Triumphrat

FifeTiger · 09-26-2006

How often should you get a new set of inner tubes ?

Every time you replace the tyres ?

tyrebyter · 09-26-2006

Yes, or live dangerously. The valve stem/tube junction gets weak with age. Take it from someone who is a life long cheap bastard. I do some pretty stupid things but a tube is not the place to cheap out.

blacktiger · 09-29-2006

I've used the same tube for two tyres at a time. i.e. I get a new tube every other tyre. 40000 miles and I'm still here.

tyrebyter · 09-30-2006

Blacktiger, looks like you're doing 10,000 miles a year so, is that a set of tires a year? Your tubes aren't exactly old especially since I'm guessing your road temperature rarely gets to 120 degrees. I'd have to conceed that your conditions are different from mine.

glgavin · 10-01-2006

You should replaced the tube with each tire change. There are three issues of concern.

1. - if you don't maintain your pressure it's possible at low pressure for the tire to move on the rim taking the tube with it. Of course the hole for the valve doesn't allow for that *creep* so the stem is stressed just under the rim.

2. - our rims might be alloy and the stems on the tubes seem to be brass or even some rust resistant steel. But the fittings just under the rim seem to rust if your riding environment includes water. That rust weakens the base of the stem and can cut the tube.

3. - the tires are designed for tubeless applications but are acceptable for tube applications. The inside of the tire is not as smooth as a tire designed for tube only applications. Combine this with issue 1 and you get a rubbing action between tube and tire effectively filing down the thickness of the tube. I've seen this cause tubes to blow out on bicycles.

Still, I've run an old tube in a new tire without issue but I make it a point to change out that tube on the next tire change. I've done this only when a replacement tube isn't readily available to me. I try and keep a spare tube for each tire size on hand just in case. Whether to use or not to use depends on the condition of the tube when the tire is changed. Since many of us have a shop change our tires I feel it's better to error on the side of caution and replace the tube.

[ This message was edited by: glgavin on 2006-10-01 00:55 ]

AVM · 10-01-2006

I never thought about changing the tubes. I'm at 35k miles and still have the original tubes. I guess I'll change them with my next set of tires.

[ This message was edited by: AVM on 2006-10-01 09:31 ]