyer wrote:
> S o r n i <sorni@bite-me.san.rr.com> wrote:

>> At the very least use a proper tire boot
>
> Is that the little strip of vinyl that comes in the patch kit? It
> didn't seem very substantial.

No. Park sells 'em in pairs, I believe -- they're rectangular-shaped thick
patches, definitely more substantial than tube patches.

Bill "but for a $10 tire, I'd just chuck it" S.

R15757 wrote:
> Mark Vieselmeyer wrote in part:
>
> << I just got some brand new Continental Ultra 3000 tires, and in
> less than 20 miles I had a sidewall blowout. ... >>
>
>
> Bill "funny clarifying quote guy" S. is right.

I've been called worse!

Bill "but let's not drag my ex into this" S.

On Mon, 05 Apr 2004 18:43:04 -0700, Mark Vieselmeyer wrote:

> I just got some brand new Continental Ultra 3000 tires, and in less than 20
> miles I had a sidewall blowout. There's about a 1/8" tear in the sidewall
> now. So I figured I'd try to fix the tire -- I cut up an old MTB tube and
> pasted in two layers, and added a couple layers of electrical tape for good
> measure. Now when I inflate it, I start to see a bulge at around 40psi. Is
> this gonna hold if I pump it up to 110? Is there a proper way to fix these
> things?

No and yes. No, an inner tube is not going to hold. The proper way to
temporarily repair such a cut is to use a "boot". I make mine out of the
casing of an old tubular. If you don't have one of those, there is boot
material sold. It needs to have fiber reinforcement (the old tubular
casing is silk, so plenty strong enough), and it needs to be large. I use
a 2-3" long section of tire, and wrap it around the tube in the area of
the cut.

But this really is a temporary repair. You need to replace the tire.

Why does this happen so much more frequently with Continentals? It sure
seems to. Why, then, do people keep buying them?

--

David L. Johnson

__o | A mathematician is a machine for turning coffee into theorems.
_`\(,_ | -- Paul Erdos
(_)/ (_) |

So Werehatrack <rault00@earthWEEDSlink.net> says:


>In an emergency,
>a sleeve or patch of some sort may get you home, but a cut in the
>sidewall compromises the tire's structural integrity; it's not going
>to do anything but get worse.


An emergency trick to get you home that I've seen work is a folded
dollar bill. Once you're home though throw the damn tire out, it's
done.

jeffb

In article <4071fd18@usenet01.boi.hp.com>, mviesel@hpb15424.boi.hp.com says...
>
>
>I just got some brand new Continental Ultra 3000 tires, and in less than 20
>miles I had a sidewall blowout. There's about a 1/8" tear in the sidewall
>now. So I figured I'd try to fix the tire -- I cut up an old MTB tube and
>pasted in two layers, and added a couple layers of electrical tape for good
>measure. Now when I inflate it, I start to see a bulge at around 40psi. Is
>this gonna hold if I pump it up to 110?

Obviously no. You might try using some duct tape as a boot, but I think
the same thing will happen.

>Is there a proper way to fix these things?

Yes. You remove the tire and then put on a new one. Sucks, but that's
what you need to do.
------------
Alex

On Tue, 06 Apr 2004 19:44:09 GMT, jeffbonny <jeffbonny@REMCAPSshaw.ca>
may have said:

>So Werehatrack <rault00@earthWEEDSlink.net> says:
>
>
>>In an emergency,
>>a sleeve or patch of some sort may get you home, but a cut in the
>>sidewall compromises the tire's structural integrity; it's not going
>>to do anything but get worse.
>
>An emergency trick to get you home that I've seen work is a folded
>dollar bill.

I've seen that one, and also using a four-layer-thick piece of
Wal-Mart plastic sack stiffened with a bit of patch glue. Those
plastic sacks are more plentiful than starlings in some areas.

>Once you're home though throw the damn tire out, it's
>done.

No argument there.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

On Tue, 06 Apr 2004 14:25:27 -0400, "David L. Johnson"
<david.johnson@lehigh.edu> may have said:

>Why does this happen so much more frequently with Continentals? It sure
>seems to. Why, then, do people keep buying them?

Maybe because Conti makes a pretty good car tire? Of course, in the
US market, they're not exactly well-known even for those.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Alex Rodriguez <adr5@columbia.edu> wrote:
: In article <4071fd18@usenet01.boi.hp.com>, mviesel@hpb15424.boi.hp.com says...
:>
:>
:>I just got some brand new Continental Ultra 3000 tires, and in less than 20
:>miles I had a sidewall blowout. There's about a 1/8" tear in the sidewall
:>now. So I figured I'd try to fix the tire -- I cut up an old MTB tube and
:>pasted in two layers, and added a couple layers of electrical tape for good
:>measure. Now when I inflate it, I start to see a bulge at around 40psi. Is
:>this gonna hold if I pump it up to 110?

: Obviously no. You might try using some duct tape as a boot, but I think
: the same thing will happen.

:>Is there a proper way to fix these things?

: Yes. You remove the tire and then put on a new one. Sucks, but that's
: what you need to do.

Damn. And here I was so happy to have matching tires for once.

Oh well, thanks for your comments everyone!

- mark

> But this really is a temporary repair. You need to replace the tire.

A person's comfort level is really the only limiting factor here. I rode a
tire with a 1-inch gash directly down the center of the tread for probably
50 miles before I got a new tire because I was sick of the hop, using a milk
carton shim. It was on my commuter, so I didn't care.

I'm going to try to sew it back up and use it again when I have the time.
Not everyone can buy new tires "just because." Then again, my comfort level
is obviously pretty high.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

<snip>
"Mark Vieselmeyer" <mviesel@hpb15424.boi.hp.com> asks


>I had a sidewall blowout..... There's about a 1/8" tear in the sidewall
> now. .....Is there a proper way to fix these things?


Mark,

The Rivendell Reader had an article about this, I think last year. If you
can locate the article (all of the Rivendell Readers are available on CD
from Rivendell) it may improve on my version.

I use: super glue gel, rubber cement (same thing used to patch an
innertube), a cut up plastic milk bottle, a piece of strong cloth (canvas
scrap). First, I glued (super glue gel) the tear. (By the way, I carry
superglue gel in my toolkit, and glue puncture wounds etc in the tire when I
get them.) Then I cut an oval boot (from the plastic milk bottle) to overlap
the tear by probably >1/4 inch on all sides. I glued (with rubber cement:
apply to both surfaces, let dry, join) the plastic to a piece of canvas (to
protect the innertube from the plastic boot). Then I glued (rubber cement,
method as described above) the boot, plastic side against the tear, over the
tear. I've been riding an Avocet road 105 psi successfully for probably
500 to 1000 miles this way, after running over a sharp piece of metal.
I've read advise against booting a bike tire, and it may be sound advice.
Nonetheless, this method has worked for me.

BTW, if you are looking for good cheap tires, this is a great time of the
year to find them in the LBS trash. Seems like lots of cyclists like to
start of the season with a new set of tires (this years model), although
there are plenty of miles left in the old ones -- especially the one that
was on front. I usually find them with the innertubes. At least where I
live the inner tubes may be even in better shape than the tires. They
almost never are patched. (Hey, why patch a tube when you can put in a new
one?)

Regards,
Larry "likes to ride down to the threads" Fieman

> BTW, if you are looking for good cheap tires, this is a great time of the
> year to find them in the LBS trash. Seems like lots of cyclists like to

Awesome, another dumpster diver!!! *high-five*

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

I fixed a conti GP tyre, using a regular patch, reinforced with a couple of
layers of duct tape.

It did the job ok. But I never had the confidence in it to inflate it up to
full pressure. Then again - full pressure on the 700x20c size was 150psi! I
inflated it up to 110 with minimal bulging on the damaged area

Paul


"Mark Vieselmeyer" <mviesel@hpb15424.boi.hp.com> wrote in message
news:4071fd18@usenet01.boi.hp.com...
> I just got some brand new Continental Ultra 3000 tires, and in less than
20
> miles I had a sidewall blowout. There's about a 1/8" tear in the sidewall
> now. So I figured I'd try to fix the tire -- I cut up an old MTB tube and
> pasted in two layers, and added a couple layers of electrical tape for
good
> measure. Now when I inflate it, I start to see a bulge at around 40psi.
Is
> this gonna hold if I pump it up to 110? Is there a proper way to fix
these
> things?
>
> - mark
>
>

"
> Awesome, another dumpster diver!!! *high-five*
>
> --
> Phil, Squid-in-Training,

Joe Kurmaski's, AKA The Metal Cowboy, latest book "Riding Outside the Lines"
has a great story about a master dumpster diver in Mexico.
<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1400047986/qid=1081339296/sr=
1-2/ref=sr_1_2/002-0516632-0394420?v=glance&s=books>

Larry