Rodrigo Kenobi

GP 5000 28mm, tubetype, 'milage' around 5000Km. I actually have no idea of when this happened. I just noticed it while tinkering with my bike. Still some thread left to go, at least another 1000Km.

Troul 

given the option, I'd replace it.

10 Wheels

I buy Tires ahead of need that are on Sale.

Chuck M 

IMHO it probably isn't going to be, but it possibly could be a problem. I'd replace were it mine. If I did keep it, I'd run it on the back wheel.

jon c. 

I wouldn't ride on that.

rumrunn6

you could get away w/ that if you had to. but if I had to ride it another time or two, I'd put a blob of this LOCTITE Powerflex Ultra Control Gel Super Glue on it & smoosh it on w/ a popsicle stick or gloved finger so it was just a thin coating & let it dry overnight. but I'd replace it. why have the distraction

I once rode an old bike from the '70s w/ the original tires. they were dry & cracked but I rode it anyway. after about 10 miles the sidewalls opened up & I heard cracking popping sounds as the threads broke & the tube started to bulge out the tire. turned around & made it home another 10 miles. this is nowhere near as bad as that was

Rodrigo Kenobi

Right, I'll replace it then. I'll replace both, my OCD would never allow me to ride a bike with mismatched tires, and the ones I have on my stash are Pirelli P Zero's.

Thanks for the input, everyone!

Iride01 

What kind of catastrophe do you think will happen to you if you were to continue to ride it?

I have no issue with replacing it right now, but if you were to continue to use it, all that is going to happen is that you save the new tire some wear and abuse. Which is actually a positive thing. Nothing unsafe at all.

HillRider

It is unlikely to fail catastrophically but is more likely to be susceptible to a flat so if you don't mind doing a road side repair, you could ride it a bit further. If it were mine it would be gone. 5000 km is excellent service if it was a rear tire so it doesn't owe you anything.

soyabean

Once the ply is exposed the rest will wear away really quick.

You can try sticking a tire boot patch inside it, but with the tire already removed, might as well slap on another one.

Rdmonster69

Put some shoe goo on that and call it good !!!

pdlamb

It's probably OK to ride on a smooth, clean velodrome.

On the roads I ride, any kind of glass or wire will go right through the threads and give you a flat. A nail, piece of metal, or large bottle shard will cut the exposed thread. If you notice and replace the tire immediately, no harm, no foul. If you miss it, the cut threads will form a stress riser, which can slowly cause adjacent threads to break, and the cut to enlarge, until the tire blows out.

Can you tell I'm in the "replace it ASAP" camp?

bboy314

Personally, I’d feel a lot safer riding this tire on the rear than the front, particularly with any long steep descents.

rm -rf

The Park Tool boots are for temporary use. I tried saving a tire that had a slit, with a cut down boot, and it cut the new tube after a few rides.
~~~

No bulge when the tire is inflated? I'd use it. Cuts through the tire fabric, though, just seem to keep getting bigger.

easyupbug 

I would replace but agree with Iride01, if the cord does not look damaged which it does not in your photo the missing side wall rubber offers next to nothing in resisting circumferential or longitudinal stresses. That said a side wall blow out can be very bad especially if not in the back.

prj71

Apparently you have never seen a front tire go flat at higher speeds which in turn causes a crash.

Tires are cheap compared to doctor bills and time off work. I would throw that out and put on a new one.

sdmc530

ahh dump it.

I wouldn't ride that. Not picking on you but the fact you are asking should be a big clue if its safe to ride. My motto is if any doubt chuck it. And I am very cheap person. But safety always first.

Iride01 

I've had my fair share of sidewall cuts on the front tire that flatted immediately while over 20 mph. Never have I had any issue with the control of the bike.

But if one is riding down a long twisty grade at high speed and steep cliffs right on the edge of the road, then it will be prudent to change them.

prj71

I've witnessed people lose control and go over the bars when the front tire flatted. Last person I saw that did this 2 years ago ended up in the hospital with a broken collar bone and head injuries.

KerryIrons

Standard advice: if the casing is not bulged, then there is no damage to the casing and no issue with riding the tire.

Rodrigo Kenobi

Well, based on the amount of conflicting opinions on this thread, maybe it wasn't so cut and dry. I decided to ask because that's never happened to me before. These were my first set of 'good' tires.

But yeah, I tend to agree that safety comes first. I already installed a fresh set of tires on the bike.

prj71

Bad advice.

PBC peugeot

not bad advice,
just a greater chance of getting a puncture flat from road debris

soyabean

Yup, and doesn't even have to be a new one, even a good used tire would be better than a distressed tire.

79pmooney

If I valued this tire, I`d patch it with dacron sailcloth (the real stuff from a sailmaker) with contractor's contact cement (the stuff countertops are glued down with) and ride the tire until the cords were showing through the rest of the tread. I wouldn't consider this model with 3000 miles worth that kind of effort but did this with 3/4" cut in a Vittoria Corsa with about 800 miles, did Cycle Oregon on it and rode it until it died of natural causes.