yes.


The problem is that the gash is a weak point in the tire where the relatively fragile tube underneath could be damaged leading to another flat. You could keep getting flat after flat simply by debris working into that gash and popping your tube.

Since it's a weak spot in the tire, it is also possible that when inflating the tube, the tube might bulge out of that weak spot and pop....which is very loud and startling to say the least. Not having your ears ring for 2 hours might be worth the price of a tire in of itself.

To fix a tire that has a gash in it while on a ride so that it gets you home. When changing the tube, put something thin, tough, and flat between the gash in the tire and the tube, then inflate the tube. Good things to use are empty gel/Gu packages, a folded up dollar bill, flexible piece of plastic, etc., This will serve as a cover over the gash to protect the tube underneath.

Depending on how big the gash is.

[b]"From the pages of a cheap ba$tard."[/b]

I ran over a peice of metal on my racing chair once, about 2 years ago. I tore a "gash" about 3/4 inch long. I limped home on the flat. I replaced the tube.. To block the gash I stuffed a 1 dollar bill between the tube and the tire. It's still there today.

If you have a sponsor paying for your tires, go for it. But if your the average recreational racer and not making a living from it, try the dollar bill and ride on it. If it fails, then the gash is bigger than is sounds. Then go buy a tire.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by broadbill:
[b]To fix a tire that has a gash in it while on a ride so that it gets you home. When changing the tube, put something thin, tough, and flat between the gash in the tire and the tube, then inflate the tube. Good things to use are empty gel/Gu packages, a folded up dollar bill, flexible piece of plastic, etc., This will serve as a cover over the gash to protect the tube underneath. [/b]<HR>

Mostly on topic... I don't suppose anyone has a good bike newbie list of a half dozen quality tires, tubes and wheels?

They all look/sound the same to me. I know I'm running 700x23 (that's what it says on the tire!) and assume I put in 700x18 tubes. The wheels are whatever came with my bike (Trek 1500) and I'm sure they're ridable but not great.

If you are looking for good training tires, I like the continental Ultra Gatorskins, they are super tough, back when I was really really poor, I put over 4,000 miles on a pair, by the end, I got a wicked shimmy on descents, but I went 4,000 miles without buying new rubber.

FWIW, the maxxis re-treads are supposed to be tough, they are ****, I wore a pair out completely within about 900 miles.