Oldguyonoldbike

My brother passed away a few months ago and I am just now getting around to going through the boxes of cycling stuff he had in his garage. Among other things, he seems to have had a lifetime supply of inner tubes. Since he hadn't cycled for at least ten years, the newest ones are at least ten years old, but probably older.

Do they decay over time, or do I now have a lifetime supply of tubes?

mongol777

Just my own experience - couple of weeks ago I was sorting through huge pile of tubes I had accumulated over the years. I started to sort them by size, valve type and length and good to go/need patch. I inflated them and left overnight for leak testing. What I found is the tubes which are over 20-30 years old, were installed/used on the bikes they came with, etc - were still holding air just fine.
For the shape and feel - most of the far east made tubes from older days and modern cheap tubes were just OK (uneven inflation for example - like bubbling around valve, etc). But I did find couple of gems. One of them was really old Michelin tube, made for I think 19c or 20c tires and oh boy - it felt real nice to the hand, like high quality item, inflated very evenly and was just a pleasure to handle.

So I guess I am not helping much with your question but I found little to no deterioration aside from cracked patch here or there. And mind you - none of the tubes were in package, all were used at some point

noglider 

They are probably fine, because they have been away from ultraviolet and probably away from humidity. Go ahead and pass them on to those who can use them.

Very sorry about your brother!

non-fixie 

I bought a box of old (seventies?) NOS Michelin tubes a while back. Liked the short valve stems.

They have given me an above-average number of flats so far, so I'm a bit hesitant to keep using them.

old's'cool

I've had no quality and few age related failures from old school inner tubes harvested from old bikes and built wheels that I've acquired. By contrast, I've had more quality related flats than I can remember from modern, cheapo tubes. So much so, that my strategy is now, if I get a puncture on a "good old" tube, I fix it, and keep it going, rather than accept the risk of a new low priced tube, or $hell out the $$ for a name brand tube (and some of these have let me down as well (pun unintended but apropos nonetheless), due to quality or premature aging.

The typical quality failure modes I've experienced are splitting along the moulding seams, or separation of the metal stem from the rubber carcass of the tube. (I've successfully salvaged tubes with this failure mode by splicing in a good stem segment from a tube that has been written off due to rupture or puncture damage)
The aging failure mode I've seen is hardening and cracking of the rubber, which usually first appears at sharp bends of a tube that has been left folded or rolled up tightly over a long period of time.

Narhay

If I have them I would use them after testing. If I did not I would get new tubes. For such an inexpensive part it can ruin a ride. I would rather spend the $6 on some new tubes than be at the side of the road fixing a flat.

bwilli88 

Here in Cambodia I can not leave an inner tube out in the roofed over work area I have because enough sunlight comes in that I have had a tube rot in a week. If they are still in the wrapper or inside a tire/wheel they will be ok but not exposed to the humidity and sunlight.

RobbieTunes

Run them until experience shows you shouldn't.
At the least, you can run through them.
My guess is they are fine with a bit less durability than a decent new tube.

Just don't leave them outside in Cambodia

RobbieTunes

10 tears, no use. May not last.

RobbieTunes

That is a lot of thought, and work. Much cheaper than therapy, and likely better.

ThermionicScott 

My condolences, @Oldguyonoldbike. I would pump up all the tubes just enough to take shape and check them the next day. Use the good ones in your brother's memory.

clubman 

70's Michelin clinchers performed similarly. Not quite ready for prime-time.

old's'cool

Agreed, I probably need therapy, but if I can avoid it and the associated expense by obsessively minimizing my financial outlay for inner tubes, I call it a win.