Tyre Storage

[quixoticgeek]

I have a couple of spare sets of wheels and some spare tyres. Currently they are dumped in the corner. I just noticed that 2 of the tyres were flat and didn't look too happy.

Is there a recommended way to store tyres when not in use? Are they likely to deteriorate if left on a wheel deflated and squashed under the weight of the wheel ? Can a folding tyre be folded back up, bungee'd and stored on the shelf ok?

J

[Kim]

If they're on a wheel (especially if bearing the weight of an under-used bike), I'm in the habit of keeping them pumped up, and turning the wheel round occasionally.  Just seems sensible.

Most of my un-fitted tyres are lying on their side in a pile at the back of the cupboard-of-doom.  There may be a folding one still in a box - I suppose they spend a long time in this state when new, so it can't be too bad for them?  It's probably less stress on the sidewall than being pinched by the weight of a wheel.

[Adam]

Long term, leaving them deflated on a wheel stored on the floor will increase the likelihood of cracks developing on the sidewalls.

[quixoticgeek]

Long term, leaving them deflated on a wheel stored on the floor will increase the likelihood of cracks developing on the sidewalls.

How long is long term?

J

[Adam]

I've seen the effect after about a year, but haven't done any research to check on shorter time periods! There's also unknown variables such as tyre quality, UV exposure and temperature.

[quixoticgeek]

I've seen the effect after about a year, but haven't done any research to check on shorter time periods! There's also unknown variables such as tyre quality, UV exposure and temperature.

Minimal UV exposure (they aren't in direct sunlight). Temp is 20-24°C most of the year, much hotter in summer.

Tyres are all Schwalbe or Conti...

J

[bludger]

I've got a load bunged inside an old metal filing cabinet inside a wooden summer house thing. They've been there for ages and don't seem to have come to any harm. I have kept tyres in such condition for over a year and there's nothing wrong with them.

If I wanted to create hidden caches of tyres with to ride around the world after a nuclear apocalypse I would consider folding them, slathering them in some kind of thick grease, tying with strong and then wrapping with greaseproof paper and then more grease but that is a bit extreme.

[LittleWheelsandBig]

Some brushed-on latex, rather than grease (a lubricant, really?), was traditional for protecting the sidewalls of stored high quality tubulars back in the day.

[rogerzilla]

Keep them away from UV and ozone (so electric motors).

A tyre a few years old goes quite hard on the outside.  This may not be optimal for grip but it is good for resisting punctures.  I had some NOS Spesh Turbo S tyres from Paul Milnes once.  They were 20mm and very light but never punctured once.  They had that "aged tyre" smell about them.

[orienteer]

Recall learning that professional teams stored tyres in the dark for a few years to harden them.

[giropaul]

Recall learning that professional teams stored tyres in the dark for a few years to harden them.

Not so much now, as technology moves a bit fast and teams are under big pressure from sponsors to use the newest idea and model ( although don’t believe all that’s written on the tyres, Dugast and other specialist makers are still busy).
It was/is certainly a successful protocol. Ideally dark, cool and as has been said, away from electric motors or anything else producing ozone.
I’m still using tubular tyres that were team issue back in the 80s with no issues. They’ve been kept as above.

[Rowan]

Keep them away from UV and ozone (so electric motors).

A tyre a few years old goes quite hard on the outside.  This may not be optimal for grip but it is good for resisting punctures.  I had some NOS Spesh Turbo S tyres from Paul Milnes once.  They were 20mm and very light but never punctured once.  They had that "aged tyre" smell about them.

learn something every day
https://www.science20.com/news_articles/solving_ozone_problem_caused_electric_cars-78149

[Kim]

learn something every day
https://www.science20.com/news_articles/solving_ozone_problem_caused_electric_cars-78149

Hang on, Shirley ozone is only produced when there's an arc?  So the various flavours of induction motors generally used in electric cars shouldn't have that problem.

ETA: Brain fart.  It's talking about emissions from power stations.  I think.  'EGU' seems to be USAnian for coal-fired power station 

[Rowan]

learn something every day
https://www.science20.com/news_articles/solving_ozone_problem_caused_electric_cars-78149

Hang on, Shirley ozone is only produced when there's an arc?  So the various flavours of induction motors generally used in electric cars shouldn't have that problem.

ETA: Brain fart.  It's talking about emissions from power stations.  I think.  'EGU' seems to be USAnian for coal-fired power station 

Hmm, on reading that article (from 2011) again, it is talking about pollution in respect to generating the leccy in the first place, so completely different to ozone pollution from electric motors.  And as you say there is no arcing in brushless motors.

All the same I had not know that arcing from electric motors produced ozone

[fruitcake]

I store tyres in a large box, the type that bike shops throw away. Keeps the sunlight off them, keeps them organised. I also have some worn out rims that I have mounted the tyres on, to make the tyres less wobbly and easier to organise.

[L CC]

We store some on wheels and some not, but all hanging from hooks in the garage.

[ElyDave]

Mine are in a wheel bag along with a couple of spare rims, one folding road tyre still folded to tie to a rack if touring, on a shelf out of the sun.  The ones in the bag are twenty year old MTB tyres, with no sidewall cracking. I'll probably put them back on the ancient MTB when my airnimal arrives.

[Nightmare-1]

If they're fitted to wheels try hanging them up.
It doesn't matter too much if they go flat then.

[rogerzilla]

learn something every day
https://www.science20.com/news_articles/solving_ozone_problem_caused_electric_cars-78149

Hang on, Shirley ozone is only produced when there's an arc?  So the various flavours of induction motors generally used in electric cars shouldn't have that problem.

ETA: Brain fart.  It's talking about emissions from power stations.  I think.  'EGU' seems to be USAnian for coal-fired power station 

Hmm, on reading that article (from 2011) again, it is talking about pollution in respect to generating the leccy in the first place, so completely different to ozone pollution from electric motors.  And as you say there is no arcing in brushless motors.

All the same I had not know that arcing from electric motors produced ozone

There's plenty of arcing from brushed motors as used in drills and other small power tools.

[Gattopardo]

Store in the dark.

[Brucey]

cool, dry, dark.   If they are on wheels/bikes, best hang them up or keep them well inflated.

cheers

[quixoticgeek]

If they're fitted to wheels try hanging them up.
It doesn't matter too much if they go flat then.

I asked my housemates. I'm not allowed to hang the wheels from the living room ceiling. They then prempted to say I am not allowed to hang them in the Kitchen, bathroom, or toilet either.

I'm looking at the hallway currently. With a 42mm tyre on a 622 rim, if I can get the wheel to within about 5mm of the ceiling, it clears the top of the doors... Just...

J

[hubner]

Maybe try a bedroom, if there is one and you're allowed.

Or lay the wheels on their side, preferably with something underneath so the tyres are not touching anything, although it would take up a lot of space. Maybe under a bed or on top of a cupboard/wardrobe, if you've got those and allowed.

[Brucey]

if only Marcel Duchamp had used a tyre there would be precedent as 'modern art' for carefully stored bicycle wheels...



Of course the correct choice of furniture can help with tyre storage too



FWIW appropriately sized  foam pipe lagging  can be used to protect tyres (on wheels) that are being stored. If the foam is of the right consistency, it will help support the weight of a bike even if the tyre goes flat.   If your tubed and tubeless tyres leak by a 'normal' amount then the latter require more frequent attention if they are not to go flat during storage.

cheers

[mzjo]

If they're fitted to wheels try hanging them up.
It doesn't matter too much if they go flat then.

I asked my housemates. I'm not allowed to hang the wheels from the living room ceiling. They then prempted to say I am not allowed to hang them in the Kitchen, bathroom, or toilet either.

I'm looking at the hallway currently. With a 42mm tyre on a 622 rim, if I can get the wheel to within about 5mm of the ceiling, it clears the top of the doors... Just...

J

Are you not allowed to hang pictures on the walls? What's the difference between a picture and a rim with a tyre on it? Of course you might have to ask your LBS if you could have some otherwise scrap rims to keep your tyres on. Other idea would be the sort of mobile clothes hanger often used in jumble sales and (at least in France) sold very cheaply to poor flat-ridden old people to hang up all those clothes that they are never going to wear again, except they haven't realised yet. DAHIKT