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Tire pressure during storage

Old 06-23-20, 08:26 AM
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Snow Dog
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Tire pressure during storage

I'm kind of a fair weather rider. I live in Illinois and generally speaking, I don't ride my bicycle between the months of November-February. It sits dormant in my garage for about 4 months each year. For preventative maintenance have always gone out to the garage every 2-3 weeks during those months and topped off the air pressure in my tires but I'm wondering if that is really necessary.

Will letting my tires and tubes go flat over the winter cause any damage to the tires, tubes, or the bike itself?
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Old 06-23-20, 08:37 AM
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Originally Posted by Snow Dog
I'm wondering if that is really necessary.
It's not.
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Old 06-23-20, 08:47 AM
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Just don't let the tires go completely flat if the bike is sitting on the floor. That looks bad but don't know about actual damage.
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Old 06-23-20, 08:52 AM
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The tire only need a few psi to keep its shape with no rider on it. So I would be surprised if the tires actually ever got that flat.

And even if they do go completely flat, tubes and tires can both be folded up for long periods of time with no ill effects.

The only situation I would try to avoid going completely flat would be a sealant-based tubeless setup. It would most likely be fine, but there is an off chance you might break the bead seal when you go move the bike around. But again, not a catastrophe if it happens.
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Old 06-23-20, 10:10 AM
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Thanks for the advice guys. I've been keeping them topped off during storage for the past 21 years. I should have asked this question decades ago.
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Old 06-23-20, 10:52 AM
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You have 21 year old tires?
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Old 06-23-20, 11:02 AM
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Originally Posted by GlennR
You have 21 year old tires?
Ha! I might not ride a whole lot but I do ride more than that. I have however, ridden the same bike all this time. I almost bought a new one about a month ago but I changed my mind.
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Old 06-23-20, 11:41 AM
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Originally Posted by JanMM
Just don't let the tires go completely flat if the bike is sitting on the floor. That looks bad but don't know about actual damage.
Originally Posted by Snow Dog
Thanks for the advice guys. I've been keeping them topped off during storage for the past 21 years. I should have asked this question decades ago.
If it is in a dark cool climate controlled (inside) basement, there should be will be no damage to the tire or a butyl tube unless it is damp or near an ozone generating source like an electric motor. I had a bike with hand made original Clement cotton casing clinchers. I got out of riding for 10 years. When I checked on the bike if the tires were totally flat, I would reinflate them and say I have to start riding again. When I got back into riding, I checked them visually (no cracks or checking) and slowly pumped them up for some around the neighborhood riding. When that test was passed, I used them for another year, while searching for a decent 27" tire that would work on non-hook bead rims. These were tan sidewall tires, but were NOT gumwalls. The actual gumwall on cheaper tires tends to deteriorate faster than the tread.

Disclaimer: These results were limited to those tires, in my basement. I suspect any quality tire and butyl tubes should be similar.
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