Would You Replace the Tire If...

[aicabsolut]

Now seeing all the struggle the LBS people had getting it on -- they have thumbs of steel and they needed a tool to get it on, and even that was a struggle -- I'm not convinced I'll ever get it off to fix any flats. Hopefully I don't get many!

Oh you'll probably get it off with levers just fine. It'll be the getting it back on that will be a challenge. The good news is that the longer the tires are mounted, the easier it is to get them off and on again.

[bikerHen]

I gotta say I love my Gatorskins, but they are the very devil to get off and on. All that good stuff to keep from getting flats really makes them stiff. On the other hand, I haven't had a flat this season which is nothing short of amazing.

And I second the WOW for having tires last 6000 miles! My last set of Gatorskins only made it about 4500 miles. After getting four flats in five days I was beginning to think I needed to change my commute route. But when I got my fifth flat it was on my front tire. It was a small puntcure and I had slime tubes. As I was rolling along all of a sudden my front tire was spraying green slime from a least a half of dozen tiny punctures in my tire. It was really funny and I realized then, it was time for new tires. bikerHen

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

If the slit is in the sidewall, absolutely... replace the tire. If it's in the tread, and you're wanting to eke out a few more miles, put one of the long, rectangular vulcanized patches over the hole from the inside of the tire (like a boot), then a strip of duct tape over that for a little security.

Well I did just that this morning.
I have some very expensive Continental Grand Prix 4 season tires with only 1,000 miles on them. The other day I saw a little piece of glass just a moment too late to avoid it, and I heard a creepy snapping sound as I went over it.
I found the glass had punched a little 1/8" slit in my rubber right in the center, and I could see the mesh belt if I gently pulled the slit open. DAMN!
I rode an easy 20 mile ride after that with no problem and the tire is not losing air, but I felt uneasy.
So yesterday I first put some epoxy into the slit on the outside and let that dry overnight.
This morning I took the tire off, lightly sanded the inside trouble area, and applied a long 1"x1/2" tire patch from my patch kit. I put a layer of duct tape smoothed on over that. I feel way safer now.

I must add however that if this tire had had 3,000 or more miles on it already, I would have definitely just replaced it with a new tire.

PsyclePath- I had thought of doing a boot, but thanks for spelling out the details.