Conti GPS 4000s cut in tread question

[Dombo]

Numpty question possibly - I have the above tyres, only 4 months old with about 300 miles on them. Noticed yesterday a 1 cm cut in the rolling surface of the front one (not sidewall) going at right angles to direction of travel. I checked inside and it does not penetrate the inner casing beads.
Question is, is it ok to ride? Can it be fixed, eg fill the cut with superglue or similar?

And no, I won't hold anyone responsible if they say yes and is subsequently blows - that's my call whether I ride it or not.

[mlocke]

Hi Dombo

I use these and find they cut quite easily but I keep riding till I get repeated punctures which ususally takes a while and I think normally more than 300 miles

Personally I think i would try to glue it. If the cut is big maybe something inside for a bit extra protection and I would keep on riding it

Mark

[Snoop Doug]

I've used superglue on 'em in the past with no problems

[-Adam-]

I am riding GP 4000s right now, and so far I havn't actually cut them (touch wood).

However, the Michelin ProRace2s that I rode and raced on all winter up to Easter were to be quite frank, cut to ribbons. Though they still rode as good as new, with no issues with blow outs. I believe they are a softer tyre too, so at an educated guess I would say your GP4000s should be good.

You could glue the cut together, I know people who do. Personally I have never bothered. But it would be wise to keep an eye on it, and make sure bits of grit etc dont get stuck in it as eventually they will cause a puncture.

[Andrew G]

Racing spec tyres with softer compound often cut.
Regular checks and flint removal is important.

Repairing the cuts is easy and worth doing to avoid stuff getting in the cut and giving you many many punctures.

Your Blue Peter cut out and keep guide:

1) Take tyre off wheel.
2) Remove all flints, glass etc.
3) Find 1st cut of notable size.
4) Squeeze tyre to open up the cut.
5) Drop in a small blob of super glue.
6) Squeeze cut closed and hold. Best to wipe away excess glue with wet cloth now. Also helps to fold tyre in on the cut to really force it closed tight while the glue starts to set. Hold for about a minute.
7) Move on to next cut and repeat process.
Leave tyre for 24 hours (or at least overnight) before re-fitting to allow the glue to fully harden. If you re-fit and inflate back up to 100psi straight away the glue hasn't set enough and it can open the cuts up a bit.

I do this whenever I notice a larger/deeper cut (even down as deep as the casing so long as it hasn't gone all the way through). Never had a problem with a "repaired" tyre like this, the cuts are never that big or they'd have caused the tyre to fail and the tube to blow out otherwise.

[Stu Merckx Man]

i also use and race on conti 4000s, and have got some little holes and cuts in them. ive done probably about 1500 miles on them and they are still good.

the glue idea sounds good, ive never done it yet though.

what i do to them is- take off the tyre, fine the split/hole. then i get a little puncture repair pad and glue it on underneath it, on the inside of the tyre. it seams to work fine.

i used to use Michelin ProRace2s aswell, and they always got ripped to shreds. it worked well doing it on them, i got about 2500 miles on thoughs without a single blow out, and they were ripped to shreds by the time i binned them!

[-Adam-]

Still think the Michelin's grip better mind, even if they do cut badly.

My choice to use GP4000s is primarily financial and team orders rather than actual preference

[Stu Merckx Man]

yeh the michelins saw me through a whole season of racing at palace, with real good grip round that hairpin and the rest of those flying left handers...and to a win

[Dombo]

Thanks guys.
So here I am, in my garage, in the dark, one hand superglued to my bike's front wheel...I've been here some time now and it's getting cold....and my blackberry battery is dy

[Snoop Doug]

[quote="Dombo"]Thanks guys.
So here I am, in my garage, in the dark, one hand superglued to my bike's front wheel...I've been here some time now and it's getting cold....and my blackberry battery is dy

[Andrew G]

5) Drop in a small blob of super glue

[Marky Mark]

I had an existing 4000 on the rear wheel.
I have put a NEW 4000 on the front wheel now so they match.
It looks like it's still covered with the mould release agent like silicon (looks deadly), Should I just leave it and let my first ride scrub it off or does anybody prepare the tyre in any shape or form?
I would like to ride it tonight and it doesn't look like it's going to rain so the roads should be dry.
Marky Mark

[Ivor]

[quote="Marky Mark"]I had an existing 4000 on the rear wheel.
I have put a NEW 4000 on the front wheel now so they match.
It looks like it's still covered with the mould release agent like silicon (looks deadly), Should I just leave it and let my first ride scrub it off or does anybody prepare the tyre in any shape or form?
I would like to ride it tonight and it doesn't look like it's going to rain so the roads should be dry.
Marky Mark

[adrian]

Erratum:

1) should read: Get a grown-up to help you.

I've run GP4000Ss on two bikes for a year and six months respectively (commuting every day on the latter) without so much as a gnat's J*p's-eye. But I suppose that won't come as much consolation to you at this point.

[Andrew G]

Lovely image there Adrian. You do know what you've done now though, like saying "I never get punctures".