sidewall repair

Mark Vieselmeyer 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. 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 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. 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" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mark Vieselmeyer wrote in part:

<< I just got some brand new Continental Ultra 3000 tires,
and in less

than 20

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

tire in question on a wheel I bought used. So I have been
using that

sucker,

Quoted message said:

and, sure enough, the sidewall is completely falling
apart. It seems to be happening spontaneously, the threads
popping out and flailing around in

the

Quoted message said:

wind. The tire has a noticeably furry appearance with all
the loose

threads,

Quoted message said:

and you can see where it is about to "wear" completely
through in spots. I

am

Quoted message said:

not sure about the age of this tire but it seemed rather
new and unfurry

when I

Quoted message said:

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 [censored] and giggles because
I wanted new tires anyways. It never actually wore through.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

S o r n i <[email hidden]> 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

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.

Quoted message said:

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.

Quoted message said:

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 said:

S o r n i <[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

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 said:

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.

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message 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. 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.

Quoted message said:

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

So Werehatrack <[email hidden]> says:

Quoted message said:

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

On Tue, 06 Apr 2004 14:25:27 -0400, "David L. Johnson"

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.

On Tue, 06 Apr 2004 19:44:09 GMT, jeffbonny <[email hidden]>

may have said:

So Werehatrack <[email hidden]> says:

Quoted message said:

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.

Quoted message said:

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.

Alex Rodriguez <[email hidden]> wrote:
: In article <[email hidden]>,
: [email hidden] 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

Quoted message said:

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" <[email hidden]> asks

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

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" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I just got some brand new Continental Ultra 3000 tires,
and in less than

20

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

measure. Now when I inflate it, I start to see a bulge at
around 40psi.

Is

Quoted message said:

this gonna hold if I pump it up to 110? Is there a proper
way to fix

these

Quoted message said:

things?

- mark

"

Quoted message said:

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. <amazon.comamazon.comOpen ↗
/1400047986/qid=1081339296/sr= 1-2/ref=sr_1_2/002-0516632-
0394420?v=glance&s=books>

Larry

"David L. Johnson" <[email hidden]> wrote .

Quoted message said:

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

After a few sidewall failures, I stopped one day (a few
years ago) on the way to the checkout counter with 2 $50
replacements and said to myself: "What the @$#$%^# am I
doing?" I've never looked back. Most of my tires since then
have been Japanese, in the $10=15 range. I haven't noticed
any difference in performance, and the durability has
improved significantly. I actually have a brand-new Conti
that someone gave me after suffering a similar bunch of
failures. I keep it as a foldable spare for ultra rides. So
far (3-4 yrs) I've never mounted it. I think Conti's are
excellent for that purpose ;-)