Thread: Slight tire damage: is it safe?

Frackin' omen is what that tire was! Bound and determined to bike to my errand, I got the Sorrento out of the garage and set out. Now, I live on the top of a long, steep hill that I have NEVER bicycled down, mostly for fear of having to climb back UP that same hill. I should also remind the reader that I have a background in motorcycling, have not peddle-biked in almost two months due to illness and, to foreshadow the end of this story,...

Potential for injury is limited if your speed it limited... if you are riding slowly on quiet streets to the bike shop to get a new tire then you are OK... if you are descending long hills or riding in traffic then you can be seriously hurt. New tires are too cheap to take a risk, but if you are comforatable booting the tire then I hear that works too.

That'll teach you a few things, I hope. Anywho: A tire with that sort of damage could be okay with a boot in it. But only if you ride slow and straight home or to the bike-shop. This is assuming the damage occurred while riding and you put the boot on while out riding. If you find this damage back at home - consider yourself lucky and walk to the bike-shop for a new tire.

I'll retract my earlier statement. You need a new tire. The tube will herniate out and pop.

you could put a boot on the inside and keep riding around on it but I'd put on a new tire. The tire hasn't worn much and I'm guessing it's mostly age and low pressure that provided a weak carcass to open up when inflated after a long period of sitting around.

Nice Pic. Replace it. I have tried to boot this type of defect and they have never held up.