Would You Use a 40 year old NOS tube.
 

Here's the story.

The bike I recently bought came with a few extra tubes. It hadn't been ridden since about 79. I pumped up the original tubes yesterday to about 100psi. I rode it a few miles and hung it up in the living room overnight. 5am and the front tube let loose and popped. Woke everyone up but Thomas(teenage son).

the rubber is still pliable and not dried out. Would you run these tubes?
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8711247db6.jpg

I too have a couple vintage tubes that I could test. In the garage, of course.




btw, can I have some bacon?

Did the tube or the tire fail causing the blowout on the bike in question? A loud explosive failure indicates a bead that has come loose or a tire sidewall that is dust that blew out under that 100 psi.

I'd use the tube you show in the photo with a good tire.

Sure, I’d run it, but I’d also carry a back up!

Maybe on the back. Definitely not on the front.

Bad things can happen with front tire blow-outs. Don't ask me how I know. Just trust me on this one.

Thanks for that question(& answer),JulesCW. I didn't bother even removing the tire or looking at it(til now).

Sure enough, the tire blew...

So where's all the 27x1 1/8" Paseles...
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b876906338.jpg

Ouch! I guessed that might be the issue. Tubes go flat on bikes not ridden for a long time, but they're generally ok if the bike has not been sitting outside for decades as they're protected from sun and contaminants by the tire -- although i'll check an old tube carefully, esp. around the valve.

Not too many 40 year old tires that are any good -- especially if they've not been carefully stored!

I feel lucky when a blowout happens on a bike hanging on a hook as opposed to on the road! ;)

Probably just fine. I have some original 1950's Dunlop tubes in service.

Tires, on the other hand...nope.

-Kurt

I use them all the time, even have a stash, but these are for Roadster and Sports tires so they're low pressure. Where else will I source EA1, EA3, 650B, 26 x 1 3/4 etc. This is some of my NIB stock, 70's and earlier.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...345e78f159.jpg

I was cleaning out my garage today, I found some ~25 year old tires and tubes. The road tires were stiff and brittle, toss. Tubes and MTB tires all looked fine, save.

My '73 Schwinn Super Sport is running on the original tubes.

Top

I bought a set of fairly trashed his and hers 1930s Raleigh Sports last fall, and both came with what I imagined were original tubes. Tires were completely shot, but I pumped those tubes up, hung in the basement, and they’ve been holding that air for months now.