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How long are unused tubes “good”?

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How long are unused tubes “good”?

Old 04-28-18, 09:39 AM
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TXCiclista
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How long are unused tubes “good”?

Started back to riding this past Fall after a decade-long hiatus (it’s amazing how a diagnosis of T2 diabetes will get you off your lazy ass). The other day, I was rearranging my “emergency” kit and happened across an old box of Performance Bike-brand tubes that I had apparently stocked up on back in ‘05(ish). They’re unused and have been sitting there in their retail boxes in the garage. I don’t know that I would necessarily trust them for day-to-day use at this point (or should I?), so mostly wondering if they’re at least suitable for road-side replacements. They’re “ultralight” types, so fit great in my little Topeak “Ninja” water bottle cage pouch.

So I gues the “TL;DR” is what’s the shelf-life on tubes?

(Related: I also have some unused Vredestein tires from that time. Still good? They don’t feel brittle.)
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Old 04-28-18, 10:48 AM
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Originally Posted by TXCiclista
Started back to riding this past Fall after a decade-long hiatus (it’s amazing how a diagnosis of T2 diabetes will get you off your lazy ass). The other day, I was rearranging my “emergency” kit and happened across an old box of Performance Bike-brand tubes that I had apparently stocked up on back in ‘05(ish). They’re unused and have been sitting there in their retail boxes in the garage. I don’t know that I would necessarily trust them for day-to-day use at this point (or should I?), so mostly wondering if they’re at least suitable for road-side replacements. They’re “ultralight” types, so fit great in my little Topeak “Ninja” water bottle cage pouch.

So I gues the “TL;DR” is what’s the shelf-life on tubes?

(Related: I also have some unused Vredestein tires from that time. Still good? They don’t feel brittle.)
I never had good luck with Performance tubes when new. Seems a tad bit stale for tubes 13 years old. If it were me, I would just get new ones and ride confident. OTOH, I have tubes that are about 2+ years old because I stock up. But I keep them in my bike room, in a chest of draws. YMMV
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Old 04-28-18, 01:25 PM
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Old 04-28-18, 03:59 PM
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After a childhood of constantly seeing things go back when my parents tried to use stuff of questionable quality as a backup, my rule became to never do that. If it's in the backup kit it's new and just works as much as reasonably possible.

Rubber does dry out and become unusable over time.

This article claims car tires at 10 years old might start to become hazardous:
https://www.edmunds.com/car-care/how...our-tires.html

For something as cheap as bike tubes I'd just replace them.
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Old 04-28-18, 04:08 PM
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Originally Posted by PaulRivers
After a childhood of constantly seeing things go back when my parents tried to use stuff of questionable quality as a backup, my rule became to never do that. If it's in the backup kit it's new and just works as much as reasonably possible.

Rubber does dry out and become unusable over time.

This article claims car tires at 10 years old might start to become hazardous:
https://www.edmunds.com/car-care/how...our-tires.html

For something as cheap as bike tubes I'd just replace them.
Tubes are too cheap to risk the walk of shame.
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Old 04-28-18, 06:33 PM
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Fresh tubes are a must. New tires every season or 2 as well, assuming just aged and not worn. I replace tires and tubes every season. I have enough bikes that none wears tires in that time. Admittedly, I don't live in an area with thorn hazards, or anything other than the usual debris. I haven't flatted since the late '70s.
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Old 04-29-18, 08:42 AM
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I think tubes properly stored should be fine.
You kept them hermetically sealed in the freezer, right?
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Old 04-29-18, 12:01 PM
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Some tubes are defective once they leave the factory, but an otherwise good one should be fine for years and years, provided you don't leave it out in the sun. The tubes in my English 3-speed are 50 years old and are just fine. Other tubes in my bikes are 5-10 years old.
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Old 04-29-18, 06:05 PM
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Originally Posted by ThermionicScott
Some tubes are defective once they leave the factory, but an otherwise good one should be fine for years and years, provided you don't leave it out in the sun. The tubes in my English 3-speed are 50 years old and are just fine. Other tubes in my bikes are 5-10 years old.
How long do you store condoms? 😁

I had a lovely set of race tires stored in my basement. BNIB. I went to use them after about 5yrs, and found them cracked due to ozone from my furnace motor. The tires I have had mounted on wheels and stored in the garage appear to have hardened significantly over about 2 winters. Some are usable. Some are junk. I’m happier replacing them. My last blowout way back was an old tire/tube combo on my brother’s bike that just exploded on me one day on the way to school.
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Old 04-29-18, 06:22 PM
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Originally Posted by krusty
How long do you store condoms? 😁

I had a lovely set of race tires stored in my basement. BNIB. I went to use them after about 5yrs, and found them cracked due to ozone from my furnace motor. The tires I have had mounted on wheels and stored in the garage appear to have hardened significantly over about 2 winters. Some are usable. Some are junk. I’m happier replacing them. My last blowout way back was an old tire/tube combo on my brother’s bike that just exploded on me one day on the way to school.
Back when I needed to use them, I obeyed the expiration dates without exception.

Haven't seen an expiration date on a bike tube yet, and have never had one spontaneously fail to due age. Maybe I've been lucky! (Furnace rooms are known to be a bad place to store tires and tubes.)
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Old 04-30-18, 08:23 AM
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Thanks for all the input everyone! I think I'll play it on the safe side and get some new ones, and just use the old ones as the backups to the backup.
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Old 05-01-18, 12:25 AM
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Originally Posted by TXCiclista
So I gues the “TL;DR” is what’s the shelf-life on tubes?
I bought about 8 LifeLine Road Tube from Chain Reaction in bulk at 1/4 the price locally, last year, so I would like to know too.
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Old 05-01-18, 01:52 PM
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Originally Posted by krusty

How long do you store condoms? 😁
Latex or butyl condoms?
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Old 05-01-18, 09:00 PM
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Originally Posted by TXCiclista
Started back to riding this past Fall after a decade-long hiatus (it’s amazing how a diagnosis of T2 diabetes will get you off your lazy ass). The other day, I was rearranging my “emergency” kit and happened across an old box of Performance Bike-brand tubes that I had apparently stocked up on back in ‘05(ish). They’re unused and have been sitting there in their retail boxes in the garage. I don’t know that I would necessarily trust them for day-to-day use at this point (or should I?), so mostly wondering if they’re at least suitable for road-side replacements. They’re “ultralight” types, so fit great in my little Topeak “Ninja” water bottle cage pouch.

So I gues the “TL;DR” is what’s the shelf-life on tubes?

(Related: I also have some unused Vredestein tires from that time. Still good? They don’t feel brittle.)
A few decades at least.
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Old 05-03-18, 01:00 PM
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The problem with stored tubes (in boxes) is that they will crack where they have been folded. They will become weak at these cracks and as soon as you get them up to 120psi they will pop. I have this happen to tubes that were about 1.5 yrs old and older.

Old tubes mounted in tires and stored on unridden bikes....now that is a different story.
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Old 05-04-18, 10:17 AM
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Originally Posted by Homebrew01
A few decades at least.
+1

I have had a few 20+ years old tubes, with many patches, in commuter service. Perfectly fine. Imo, unless there is something obvious like the valve splitting from the rubber tube or creases or cracks that look suspicious, I would just use them, no worries.
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Old 05-04-18, 01:19 PM
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As long as they've been stored away from ozone sources and UV light, tubes can last indefinitely.
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Old 05-06-18, 11:14 AM
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As others have hinted, Performance-branded tubes have a shelf life of 0 minutes. I've had valve stems separate from the tube in a just a few rides.
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Old 05-06-18, 11:14 AM
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Originally Posted by TXCiclista
Thanks for all the input everyone! I think I'll play it on the safe side and get some new ones, and just use the old ones as the backups to the backup.
I would just toss them or give them to someone you don't like.
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Old 05-06-18, 07:47 PM
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Originally Posted by JohnDThompson
As long as they've been stored away from ozone sources and UV light, tubes can last indefinitely.
Originally Posted by KDTX
The problem with stored tubes (in boxes) is that they will crack where they have been folded. They will become weak at these cracks and as soon as you get them up to 120psi they will pop. I have this happen to tubes that were about 1.5 yrs old and older. Old tubes mounted in tires and stored on unridden bikes....now that is a different story.
Thanks. I am going to take my LifeLine Road Tubes out of their boxes and hang them up somewhere, in the dark.
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Old 05-09-18, 06:59 AM
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Originally Posted by TXCiclista
Thanks for all the input everyone! I think I'll play it on the safe side and get some new ones, and just use the old ones as the backups to the backup.
I think that's called "hoarding."
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Old 05-09-18, 07:01 AM
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Re: Diabetes. My MD told me my blood panel showed that I was "borderline pre-Diabetic." To me that sounds like "high normal." Anyway, I changed my diet a bit and rode some more. Last weeks' test showed my A1C as normal.
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Old 05-09-18, 07:26 AM
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I'd probably put them on the bike and use them as the primary tubes with newer tubes as backups. That way, you'll know right away whether or not you have a problem (and should toss the rest of the bunch), while having something you can rely on if one punctures on the road. If it's leaky, you can figure that out before leaving for a ride quite often.
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Old 05-10-18, 08:18 PM
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Inflate them and hang them up for a while, that'll let you know if they've cracked or are defective.
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