ddeand 

When I removed this tire from the rim while replacing a spoke, I noticed that there was a spot where the outer tread was separating from the casing. These tires are still in great condition, and I really like them (fortunately, I have a second set that I swapped onto the rims). But I need to fix this delamination. I doubt I can get any help from the Challenge Tire people (although, I'll try), so I think my best bet is to repair the separation. Do any of you have any suggestions for adhesives that will work well? I will keep using this tire until it gives out. I have nearby Home Depot, Harbor Freight, and other industrial supply places. Any ideas?

Crankycrank

That tire is done for. No adhesive that I'm aware of can fix that and is probably a defect which could mean it will continue to come apart. Let us know if you have any luck with Challenge.

ddeand 

I guess that was my initial reaction, too. I sent off a message to Challenge, so we'll see if I hear from them.

Bigbus

I've never heard of repairing of de-laminated tire, How old is it?

AnkleWork

Thanks for that =)

BTW that tire was defective from new.

Andrew R Stewart 

Tread cap delamination isn't super rare, luckily not too common either. I've seen more with sew ups (decades ago) and flat resistant belted tires (much more current) more then with others. The hand lay up of those sew ups and the belt material (Kevlar frequently) not liking to bond to other materials seem to drive the delamination many times.

I totally agree that this tire should not be trusted, except as a wall hanger/display. It will be interesting how Challenge address this. I don't expect much. Andy

Slightspeed

You can proably get a nice trash can at Home Depot. That's where this tire belongs, 😡

Not delamination, but I had a Continental Gatorskin that developed a series of bubbles on the tire tread contact area all around the tire. It made a "squishy" sound as I rode it, then, feeling the fire circumference, I could feel the bubbles. Probably a sign of pre-delamination, if that's a word. Trash can for it too. Not worth messing with.

gearbasher

I've had two Vittoria Rubino Pros do that. But, it was after they were almost completely worn out.

79pmooney

I bet that contractor's contact cement would cure that. (The stuff for gluing down countertops. The stuff you don't want to breath. I'd mount the tire, inflate it to full pressure, then follow the glue instructions to the "T". If it doesn't work, you still have the rest of the glue can for tire boots in the future. (With dacron sailcloth - real sailcloth from a sailmaker, not "sailcloth" from Joanne's Fabrics - and that glue, the boots outlast the tires. Ask nicely and they might give you a scrap. A square foot will do many tires.)

Ben

dsbrantjr

If the vulcanized bond didn't hold it is quite unlikely that any adhesive will hold either. Toss it.

AnkleWork

+1
Tire tread and sidewall rubber is blended with wax that continuously seeps to the surface to reduce oxidation. Thus the tire's components must be cured together with heat and pressure, and glue rarely sticks well.

pdlamb

Add another vote to "It's already worn out."

The counter top contact cement idea is intriguing, but I suspect the continual flexing will crack the adhesive rather quickly and you'll be right back where you started. Except a few miles from home and missing a tire...

ddeand 

Brief update - I got a response from the Home Office. Makes sense. I’ll try to do the local thing and then glue it myself if I need to.

Dear Dean,

I'm Gianluca from Challenge tires.
Please note all the warranty replacement request need to pass through the vendor who will take care of your request valuing the situation.

For small delamination could be possible to use glue, but for bigger ones, re-gluing is not recommended.

Regards

Gianluca Modesti

gearbasher

Wow, with the litigious world we live in, I'm surprised you received an answer like that.

ddeand 

So . . . I learned some interesting stuff this morning about these tires. First, the Challenge company has been bought by Donnelly (who also bought Clement a couple years ago), and they are not honoring the Challenge warrantee. But I talked with a shop manager who said that these tires were designed to be retreaded - that there is actually a machine that heats and strips the outer tread off the casing so a new one can be applied. I guess that’s what they mean when they describe these tires as hand-made. If you look at my original photo, you can see that the outer tread is laminated (not vulcanized) to the casing. According to the shop guy, I can get the appropriate adhesive at Hobby Lobby. I’ll probably try to do a repair and use this tire as a backup - nothing to lose, really. Interesting, though.

Andrew R Stewart 

I've never heard of retreading a bike tire before. Given the history of automotive (and truck) retreaded tires I would be hesitant to do so. Given the cost to send the tire back to the factory I really doubt that I would do it anyway. Andy

Miele Man

I can just imagine what would happen if a retreaded bicycle tire lost most of it's tread on a fast descent especially if it were the front tire. It'd most likely be as bad as rolling a tubular tire.

Cheers

Andrew R Stewart 

I do wonder if the retreading reference was a lost in translation thing. Hand laid up tread caps is as old as pneumatic tires are (actually far older is iron banded wagon wheels count ) Having a machine to aid/do this is no big jump. But removal of old tread caps is just beyond my belief, at least for bike tires. The reasons to do it in the dual track vehicles (cars) is one of cost. Back in the day retreaded car tires were about half the cost of new (IIRC). There was an entire industry devoted to this included the local tire shop to facilitate the transportation and distribution. That doesn't really exist in our bike business. I just can't see the LBS being willing to loose their largest seller, rubber, to save their customer what likely would amount to a few dollars and take time. But as the bike retail world is going to non brick and mortar maybe this will be the future... Andy

Miele Man

Probably cost as much if not more for a shop to remove the old tread and put on a new one.

Cheers

noglider 

If you do repair the tire, use it only on the rear so you're not injured if it fails.

ddeand 

Thanks for all the comments, guys. Just to clarify a few things: First, IF I decide to repair the tire, I'll go back to the shop and get more info from the guy who described the retread process (I does sound a little odd). I really don't have much to lose if I screw it up. Second, I have another set of these tires, so I essentially still have a good set and a spare (not counting the delam). Third, if I do the repair, it will become my "last ditch" option if I ever get to the point where I need a spare. And finally,as noglider mentioned, the tire would go on the rear rim - that just makes sense. The irony is that I would still be riding this tire if I hadn't busted the top of a nipple off on one of the front spokes. I found the delam when I replaced the nipple.

Miele Man

Had you not found the delaminating and had kept riding the tire might have failed catastrophically at the worst possible moment such as sprinting through a gap in traffic.

Bigbus

Unless you're packing those "spares" with you, it's probably just as simple to buy new when you wear through what you have now.

faulker479

The only time I would try to use that tire after gluing it back together would be on the trainer. Either on the front(most likely not to fail) or rear wheel(probably would fail with the heat).

I don't see any reward remotely good enough for the risk involved in using a compromised tire.

Tires, cassettes, chains, and bearings are wear items.

ctak

Seems like a ripe opportunity to rationalize a Continental GP4000 purchase: $33 at Merlin