Touring - How to pack a spare tire?

My rear tire is getting a little bit worn and I think I'm going to go ahead and bring a spare. What's the best way to pack it? I'm using a BOB trailer. If I fold the tire up will that screw up its shape?

Carry a tire with a Kevlar bead. They are sold folded up in a box. No problems with folding.

If you want to carry a wire tire, then you can fold it by shaping it to an oval, bring the ends up into a saddle shape so the ends come up to meet each other, and overlap. The middles are overlapped under, and it all settles into three loops without any kincks, then you can strap it down. Look online for instructions on how to fold a bandsaw blade. Try it with a belt first, remember, no twists.

Another option is to form it into a saddle shape and use it as the tiedown for the the rear rack, You will need little ties to tension it up, but being rubber, it makes a good tie down, because it's sticky enough to hold stuff together.

If it's noticably worn why not just replace it now?

folding tires are good...years ago we used to roll them up like PeterPan1 did and tie them to the rack stays or the outside of the panniers. FWIW I ALWAYS carry a spare tire even on shorter rides.

Aaron:)

If it's noticably worn why not just replace it now?

+1. Use the old tire for the spare.

With beer, doughnuts and chocolate of course!

This is how you fold a wire bead tire.

http://www.rideyourbike.com/tirefold.html

But I agree with the others, go ahead and replace it now and carry a folding tire for the trip. If they don't offer your favorite brand of tire in kevlar, buy a very light weight tire as an emergency only tire. Use it until you can order the right one. Order it from where ever you are and have it shipped to a post office a couple days ahead of you on your route.

1. Never start a tour or any long ride with a worn tire.

2. Buy a couple folding tires. Hutchison has some that I really like and they aren't overly expensive.


I put on a lot of miles each year, and I change my tires regularly ... my front ones get changed about every 5000 kms and the rear ones about every 3000 kms. I don't use the old tires as spares ... they get tossed. After all tires are cheap (the non-folding ones, that is) so why not ride on good tires rather than old worn ones?

Any idea what the average lifespan is of a good quality tire...like a Marathon Schwalabe?