Tubular tire shelf life

[VTR1000SP2]

Hey PL,

I am getting back into tubular on two wheelsets and after the demise of poorly stored FMBs, I’d like to ask the pros for the do’s and dont’s of tubular tire storage.

Hoping this isn’t like storing cigars.

TIA.


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[AngryScientist]

avoid extreme temps, light and exposure to ozone and they can last practically forever.

[PNW]

Good to hear the advice from the man above me. I right now am considering whether or not to pull the trigger on Bora 35 tubulars or clinchers... the struggle

[skiezo]

I have a few sets that I keep in my temp controlled basement and after a few years they are still like new.

[redir]

I just took my vintage leightweight out for a century ride last weekend on nos tires from the 80's... No joke.

[oldpotatoe]

Hey PL,

I am getting back into tubular on two wheelsets and after the demise of poorly stored FMBs, I’d like to ask the pros for the do’s and dont’s of tubular tire storage.

Hoping this isn’t like storing cigars.

TIA.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I store them on some old tubie rims..pump them up, they sit in a garage that gets warm in the summer, cool in winter..I date them so I use the oldest first. Vittoria, Pave and Corsa Elites

No need to put in temp and humidity controlled room with Bocelli playing softly in the background and a opened bottle of Chianti for atmosphere..:)

PNW above-
I right now am considering whether or not to pull the trigger on Bora 35 tubulars or clinchers... the struggle

That's easy..tubulars..tubie tires, and many makers, are really excellent these days. Gluing them on isn't rocket surgery, the ride is sublime..tubulars now and forever..'Big'(first names only):)

[Hindmost]

...Hoping this isn’t like storing cigars...

More like Parmigiano-Reggiano or prosciutto.

[VTR1000SP2]

Bocelli playing softly in the background and a opened bottle of Chianti for atmosphere..:)


This is where I went wrong with the FMBs... I had Callas and Valpolicella instead..


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[oldpotatoe]

This is where I went wrong with the FMBs... I had Callas and Valpolicella instead..


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Funny..did the tread come off the FMBs? Pretty common on these and Dugast cuz the tread is 'cold vulcanized'..just glued on..not 'hot vulcanized, more of a chemical reaction.

[redir]

That's cool why I don't buy FMB's anymore. I sincerely believe they are the best tires goin but they don't last. When I was racing regularly they were great but when you hang the bike up for the winter they delaminate by the next season.

[VTR1000SP2]

So it’s not my fault... that makes me feel better


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[Vientomas]

I don't want to hijack the thread...but, I'm curious how many miles folks are getting from Vittoria Corsa Elite tubulars.

I have a set of 25's that I mounted new in the Spring and the rear tire is showing some significant wear (file tread gone and tire top squaring). I'm 120 lbs and run them at about 72 F 75 R. Strictly pavement, no gravel. Guessing I have about 1000 miles on them. Lovely tires, just seem to be wearing quickly.

Thanks for any insight you may have!

[VTR1000SP2]

I don't want to hijack the thread...but, I'm curious how many miles folks are getting from Vittoria Corsa Elite tubulars.



I have a set of 25's that I mounted new in the Spring and the rear tire is showing some significant wear (file tread gone and tire top squaring). I'm 120 lbs and run them at about 72 F 75 R. Strictly pavement, no gravel. Guessing I have about 1000 miles on them. Lovely tires, just seem to be wearing quickly.



Thanks for any insight you may have!



I got a good 3000 from my rear before any boxing off would start. Do you ride on country roads or abrasive tarmac?


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[Vientomas]

I got a good 3000 from my rear before any boxing off would start. Do you ride on country roads or abrasive tarmac?


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Thanks for the data point. I'm riding mostly smooth pavement, but a bit of heavier tarmac too.

[verbs4us]

Related question--do you store with a little air (20-30 psi) or fully empty, because they will eventually empty anyway? Store on rims, or just draped over something not pointy? When using tubulars, do you deflate after each ride?

[Alaska Mike]

Julien de Vries talking about Lance Armstrongs "tübülars" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKfz0tkYin4)

I bought a ton of Vittoria Paves (and other models) when Ribble had them on sale a few years back, and they've been slowly being rotated onto the race wheels. Do I notice a difference in the "aged" tubulars? Not so much.

[PNW]

Julien de Vries talking about Lance Armstrongs "tübülars" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKfz0tkYin4)

I bought a ton of Vittoria Paves (and other models) when Ribble had them on sale a few years back, and they've been slowly being rotated onto the race wheels. Do I notice a difference in the "aged" tubulars? Not so much.

Awesome video. Thanks for linking that.

[PNW]

I store them on some old tubie rims..pump them up, they sit in a garage that gets warm in the summer, cool in winter..I date them so I use the oldest first. Vittoria, Pave and Corsa Elites

No need to put in temp and humidity controlled room with Bocelli playing softly in the background and a opened bottle of Chianti for atmosphere..:)

PNW above-


That's easy..tubulars..tubie tires, and many makers, are really excellent these days. Gluing them on isn't rocket surgery, the ride is sublime..tubulars now and forever..'Big'(first names only):)

For me it’s the worry of flats while I’m out and being stranded. I’ll send you a PM.

[Alaska Mike]

I remembered Julien talking about his "aged" tubular tires, but never Googled it before now. The only reason I ever stored them was because I'm cheap.

[oldpotatoe]

Julien de Vries talking about Lance Armstrongs "tübülars" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKfz0tkYin4)

I bought a ton of Vittoria Paves (and other models) when Ribble had them on sale a few years back, and they've been slowly being rotated onto the race wheels. Do I notice a difference in the "aged" tubulars? Not so much.

Interesting..he also thought it took like 4 days to 'properly' glue one on..funny.

That's a mess of tires tho..

[oldpotatoe]

For me it’s the worry of flats while I’m out and being stranded. I’ll send you a PM.

For the peanut gallery..wrap a pre-glued spare under your saddle. I also use a paint can opener wrapped in there to get the old one off(bent a few keys trying to use that)..use OrangeSeal or some other sealant. If you can't get rescued, I put a second spare in a cut off water bottle. BUT in 33 years of riding mostly tubulars, I have had 2 flats in one ride only 3 times...

[11.4]

First, storing tires really depends on the kind of tire. As mentioned, hand-assembled tires like Dugasts and FMBs don't tolerate a lot and age really well and with beneficial results for a couple years, but then need to be used fairly quickly. For most people, buying into that great deal and suddenly owning ten FMBs doesn't work out well. If modern vulcanized tires, you can order bulk and store them practically forever if well tended.

Second, the ideal storage is unfolded, uninflated, lying flat inside a heavy duty black plastic demolition bag inside a big tire or double wheel box. The plastic keeps off any ozone (which can affect modern tires as well as old ones) and keeps dust and other junk off them). If you make them sit on edge, they collapse and it strains both the tread and the casing over time. I've stored a few hundred tires on their own dry rims and when I just stored them in the bag in the box without rim I didn't find any deterioration in condition. If on rims, absolutely hang them so there's no weight on the tire when it deflates (which it inevitably does). If you have very stable weather with no extreme heat, storing in the garage can work. But many people have a heating system in the garage, plus their car. These two items generate all kinds of air contaminants which are bad for tires. And if you're in a place (like Dallas where I am at present) where the garage gets very hot, keep the tires indoors. And indoors, the bag and box is easier to handle.

I date all tires discreetly with a Sharpie on the tread. And I'm a Luddite and paint any bare (tan) fabric sidewalls with latex before storing. I like to believe it helps, though I don't run into enough tan tires any longer to have any remotely statistical evidence.

BTW, same rules apply to clincher tires. We tend to leave them folded up and on a shelf in the garage, but a nice Vittoria Corsa Elite needs the same care. I unfold them shape them nicely (even put them on a rim and inflate them overnight just to get out any wrinkles), and then store them as for the tubulars.

[chiasticon]

For the peanut gallery..wrap a pre-glued spare under your saddle. I also use a paint can opener wrapped in there to get the old one off(bent a few keys trying to use that)..use OrangeSeal or some other sealant. If you can't get rescued, I put a second spare in a cut off water bottle. BUT in 33 years of riding mostly tubulars, I have had 2 flats in one ride only 3 times...I know you don't use carbon rims, but for anyone else: be careful with any metal lever/screwdriver/etc if you have carbon rims! can definitely do some damage. don't pry against the rim but instead use the lever to push against the casing, side-to-side, to break the glue bond.

when I briefly rode tubulars on the road, my plan was just use a quick release lever to help pry it off, in the manner described above. it worked in the home shop, but never had to employ it on the road. now I only use tubs for cross though.