Old tube, use or throw out?
03-16-18, 07:27 AM
#1
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Old tube, use or throw out?
Found this old Continental tube. Must be 10 years old, at least. It was still in the box, in a dark closet so no UV exposure. Use it or throw it away? I hate being wasteful.
03-16-18, 07:44 AM
#2
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Use it.
03-16-18, 07:47 AM
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10 years old is fine. I've recently ridden on tubes that were made during the Nixon administration. So long as the rubber seems like it's in good shape, ride it.
03-16-18, 08:27 AM
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03-16-18, 08:46 AM
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Thanks. That saved me $5.00
03-16-18, 09:27 AM
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the main problem with the tube is the 25mm stem, if you have 'older' rims this should be ok, but the trend to
pseudo-aero rim profiles can be a problem, ran into this recently and discovered I had two such tubes
which would have worked fine in my Trek '96 era rims, but none of the rims I now use which need at
least 35mm stems in order for the pump head to adequately clamp on the stem.
pseudo-aero rim profiles can be a problem, ran into this recently and discovered I had two such tubes
which would have worked fine in my Trek '96 era rims, but none of the rims I now use which need at
least 35mm stems in order for the pump head to adequately clamp on the stem.
03-16-18, 10:34 AM
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In any case, don't throw it out! Dead tubes have too many uses. I've used them to - increase HB diameter to keep lights and other clamp-on fittings from slipping, esp after the clamps start getting old, fatten the HB for heart monitor wrist watches (yeah!), pad tools and other items I have had strapped to the top tube and the coup: wrapped a CF and epoxy job getting out of hand that squeezed all the excess resin out and compressed the carbon fiber to a vacuum-bagged like end result, making my broken chainstays (yes, both) 501 tubed sport Peugeot the stiffest, best riding ever. And leaving a repair that looked completely professional. The bike was retired 8000 miles later only because I don't trust the rest of the frame; it was hit hard by an SUV before I got it.
Now, I really do need to toss a few tubes. My box is overflowing!
Ben
Now, I really do need to toss a few tubes. My box is overflowing!
Ben
03-16-18, 10:38 AM
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Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do or do without. I would think if the rubber still feels "fresh". it's probably okay.
03-16-18, 06:55 PM
#14
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I'd use it. I have been using old properly stored Conti tubes (Taiwan) that I bought over 15 years ago, and at the time I was upset that they were not German when I bought them (the set before this set were German).
Is it a German Continental tube? Gotta think that is much older than 10 years. I haven't seen a German Conti in a while. Do they still make them in Germany?
Is it a German Continental tube? Gotta think that is much older than 10 years. I haven't seen a German Conti in a while. Do they still make them in Germany?
I'm sure it will hold air but I thought rubber tubes had a shelf life where they would get brittle and not hold up under load.
03-17-18, 04:24 AM
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Use it and see what happens. What have you got to lose? Five minutes on the side of the road fixing a flat (with a new tube in this case).
While tubes from 40 years ago that were made of rubber will last this long, I've no faith in modern tubes and their, presumably, synthetic 'rubber'. I've had them fail after just 12 months in storage. On the other hand, I'm currently using a tube that was stored for about four years and it seems to be working.
While tubes from 40 years ago that were made of rubber will last this long, I've no faith in modern tubes and their, presumably, synthetic 'rubber'. I've had them fail after just 12 months in storage. On the other hand, I'm currently using a tube that was stored for about four years and it seems to be working.
03-17-18, 03:13 PM
#17
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the main problem with the tube is the 25mm stem, if you have 'older' rims this should be ok, but the trend to
pseudo-aero rim profiles can be a problem, ran into this recently and discovered I had two such tubes
which would have worked fine in my Trek '96 era rims, but none of the rims I now use which need at
least 35mm stems in order for the pump head to adequately clamp on the stem.
pseudo-aero rim profiles can be a problem, ran into this recently and discovered I had two such tubes
which would have worked fine in my Trek '96 era rims, but none of the rims I now use which need at
least 35mm stems in order for the pump head to adequately clamp on the stem.
