suncruiser

Came home from a nice short 15 Miler last night and noticed a cut in my tread. Doesn't seem to be leaking, but these tires are fairly thin and light. Should I repair, replace or just ride? Just replaced these not long ago (less than 150 miles) running tubeless

and I'm loathe to replace a tire so quickly

TakingMyTime

That looks like it's going to be a problem.

WizardOfBoz

If you can gently pry the rubber back and see if the underlying cord of the fabric is cut, you'll have some clear pathways. If the cord IS cut, you could and probably should discard the tire. But if you want to risk a flat to save a fairly new tire I'd nake sure that the tire was on the back wheel (a rear tire blowout being slightly more controllable than a front one). There are some patches for tubeless tires and I tried them but was not impressed.

Whether the tire fabric is cut or not, if you're gonna try to use the tire I'd wash the outside of the tire, dry it thoroughly, deflate it, and apply superglue to the crack. Hold the crack together (perhaps squash it) using something like wax paper to apply pressure (you don't want your fingers superglued to the tread) for a couple of minutes. Let it completely cure. With the tread superglued, and a patch inside (again, they're really a PITA in my experience) you could use it on the rear wheel.

Iride01 

Depends on how bad you feel about a flat while out on a ride. If you feel competent dealing with anything that might happen, then ride it. If your next ride is a must finish in the least amount of time ride, then change it.

If you are going to ride it, then make sure it's not got any rock shards or such up in it. If it isn't bulging when tires are inflated to normal riding pressure then probably no harm done to casing so far. The tread only protects the casing and is not structural in a big way to the tire.

Some have mentioned using shoe goo to fill such things. Never used it myself, but it might be helpful. Won't do anything structural, but will help keep sharp stuff from collecting in there and damaging the casing.

commo_soulja

I've repaired a tire with a similar slice in the tread face. My solution - Park tire boot (the sticker type) inside the tire and then inject some Gorilla glue on the outside. It's held up for more than a year. YMMV

bldegle2

Replace it, if it blows at the slice while on a ride, you get my drift...

suncruiser

If it's just tread that got nailed, not the casing, do I still need the boot?

dsbrantjr

I agree with WizardOfBoz's suggestion to determine whether the cords, which give your tire its strength, have been compromised. If so, ditch the tire. If not, and if it were my tire, I would take it off, put a boot on the inside, and mount it on the back wheel. Then inflate it and apply Shoe Goo or similar to fill up the gash so that it is less likely to pick up road grit/glass which can cause further damage.

Eggman84

To answer your question, it the cut is only the outer tread (rubber), and not cut thru the casing (threads), then no you do not need a boot. Just inflate it, and if its not bulging (which would indicate the treads are cut) then ride it. IF worried, uou can put it on the back. Those that throww out every tire that gets a nick in the tread must be a pro who gets their tires for free. Otherwise, more frugal people realize that non-pristine items can be used within reason.

Of course, in these times of reduced economic activity, buying new bike parts would be appreciated by your LBS (and the Asian factories that make it).

suncruiser

Its already on the back, deflate and add shoegoo to keep more crap from getting into it?

Retro Grouch 

Pump your tire up to operating pressure and run your finger over the area. If you can't feel a bump or blister underneath, the tire casing, which is the important part, is intact. I'd ride on it. If you can feel a bump, the cords have been cut. Adios tire.

Iride01 

Retro Grouch Think you meant "can't" in one part.... but the messages is there

Retro Grouch 

Oops, you're right. I fixed it.

WizardOfBoz

Use retrogrouch's Braille method. Feel for a raised bump. Check the cord in the crack. If you have a bump, or see cut cording, consider a new tire.

If you don't have a bump and see no cut cords you can use either shoe goo to fill or superglue to keep the cut shut. Both are to keep dirt out..

suncruiser

Update: replacing the tire