How long are unused tubes “good”?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Posts: 1,420
Bikes: 2017 Ridley Fenix SL, 2008 Trek 1500, 1998 Diamondback Apex
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 33 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.)
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.)
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,163
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 344 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 20 Times
in
18 Posts
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.)
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.)
Cheers
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 6,432
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 539 Post(s)
Liked 44 Times
in
38 Posts
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.
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.
#5
Senior Member
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.
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.
#6
Successful alcoholic
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Toronto
Posts: 981
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 21 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
#7
well hello there
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Point Loma, CA
Posts: 15,430
Bikes: Bill Holland (Road-Ti), Fuji Roubaix Pro (back-up), Bike Friday (folder), Co-Motion (tandem) & Trek 750 (hybrid)
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 503 Post(s)
Liked 334 Times
in
206 Posts
I think tubes properly stored should be fine.
You kept them hermetically sealed in the freezer, right?
You kept them hermetically sealed in the freezer, right?
__________________
.
.
Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
.
.
Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
#8
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,625
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3868 Post(s)
Liked 2,560 Times
in
1,574 Posts
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.
#9
Successful alcoholic
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Toronto
Posts: 981
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 21 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
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.
#10
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,625
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3868 Post(s)
Liked 2,560 Times
in
1,574 Posts
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.
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.
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.)
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Posts: 1,420
Bikes: 2017 Ridley Fenix SL, 2008 Trek 1500, 1998 Diamondback Apex
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 33 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Yamaguchi City, Japan
Posts: 1,086
Bikes: Trek Madone 5.2 SL 2007, Look KG386, R022 Re-framed Azzurri Primo, Felt Z5, Trek F7.3 FX
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 398 Post(s)
Liked 85 Times
in
73 Posts
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.
#14
Super Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Ffld Cnty Connecticut
Posts: 21,845
Bikes: Old Steelies I made, Old Cannondales
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1173 Post(s)
Liked 924 Times
in
610 Posts
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.)
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.)
__________________
Bikes: Old steel race bikes, old Cannondale race bikes, less old Cannondale race bike, crappy old mtn bike.
FYI: https://www.bikeforums.net/forum-sugg...ad-please.html
Bikes: Old steel race bikes, old Cannondale race bikes, less old Cannondale race bike, crappy old mtn bike.
FYI: https://www.bikeforums.net/forum-sugg...ad-please.html
#15
Senior Member
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.
Old tubes mounted in tires and stored on unridden bikes....now that is a different story.
#16
Senior Member
+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.
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.
#17
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,936
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3571 Post(s)
Liked 3,367 Times
in
1,916 Posts
As long as they've been stored away from ozone sources and UV light, tubes can last indefinitely.
#18
Senior Member
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.
#19
Senior Member
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Yamaguchi City, Japan
Posts: 1,086
Bikes: Trek Madone 5.2 SL 2007, Look KG386, R022 Re-framed Azzurri Primo, Felt Z5, Trek F7.3 FX
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 398 Post(s)
Liked 85 Times
in
73 Posts
Originally Posted by JohnDThompson
As long as they've been stored away from ozone sources and UV light, tubes can last indefinitely.
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.
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Lebanon (Liberty Hill), CT
Posts: 8,456
Bikes: CAAD 12, MASI Gran Criterium S, Colnago World Cup CX & Guru steel
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1722 Post(s)
Liked 1,272 Times
in
734 Posts
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.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 13,553
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4196 Post(s)
Liked 2,913 Times
in
1,781 Posts
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.
#24
Senior Member
Inflate them and hang them up for a while, that'll let you know if they've cracked or are defective.