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Time for a new tyre?.

Is it time to replace my tyres?

My Schwalbe Ultremo ZX tyres have started to shred on the tyre wall (see photo), this appears to be wear and tear not as a result of any damage.

Has anyone else had this problem? and is this cosmetic or momemts away from a blow out does anyone know?.

I run these tyres at 120psi and so far they have been brilliant other than this.

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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10 comments

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PJ McNally | 10 years ago
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I wrote a little piece about this sort of thing, too:

http://triptogenetica.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/this-is-why-you-should-get-...

Turns out the cheap and cheerful Hutchinson Flash is actually pretty hard wearing!

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andycoventry | 10 years ago
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I have changed them to be sure - I am now in correspondence with Schwalbe regarding the tyres - I do not think this is acceptable 'wear and tear' given the tyres have thousands of miles left in them.

Will wait and see what they say.......

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rockfield | 10 years ago
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Theres no way I'd ride on a tyre that looked like that with 120psi in it. I'd bin it and get something different before something bad happens.

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Old Cranky | 10 years ago
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I had this same problem and the cotton threads from the carcass get wrapped around the hub and jockey wheels. Soon after I noticed big cracks appearing in the glued on tread.

I binned them and moved to using Vittoria.

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TheHatter | 10 years ago
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I've had the threads issue too after putting in only around 600 miles on them, agree it would be good to know if its only cosmetic.

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pirnie | 10 years ago
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I've got the Ultremo DDs (puncture protected version) and these threads coming out the side wall seems to happen to me too. I thought initially it was because I'd misaligned the brakes but it seems to be the way the tyres wear. So far I've kept riding them but I keep an eye on them to check nothing's getting worse

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druidh | 10 years ago
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A couple of weeks ago, this happened.
//sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/902331_10151418149418507_1192696676_o.jpg)

Tyres have done around 2,000 miles and I was happy with them but I still prefer the GP4000S for overall "feel" on the bike.

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andycoventry | 10 years ago
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Well they must have done about 2500ish miles. So far I have had no punctures on them (touches lots of wood) and there are very few nics in either the front or rear, none of which more than surface damage - hence why I think they are brilliant. Debating whether to go and get the same again (sigma have them at £25 at the moment)

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Velodan68 | 10 years ago
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I've been running the ZX Ultremo's for the past year and have had exactly the same problem. Actually I've had two problems in addition to the outrageous number of punctures that I've experienced.

The first is just as your tyre with fraying from the side wall. I try and cut these off rather that pull them.

The other problem is with small cuts to the area between the centre reinforced section and the sidewall. It looks like it's just about to burst. Definately not damage because they are so regular around the tyre.

I'm pretty disappointed with the tyre to be honest. It's nice and light, grips well and looks good but is clearly not very durable. My tyres have only done around 1,000 miles.

I've just swapped to some Bontrager R2's which seem to be much more durable. They are a touch heavier though.

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stealfwayne | 10 years ago
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How long or should I say how many miles have you done on them? I had these in the mix for my next replacements and this may put them to the bottom of the pile..

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