Ted Ernst's tale of tub-sidewall repair patched a similar lump in my cerebrum: that's why I have remnants of Criterium Seta tubs hanging in my closet. I used them 40 years ago to reinforce tires with questionable sidewalls and copious remaining tread, and they were wonderful. Those silk internal patches were almost paper thin and pliant, and that was when silks were only a sawbuck. When I first started repairing my sewups, it took a good 3/4 hour to do the work, but with enough misfortune, that effort was halved in about a year, when I discovered the advantages of a good thimble (you can literally get stabbed, and I was, by a cheapie) and upholsterer's needles.
As to TireAlert, some 6 years ago, I checked with other CR members and found all of us were curious, but no one had as yet tried them. Aghast at the price of new sewups -- I hadn't bought one in 35 years at that moment -- and looking at a pair of unused Vittoria Imperforabile silks with just hideous sidewalls, I sent them off to TireAlert. Prior to initiating the "restoration" they warned me that my expectations for cosmetic perfection were unrealistic, but out of curiosity I went ahead, and added the butyl tube. I can say they were dead on honest and professional, and the Vittorias looked "better," but by no means kissworthy. Sadly, all 12 of my jars of liquid latex that Spence Wolf had sold me were now quite fossilized, or I would have assayed a base test of my own. My experience is that I'm quite comfortable with TireAlert: don't spare the specifics, as they're used to hand rubbing obsessives, and they'll let you know what to expect prior to any work, once they view the project.
Hon Lee
Stockton, California
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