Reasons For Tube Blowout?
#1
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Reasons For Tube Blowout?
Today I had a tube blowout inside the tire. Nothing sharp that I could feel. And the tire is intact.
What can be the causes for this? Faulty tube seems like the obvious one. Might a kink in the tube at install time encouraged something like this? Could this be an indicator of the tire being ready to replace? I had a puncture flat (thorn) just two days ago on this tire. I wonder if this tire is getting tired.
What can be the causes for this? Faulty tube seems like the obvious one. Might a kink in the tube at install time encouraged something like this? Could this be an indicator of the tire being ready to replace? I had a puncture flat (thorn) just two days ago on this tire. I wonder if this tire is getting tired.
- Continental GP 5000 clincher
- 700x32
- Typically run 'em around 75 psi - although I recently took them down to 65 psi.
- 1,800 miles
- Weight: 180
- Vast majority of miles are on concrete trails. Extremely little road riding.
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Where was the damage to the tube in relation to everything else? Next to the tire tread, sidewall or rim side of the tube?
I'd just suspect it got damaged during the last flat repair and finally made itself known. Pinched in the bead when seating the tire previously, pinched by a tire lever.
No shame on you. I've damaged plenty of tubes myself from just getting in too big a hurry fixing a flat.
I'd just suspect it got damaged during the last flat repair and finally made itself known. Pinched in the bead when seating the tire previously, pinched by a tire lever.
No shame on you. I've damaged plenty of tubes myself from just getting in too big a hurry fixing a flat.
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Thanks!
Jim
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You ALWAYS have to inspect the tire where the damage to the tube was. You'll waste a lot of tubes if you don't.
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What can be the causes for this? Faulty tube seems like the obvious one.
Sure, but not likely to be a manufacturing fault, IMO.
Might a kink in the tube at install time encouraged something like this?
Could this be an indicator of the tire being ready to replace?
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#8
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I looked and felt for irregularities on both the inside and outside. It's the size of this hole that is perplexing me. Per the earlier reply maybe it was pinched between the bead and rim. That's about the only scenario I can think of that could explain it.
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Most likely the tube was twisted or kinked during the flat repair.
The tire and tube didn't cause any problems for 1800 miles, and you did something two days ago- this is a clue.
Edit: It was probably a new tube, so the history of the old tube is moot.
The tire and tube didn't cause any problems for 1800 miles, and you did something two days ago- this is a clue.
Edit: It was probably a new tube, so the history of the old tube is moot.
Last edited by woodcraft; 09-24-21 at 08:40 AM.
#10
Old enough, hmmm?
Underinflated and bottomed out on a sharp bump in the road. I know from experience.
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So far the only time I've seen that kind of tear or rip in a tube was when I got careless seating the tire bead and the tube sneaked out between the rim and tire. Once that happens it'll quickly develop a bubble and burst, although mine have usually been much more dramatic, with long tears up to six inches or more in length. That happened a couple of times on a rim/tire fit that was too sloppy.
65 psi should be plenty for 700x32 at your 180 lb weight. And flats from bottoming out on potholes, ledges, etc., tend to be snakebite pinch flats with small, slightly elongated punctures on either side, corresponding with the rim.
Is that tube the correct size for the 700x32 tires? Tubes tend to withstand quite a bit of stretching, but a skinny tube intended for, say, 700x18-23 might be at its limits in a 700x32 tire.
Nicking the tube during installation by using a tire lever might have done it. I always use a Kool Stop bead jack to install tires that need more than finger pressure -- much less likely to damage a tube.
And maybe the tube was twisted inside the tire. I use baby powder to slick up tubes and tires. This is recommended by Vittoria and Silca for installing latex tubes, which are tougher than butyl in some ways but easier to nick with careless installation. Their latex tubes now come pre-powdered. I just add similar cornstarch baby powder to all my tubes and tires now. If I'm changing a flat on the road and need to slick up a sticky tube/tire fit I just spit on it.
To prevent the usual tube installation hazards, try inflating the tube very slightly before installation. Just enough air so the tube isn't floppy and shapeless, without expanding the tube. The amount of air is guesswork, so experiment to find what works for you. It's less likely to twist inside the tire, and less likely to be pinched when seating the bead.
65 psi should be plenty for 700x32 at your 180 lb weight. And flats from bottoming out on potholes, ledges, etc., tend to be snakebite pinch flats with small, slightly elongated punctures on either side, corresponding with the rim.
Is that tube the correct size for the 700x32 tires? Tubes tend to withstand quite a bit of stretching, but a skinny tube intended for, say, 700x18-23 might be at its limits in a 700x32 tire.
Nicking the tube during installation by using a tire lever might have done it. I always use a Kool Stop bead jack to install tires that need more than finger pressure -- much less likely to damage a tube.
And maybe the tube was twisted inside the tire. I use baby powder to slick up tubes and tires. This is recommended by Vittoria and Silca for installing latex tubes, which are tougher than butyl in some ways but easier to nick with careless installation. Their latex tubes now come pre-powdered. I just add similar cornstarch baby powder to all my tubes and tires now. If I'm changing a flat on the road and need to slick up a sticky tube/tire fit I just spit on it.
To prevent the usual tube installation hazards, try inflating the tube very slightly before installation. Just enough air so the tube isn't floppy and shapeless, without expanding the tube. The amount of air is guesswork, so experiment to find what works for you. It's less likely to twist inside the tire, and less likely to be pinched when seating the bead.
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Could have been a manufacturing defect. Was reading on Amazon last night about bad batches of Continental Race tubes sold in 5 packs. More than one person said they had multiple failures.
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