Tyre damage in Africa...

**jim** · #1 5 Sep 2004

Hello again,
I am heading back into Sudan tomorrow on the ferry from Aswan and i noticed today that my rear tyre has a 2cm gash in the sidewall that goes all the way down to the tube. My situation is such that i have to leave Egypt tomorrow and i know there are no tyres in Sudan. The wheel is still inflated and teh tube is not threatening to buldge out.
Any advice? Is it worth stitching the tyre on either side of teh gash to avoid it spreading?

Thanks, Jim

PS Just for the record im about 90% sure the gash is compliments of the Egyptian Customs guys who tried to make me pay an absurd storage fee (baksheesh) and are now in trouble because i reported them.

**muro** · #2 6 Sep 2004

Don't know about stitching it. I got a gash like that on the main tread of a tyre. To patch it up for a while (Lasted over 1000 kms) I cut out a piece of old car tyre and glued it to the inside of the torn tyre over the gash. I bet if you ask at one of those tyre repairers at the side of the road they will be able to do something. If it gets worse, the guy I travelled with used a much narrower (80?) tyre from a 100cc bike for a long time. Looked funny though.

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**jim** · #3 12 Sep 2004

Hello

Firstly, i must retract my accusation as to who damaged my tyre, although i would not put it past teh customs guys on close inspection it seems it may have been due to "natural causes".

I managed to find a tyre in Atbara, Sudan. Its proably the same type Muro mentioned, a 400 / 18. Seems to fit well, but sure looks silly.

Thanks
Jim