Subscribing just to hear what the hell could do that.

On the rapid deflation thing - I always thought tubes were worse than tubeless too. Not sure I'm buying the service guys take on this.

 

I did hit a really bad spot on the road, what I would call a ridge of asphalt from hole patches about 20 mins prior to the flat. It rattled our teeth and I wouldn't be surprised at all if that cut the tire.

 

I agree, looks like a bubble that wore through.

To the OP - You had a nail in the tire a few months ago, is this in the same place that nail was removed from? That could have caused a weak spot and bubble.

It's things like this that make me hesitant to ride on a tire that has been repaired.

 

I've wondered since, but at the time when they told me there was a nail inside the tire, I didn't think to check to see if it was the same place. The cut and bubble seems to make the most sense from what I see, but the nail confuses it for me. I guess it could have been small and riding along with me and gotten pressed in as the tire deflated from the new problem.

The bike is a 2011 purchased new in 2012. The tires are original stock and only have a little over 8k miles on them (yes, I know). Could the tire integrity have been reduced due to age and does this mean I need to replace the front one now as well?

Thanks for all of the input I've been getting.

 

You ran over something that split the tire down to through first layer of cording weakening it which in turn allowed that area to rise up a bit hence wearing faster, this became a self replicating issue as each cord layer burned through and the original split widening till it wore enough the tube punctured. You could have been riding a day or 2 like that and not noticed.

 

Of the 4 flats that I've had on motorcycles[that I remember] I can tell you for sure the tubed tire is more dangerous.

 

Here's the explanation I believe.

And as far as tube type tires holding air longer than tubeless or not rapidly deflating as fast or often as tubeless when punctured? No way am I buying that.

 

Looks like the slice caused a bubble to form. Should have felt the thumping.

 

Unless it happened suddenly which is very doubtful a tire could go weeks like that and you wouldn't notice. I've had cord separation in a couple tires wear just like that and not noticed till it sat just right or lost air overnight.

 

That's what I would say,No way a nail did that