Cut in tubeless road tyre - fix or replace

[Sarkmeister]

Evening all

You might remember my concerns about the tubeless only nature of the Zipp 303s wheels I fitted to my road bike a couple of months ago.

Well, last weekend it happened. I got a big puncture that the sealant failed to seal. I ended up walking home as luckily it happen with the last mile of a 65mile ride.

It's a reasonably big cut, probably 6-7mm ish. I have used a tubeless tyre patch on the inside and replaced all the sealant in an attempt to fix it. When I pumped it up it initially leaked very slightly (somehow through the patch on the inside), but now looks to have sealed. However, there is still a fairly big visible cut on the tyre.

Is riding a road bike with a cut in the tyre a stupid idea? Am I going to die?

Alternatively, is there a further repair I can undertake?

Or should I just buy a new tyre (trying to avoid this as this tyre is virtually brand new and cost £60)?

See picture below:

[HughG]

I got a near identical gash in a 3 week old Pro One Evo last week, albeit mines a clincher/tubed one. I decided to glue it for the time being but change it before going to the alps next month, strategy would be the same if I was still ruining tubeless.

Edited by HughG on Wednesday 17th May 18:19

[Sarkmeister]

Do you mind me asking what you glued it with? Filling the hole with something was one of my options.

[addey]

When I get cuts like that in my tubeless tyres I patch the inside of the tyre with normal inner tube repair patches - I find the lezyne ones to be the best

https://www.merlincycles.com/lezyne-smart-kit-punc...

Make sure the inside of the tyre is clean and dry before applying and you shouldn't get any leakage. Don't worry about the cut itself, in the past I've tried a blob of super glue but it doesn't really do anything and eventually disappears. By the time my tyres are 'end of life' they'll have several cuts like yours. You can even then change to tubes and get another couple of 1000 Kms use out of them!

[Sarkmeister]

Cheers.

Not sure why the patch didn't work properly. If it wasn't for all the mess with the sealant I'd take the tyre off and try again.

Sadly using a innertube isn't, in theory, an option for these wheels. They are hookless so they you're only supposed to use a tube in an emergency.

[HughG]

Sarkmeister said:

Do you mind me asking what you glued it with? Filling the hole with something was one of my options.

Normal vulcanising/patch glue, I've heard of people using superglue as well to good effect. If tubeless then I'd have used a noodle/plug (like these https://www.wiggle.com/p/lezyne-classic-tubeless-k... ) initially then the vulcanising glue.

[okgo]

Isn’t this what dynaplug is for? Bacon strips too but I hear the former is the nuts.

[upsidedownmark]

Well, like others I've patched the inside of the tyre and just got on with it, no ill effects. You get tubeless repair plugs on car tyres, so I can't say I'm too concerned.

[Julian Scott]

I use dynaplugs for on-ride repairs that sealant won't fix - only had one, but with that weakness, personally, I played safe and replaced the tyre.

I know others that repair, and I've never heard of a patch repair causing issues, but two friends have had dynaplugs fail on subsequent rides.

[Gareth79]

The "bacon strips" aren't great for road tubeless, I tried it once and it was forced out on a hot ride a few weeks later. I have repaired the inside of larger punctures a few times successfully, I use regular patch contact adhesive and clamp overnight using a G-clamp.

I've just googled and these mini mushroom patches look like they would work very well though - can't find them for sale yet though:

https://bikerumor.com/lezyne-2022-eurobike-tubeles...

[Julian Scott]

Gareth79 said:

The "bacon strips" aren't great for road tubeless, I tried it once and it was forced out on a hot ride a few weeks later. I have repaired the inside of larger punctures a few times successfully, I use regular patch contact adhesive and clamp overnight using a G-clamp.

I've just googled and these mini mushroom patches look like they would work very well though - can't find them for sale yet though:

https://bikerumor.com/lezyne-2022-eurobike-tubeles...

I've always viewed bacon strips as a 'get you home', not a repair.

[Sarkmeister]

Well I came back to the tyre yesterday and it has fully deflated. I removed, put a new patch over the hole and had another go at sealing it. One day later the air is still very slowly leaking out of the hole.

I've therefore given up and and ordered a new tyre....

[MrBarry123]

I know you’ve since ordered a new tyre OP but I’ve had good success with using Dynaplugs on cuts like the one in your example.

[WindyCommon]

I think you’ve been a bit unlucky there. I’ve seen similar damage repaired without issue.

[wobert]

If it’s patched on the inside, then the carcass is already supported from a loading POV.

I’d be inclined to superglue the cut, it’s worked for me before successfully.

[Sarkmeister]

Thought I'd update this with what I ended up doing.

Eventually, after patching it twice, and leaving it for 2 weeks, the hole sealed. However, there was still a gaping hole in the tyre. I've therefore replace the tyre entirely. The rim tape was also badly applied so I'l totally redone everything and a few rides later it looks like it has sorted itself.

In a way I'm glad it happened, as it gave me a chance to have a proper go at setting it up myself rather than using a shop. It's actually pretty easy.