Quick question: As IM Wisc looms, I am wondering if I need to replace a Conti Sprinter tub on my Zipp disc. It’s 3 years old and has about 400 race miles on it. There is some tread wear (mostly where I skidded to a stop before the line into a few T2’s) but nothing alarming. I’m more worried about aging glue and cracking rubber. I’ve never had any issues in 3 years but I don’t want one in the middle of the Wisconsin farmlands! Should I do a preventative change?
I think Peter Reid gave this advise somewhere:
If you’re spending $1500 for lodging, $450 registration another $500-$1000 for travel you should probably put new tyres on before the race. Think of it as $130 - $200 insurance policy.
I would run new tyres for every ironman I did.
I check, replace or reglue tires on an annual basis. The easy thing to do to check the glue is to actually pull the tire off of the rim just a bit in a couple of spots. If the glue was firmly holding the tire on, simply spot reglue the tire in those spots. If the glue was not doing a good job, reglue or put a new tire on the rim.
Note the recommendations on checking your glue job later in the article.
http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/tubular.shtml
The joys of tubular tire maintenance never end…