Looking at my tyres today and Im starting to get quite a few decent cuts in the sidewall. None have gone through the plys but there are a couple that are 3 or 4 inches long and are cut down to the plys (can peel the rubber back with a finger and see the plys undernieth).

Just wondering if there is anything I should for the cuts - glue them up or something?? Or are they just superficial (sp?) and I shouldnt worry about them. Its just that these tyres cost me a small fortune (the four of them are worth more than the rest of my rig) and I would hate to see them fall apart.

Sam

not much you can do really, with sharp rock and stuff. a few of mine have cuts in them too.

you *could* try melting the rubber together, use a hot knife and stick it in the cut then press them together quickly, or try a decent gum based contact adhesive (you know the kind... smear both sides, leave for 15 minutes then press together where they then stick immediately)

Jamie

I would say if they are as big as you are describing you could use super glue or use a tacky silicon to seal the cut. Due to the forces that tires get and the streching that takes place when crawling rocks, I would be suprised if any normal glues are going to hold. However if you get a rock in the same place twice that is sharp it may make the tire worthless, so do something rather than nothing and see if it will hold up to the abuse. Obviously pressure will be needed so maybe taking a heat gun to it afterwards with the tire off of the vehicle and then throw a weight of some sort would do the trick. Under load I doubt anythign will stick.

Umm, road hazard warranty? ;)

Ali

hmmm, that sucks. know of any local vulcanizers? i bet that they could patch those cuts up for ya pretty well...

Sam,

What you want is "self-vulcanizing rubber cement" or "self-vulcanizing patch cement". You also need to get some "tire patch solvent". Any decent repair shop supplier or wholesaler should have this. You may even go to your local tire shop that does patch repairs and they might just sell it to you.

Heres how you do it (not a structural repair, only cosmetic) :

Dismount tire
Clean effected area with solvent
Rough area with sander/sand paper (not if cord can be touched)
Apply cement
Wait 5 minutes (or whatever time the instructions for that brand say)
Press together effected area
Done.

If your cords are cut or abrased, the tire is a blowout waiting to happen, repair or not. I would expect this repair to add ANY strength back to the tire.

Cheers,

j

Originally posted by alia176
Umm, road hazard warranty? ;)

Ali

Yeah we wish.
We dont have anything like that here in Aus :(

RLM Distributing
3/28 Boyland Ave.
Coopers Plains.
Phone 3277 9311

Its where I buy my tyre repair stuff from .
Good prices.
Good range of tyre related crap.
Its all they sell.
If they haven't got it ,you cant buy it anywhere .
They supply tyre retailers.
Have fun !



EDIT .
www.rlmdist.com.au
Web site seems to have a problem at the moment .
Fax 38751664

Sam I just got off the phone to RLM and he has what you need .
The blokes name is Danny.
HTH.

Sounds like the go to glue the cuts back together. Dont know that I could be bothered pulling the tyre off the rim though.

Does anyone else worry about cuts in the sidewalls of cross ply tyres. Im thinking that I should just not worry about them.

Sam

Originally posted by Strange Rover
Sounds like the go to glue the cuts back together. Dont know that I could be bothered pulling the tyre off the rim though.

Does anyone else worry about cuts in the sidewalls of cross ply tyres. Im thinking that I should just not worry about them.

Sam

I would worry about them at high speed's...But not on the trail...Of course I've been on obstacles with SERIOUS penalty if I ever lost a right rear tire...Especially with 42's....Can you say an instant 13" loss of lift/weight shift on one side?!:eek:

Originally posted by Strange Rover
Dont know that I could be bothered pulling the tyre off the rim though.

bah youve got beadlocks whats the hassle :flipoff2: