sidewall repair

ZeeExSixAre

> 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

Larry Fieman

<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

ZeeExSixAre

> 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

Katharine & Paul

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
>
>