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Repair cut in sidewall of tire  

post #1 of 7
10/26/03 at 12:41pm
Thread Starter 
Trevor wrote:
> Is is possible to (safely) repair a cut in the sidewall of a tire? I flatted the other day with
> a razor-clean 7mm long straight cut in the sidewall of my front tire. (Conti Grand Prix -
> 700x23c) The cut is perfectly straight and perpendicular to the plys. Can it be sewn, or is the
> tire ruined?

Ah...I had a flint do this to exactly the same type of tyre - it's the disadvantage of skinwalls.

I reckon the tyre is ruined - GPs are quite cheap nowadays though.
post #2 of 7
10/26/03 at 12:41pm

Re: Repair cut in sidewall of tire

"Trevor" <trevor0912@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:M%Qmb.16282$YO5.8067660@news3.news.adelphia.net...
> Is is possible to (safely) repair a cut in the sidewall of a tire? I
flatted
> the other day with a razor-clean 7mm long straight cut in the sidewall
of my
> front tire. (Conti Grand Prix - 700x23c) The cut is perfectly straight
and
> perpendicular to the plys. Can it be sewn, or is the tire ruined?

Perpendicular to the plies ?....the plies cross each other and are at 45* to the run of the tire.
Even if you insert a boot into this tire it will have a bulge and could never be considered safe.
The bulge would be annoying even on a stationary trainer. I've never tried sewing a tire and can't
see how this would work very well. IMO it's a junker.

Phil Holman
post #3 of 7
10/26/03 at 3:15pm

Re: Repair cut in sidewall of tire

Quote:
Originally posted by Trevor
Is is possible to (safely) repair a cut in the sidewall of a tire? I flatted the other day with a
razor-clean 7mm long straight cut in the sidewall of my front tire. (Conti Grand Prix - 700x23c) The
cut is perfectly straight and perpendicular to the plys. Can it be sewn, or is the tire ruined?

Thanks,

Trevor Taylor
Your tire is ruined.
If you try any repair, you will find yourself stuck.
You could do a test repair and see how it holds up, but just ride it on the rear and only on a trainer or rollers.
post #4 of 7
10/26/03 at 4:42pm

Re: Repair cut in sidewall of tire

Unless your bike is worth less than $30.00, I wouldn't ride it.

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"Trevor" <trevor0912@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:M%Qmb.16282$YO5.8067660@news3.news.adelphia.net...
> Is is possible to (safely) repair a cut in the sidewall of a tire? I
flatted
> the other day with a razor-clean 7mm long straight cut in the sidewall of
my
> front tire. (Conti Grand Prix - 700x23c) The cut is perfectly straight and perpendicular to the
> plys. Can it be sewn, or is the tire ruined?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Trevor Taylor
>
>

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Version: 6.0.525 / Virus Database: 322 - Release Date: 10/11/2003
post #5 of 7
10/26/03 at 4:43pm

Re: Repair cut in sidewall of tire

Buy a new tire. Sorry.

Fire up MTB 03
post #6 of 7
10/26/03 at 7:42pm

Re: Repair cut in sidewall of tire

Trevor wrote:
> The votes are in and the answer is a unanimous NO. 'Bout what I figured, but I wanted to check
> before I tossed a $50 tire into the dumpster.
>
> Thanks for the sage advice.
>
>
>>Is is possible to (safely) repair a cut in the sidewall of a tire?

A late "vote" to the contrary: Safe is up to you to decide, but I have done this fairly often with
good results. This is with cuts about 7mm long or so, as you described originally.

I sew those cuts closed with dental floss, then cover the stitches with something to keep from
chafing the tube. Make sure to stich into fabric far enough from the ragged edge that the stiches
are less likely to pull out. I've had best results with Michelin woven-casing tires, though - these
hold the stitches well. Gives a like-new repair for 20 minutes work, though some technique and skill
are required.

With $40 tires, this comes to $120 per hour, worth it to me. Use your own judgement in evaluating
how safe such a repair is, in particular in evaluating how good a job you did.

I'm very careful checking these patching jobs, but I've had hundreds if not a few thousands of miles
without problems on such tires.

Regards, Mark Janeba remove anti-spam in address to reply
post #7 of 7
11/5/03 at 6:54pm

Re: Repair cut in sidewall of tire

Phil Holman wrote:
> Even if you insert a boot into this tire it will have a bulge and could never be considered safe.
> The bulge would be annoying even on a stationary trainer. I've never tried sewing a tire and can't
> see how this would work very well. IMO it's a junker.

Maybe it is. Maybe it isn't.

I have booted tires with sidewall cuts in that range and ridden them for 2500 miles or so until the
tread wore out with no problems. I suppose it's all in how you boot them and how cheap you are.

I never thought of trying to sew a tire. Maybe next time I have one of these I'll try it.

--Bill Davidson
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