[Dopaminer_09]

Bought this Wtb Exiwolf 2.1 tire bout 2 months ago, and it has only a couple hundred miles on it. Today I was riding a rather tame trail and got a flat, probably from a rock. Below, is the picture of the small gash in the tire (in the center of the picture, just to the right of the midline of the tire). Will this hole come back and haunt me, or can I continue to use this tire?

 

[Turveyd]

Depeonds on how deep it is, looks like it's just on the outer, it'll have threads and harder rubber under that so wouldn't worry to much.

Unless you can see through it ofcourse.

 

[Dopaminer_09]

It goes all the way through the tire. Whatever made the hole in the tire made a decent sized hole in the tube too. So am I going to be pretty vulnerable to getting another flat if I keep using this tire? I was thinking maybe I could put a patch on my tube, under the hole in the tire, for some extra protection...

Depeonds on how deep it is, looks like it's just on the outer, it'll have threads and harder rubber under that so wouldn't worry to much.

Unless you can see through it ofcourse.

 

[alexrex20]

or you could buy another tire for $40.

 

[Dopaminer_09]

Well, I actually have another brand new Weirwolf 2.1 sitting in my garage. Just a shame to toss out a practically new (old now) $40 tire, though it seems you are suggesting it is toast.

or you could buy another tire for $40.

 

[boomn]

try patching or "booting" the tire first. I've seen all kinds of methods suggested; searching this forum should pull up some info to start with. It's similar to patching a tube except that you often need to do more to strengthen or stabilize the area.

Park sells tire boots but I've heard some of the ghetto methods work better

 

[Sideknob]

I'd just put a large patch inside the tyre, and then squirt some Superglue Gel into the cut from the outside.

 

[chrisatmtbtips]

Seconded

I'd just put a large patch inside the tyre, and then squirt some Superglue Gel into the cut from the outside.

I'll second that, SideKnob. That's what I'd be doing.

 

[perttime]

third...

Maybe patch the inside with something more rigid than a regular patch or piece of tube? Piece of glass fiber tape under larger rubber patch?

As it is, the hole on the outside would collect all sorts of debris. Better glue it.

 

[alexrex20]

though it seems you are suggesting it is toast.

not at all. i'm merely making a point that $40 is pretty cheap for peace of mind. you sound hesitant to repair it because you feel it will "come back to haunt you."

if you really want a durable repair, use a tire patch for automotive applications.

 

[Dopaminer_09]

Thanks for the replies. I decided to put a tube patch inside the tire and applied Crazy glue gel to the rip on the outside of the tire. I'll take it for a ride tomorrow and see how it holds up.

 

[Pableras]

IMO that gash is not that important, note that it's not too big and it's located in the center of the tread, which is way stronger than the sidewalls. I've had several gashes like that on different tires and no problem so far.

Patch it from the inside if that makes you feel safer. Check the tire periodically (deformation, gash growth,...).

 

[Destin]

I've had many tires do that in the last few years. I've kept riding them all and never had a problem. Not saying its a good idea to keep riding, just sharing my personal experience

 

[savagemann]

Where I ride there are alot of sharp rocks. Some areas are almost gravel like, but the rocks are very squared and sharp.
This causes alot of those small gashes.
I have a tire that had about 15-20 of those small cuts and didn't notice any problems.
I'm not saying it is a great thing, but I have had much worse.

 

[urmb]

Use a Park Boot Patch. http://www.parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=17&item=TB-2
Ride it a bit and see if it gets any worse.
urmb

 

[bvibert]

I'd ride it as is and keep an eye on it.

 

[Dopaminer_09]

Follow-up

So after this fix, I did manage to get another 700-800 miles (including some great miles on Toads at Tahoe) out of this tire without any problems . Yesterday though, I did get a flat that was finally related to the patch. When I put the patch on the tire originally, I had left on the clear plastic sheet that came with the patch. Somewhere I had read that this was no big deal. However, the plastic sheet eventually developed cracks, and the patch developed wear lines/cracks that matched. You can see them in the picture running vertically and horizontally. (I peeled off the remains of the plastic sheet before I took this picture). This led to matching wear lines on the tube, and a hole developed on one of the wear lines on the tube. I put on a new tire today.

Thanks for the replies. I decided to put a tube patch inside the tire and applied Crazy glue gel to the rip on the outside of the tire. I'll take it for a ride tomorrow and see how it holds up.

 

[highdelll]

I've successfully booted/batched tires with up to a 1" gash.
take a piece of denim (the fibers give it strength) 1" bigger than the affected area and some gorilla glue.
Apply the glue to the tire and saturate the denim piece -
Press the two together, allow to cure and voila!