Bicycle Mechanics - Storing a tire

Got some new tires and at least one of the old ones is in good shape. I tried folding it uplike the new ones but forgot exactly how they did it. I turned the tire so it makes an "8" then folded the top and bottom together. The only thing is that part of the tire is twisted almost 360 degrees. Is this OK? It's a wire bead road tire (700x25c)

Never tried it with tires, with a band saw blade the technique is to hold the tire in front of you, then twist the R hand down and inward and shortly twist the L hand up and simultaneously turn the L hand so that the palm is down and the thumb is moving toward your chin. The tire at this point has three loops, a "U"
pointed at your R elbow, a loop extending out from your R thumb and the third loop is coming out of the small finger side of your L
hand. With your L 4th and 5th fingers grab the loop coming out of the R thumb and then fold the loop under your R elbow in on top of the others and it is done. Easy with a bandsaw blade but doable with a tire. Walk through it slowly and in a few tries it will be easy. Steve

Addendum: didn't have wire bead other than 20" so I tried method on an old tubular. The tread ended up on the outside and the bead all on the inside. Properly done there is no twist in the tire at all and there will be three loose loops. With a bandsaw blade there is no tendency for the loops to unwind, they are under no spring tension. Steve

Like bare rims and wheels, I hang spare wire bead tires, new and old, under my garage rafters using large bicycle hooks. No need to fold....just hang. I've had new tires hanging bare for several years....no problem.

The above idea is good unless your garage gets very hot as my "back" garage does. I've had tires "separate" form storing them there ( on bikes). Tires like cooler temperatures and darkness.

If your tire is foldable, why not carry it with you as spare? You will rarely use/need it BUT, when you do need it you will REALLY need it . Been there done that.

CLINCHER- Try folding it half tread side out and fold again
" " " " " " " and roll it up

Sew-Up/Tubular - fold into three lops using a moebus twist on the first or second loop to keep the tread facing out, there is another way to fold as well to keep the tread "out " but...
anyway it's very importaat to keep the thread facing "out" on Sew ups ( they won't mount, sat on or roll right if you don't)

I knew a guy who kept his "silks" ( silk tubulars) in his basement in a donut shaped wooden tub, covered in talcum powder. He bought them by the dozen and... that's another story.

Ride Good Rubber
Pat

I can't really fold it in half because of the wire bead. I'd hate to bend that... :)

DONT BEND A WIRE BEAD!

I don't know know if you knew this but the only reason "foldable" tires are "foldable" is becuase they DONT have a wire bead. If you fold the metal bead, it will kink, and you will have the tire blow off the rim.

I assumed Carl had a reason to fold up the tire. I have seen tandems with tires folded up in the manner I described and the tire fastened to the stays as a spare. This is the only way you can fold a wire bead tire without damage to the bead. As others have noted there is no need at home to fold up a wire bead tire for storage unless you have a Japanese style apt. Steve

Sch, I think he was talking to Pat

Carl, follow schs' method for the saw band. I cant describe it to you over the net.....yes, its ok.

sch, could you post a digital pic if your folded up tire? I can't seem to get the hand movements right and keep ending up with a twist in the tire...

It's identical to folding one of those wired windshield sun shades. You twist it in a figure 8 pattern and then bring the two halves together.
Any particular reason why you wanna store your tires in this manner????.....unless that is....you live in a Japanese style apt. and you have absolutely no room whatsoever.

Well, I have a small house (1,000 sqft) and my wife and I have a LOT of junk :) I guess hanging it would probably be fine, but I wanted it outof the way (and easy to carry in a car). I tried the figure 8, but the tire still did a full twist at one of the turns. Is this OK?

Well, Carl.......the best answer to your dilemma is to buy folding tires next time. You can even carry one in your jersey and look cool at the same time. ;)

OK, it's a wire Bead- it's probably best and easiest just to hang it up, but- You can give it a fold by taking it by both hands on opposite sides and giving it a twist into a "figure 8" and bringing the top and bottom of the "8" together, then tie the top and bottom together to hold the new shape. Toe straps work well for this.
The "bandsaw" fold seems like it might the the same as the fold for tubulars, Fumblefingers me hasn't been able to make it work with clinchers.
Ride Compact
Pat

Does the tire do a full twist on one side (i.e. part of the tread actually facing inward)?

Originally posted by CarlJStoneham
Does the tire do a full twist on one side (i.e. part of the tread actually facing inward)? Yes.......and don't worry about it.....

Originally posted by Phatman
DONT BEND A WIRE BEAD!

I don't know know if you knew this but the only reason "foldable" tires are "foldable" is becuase they DONT have a wire bead. If you fold the metal bead, it will kink, and you will have the tire blow off the rim.

you know, that's what i would think too, but i bought a pair of conti ultra 3000's from keith's triathlon shop, and they folded up the tire before sending it to me. they both had kinks in them, but i just kinda bended them back to round, and they look pretty much good as new now (they're still sitting here while i wait for my frame to arrive)

I use only folders, but i store them unfolded (hung up in a large closet). Many will lose shape & become hard to mount if you've stored them folded.

I wound't store a wire-bead twisted.

I would ship it that way or carry it in the car that way. Why put the extra stress on the sidewalls if you don't have to?!

Also an old-foldie that I decide to keep as a backup I would leave open as that is how it wants to be now. If I decide to transport it or strap it to the bike for a spare then I will refold it (and probably keep it that way). Sometimes the stress of refolding an old foldie will cause the sidewalls grief.

I have created a series of pix demonstrating the folding method
using a 30yr old wire bead tire I found. I will leave it for a time.
Click Here (http://home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-sch1943/)

Steve

That's GREAT! Thanks! I'll just print it out today so you don't have to use up your storage space for too long...

Thanks Steve. I'm going to try that tonight.

Awesome instructions, Steve. I've saved the page for future reference.

You da man....