philso

over here in japan, 27" tires are getting very hard to source. they are still available on-line in the states, but are basically too expensive to import. although they all appear to be on sale at around $10 - $12 per , they have to come by UPS or FedEx for oversized items. i think a couple of sets were going to end up costing nearly $100!!!

anyway, my lbs finally sourced some panaracers, so i got 2 sets, one set which i armouralled, tightly rewrapped with a copious amount of saranwrap and stored in a dark, could-be-cooler-in-the-summer closet. i figure that they're good for a couple of years.

nos rubber brake hoods have always seemed good, though i've never had any idea just how old they may have been. even if they dry out, it's merely aesthetically distracting. dried out tires would be dangerous.

has anyone here stored tires long-term? any best guesses? i've been riding this bike nearly 35 years and have stocked up on 5-speed freewheels, a couple extra derallieurs, regina chains, etc. etc. i'd really hate to have get a new bike just 'cause i can't get a set of tires, so if i'm fairly sure they'll last long-term, i'm thinking of stocking up on these too.

unworthy1

Based on my days with sew-ups (back in the distant past) they can last a loooong time if you keep them in a cool, dry, dark place. Primarily away from OZONE, which means away from smog and electric motors (such as air conditioners and refrigerators), as it's ozone that really kills rubber. The other danger is mold, (some molds will eat the rubber as if it's breakfast) that's why a "dry" place is a good thing, and another reason why air circulation is desired. But direct sunlight (which would prevent mold) will also damage the rubber over time. I don't think treatment with Armorall, or other such fluids, is a good idea...even though it might seem to be, and I'd unwrap the saran...just my opinions.

Adohrn

Read about this some time back, but I think the consensus was something like 4-7 years. Realize they are probability not new when you get them. Thin rubber does not hold up forever so storage is critical. So don’t go crazy stockpiling.

Wil Davis

Here are a couple of pictures taken in early 2007, of the original tyres which came on my Schwinn Super Sport when I bought it back in 1983. They were on the bike until two years ago when I got back into cycling, and decided to overhaul the bike, which included a new set of tyres. The originals have not been stored in any particular way, although I've been careful to keep them out of direct sunlight. The rear tyre is a bit worn, but the rubber is still in pretty good shape as can be seen from the pictures.

BTW I still have all the original gear which the Schwinn came with (derailleurs, cassettes, shifters). I upgraded to freehubs, since modern cassettes with sculpted teeth offer far better shifting even with down-tube friction shifters, so stockpiling old-fashioned freewheels and cogs are fine for authenticity, but still shift as badly as ever; although I suppose they might fetch a premium on eBay

- Wil

PS: My Schwinn was kept indoors, and I very seldom rode in the rain. Also, the tyre gets most of its strength from the cords in the fabric of the tyre, and from the beads. Even if the rubber is perished, the tyre will still be safe provided the cords and beads are intact, even at high pressure.

Adohrn

Old rubber and neoprene may look perfectly fine, but be completely rotten. Make sure after you put the tire on it doesn’t start to crack and fall apart. I would not want to find out what the result of that would be as fast a road bikes can go.

bobn

My over 30 year old Raleigh 3 speed with "Record" tires on it were still ridable to this day. I took them off and saved them because they were original to the bike. They are under the bed lying flat with the tubes partially inflated in an air conditioned house. (South Florida). They actually look like new and still had the mold flashings on the tread when I got the bike. I think most tires today are nylon and have a long shelf life. Like a previous poster said it's the cord in the tire that takes the brunt of the air pressure, not the rubber/nylon casing.

avenan

To follow up on unworthy1, I'd avoid armorall as well. NOT speaking from experience, just what I've read. Here's a link:

https://stason.org/TULARC/vehicles/vw...s-repleni.html

cyclezealot

after two year in the garage, an Armadillo tire sure did not make it to my usual 5-6 K miles. It was a goner after about 2 k.

philso

thanks everyone. guess i'll go head and order another set or two (and not armourall them). that armourall info was an eye opener.

@ wil davis - love the m.m. quote!