Rstyle

Local bike shop had a good deal on tubes so I bought several.
Questions:
1) How long will tubes ( butyl) last if you keep them in the box they came in.
Is there anything I should do to make them last longer ( i.e.: leave them in hot
garage)
2) if I replace my tires and keep one or both as spares. How long will they be
good for? Do they crack only if under pressure but not if stored by themselves
in a closet? Should they have tire protectant applied prior to storage?

Thank you ahead of time for any responses.

FBinNY 

Butyl tubes have a shelf life well exceeding 5 years. Most likely exceeding 10 or even 15 years, so it's pretty safe to buy in advance unless you get carried away and buy a lifetime supply. Keep them in a cool dry space. I say dry because the boxes may grow mold in a damp basement, though the tubes probably don't care.

As for the tires, I'm not a fan of the notion of keeping used tires as spares. I prefer to put older partly worn tires on the rear wheel and finishing them off. In the event that I need a spare, it means that I'm now without a safety net, so the last thing I want is a less reliable tire. Also, if you save used tires and ride new ones, you'll end up with more used tires.

So if the tire is good enough to save as a spare, use it up, and rotate new tires into the mix. If it's too worn to be used except for special circumstances, it's too worn to rely on altogether and belongs in the trash.

Nermal

Totally agree, FB. In the box, tubes can stand up to a fair amount of air pollution. Ozone is destructive, but if it doesn't circulate around the rubber, it isn't going to make a difference.

Rstyle

I bought puncture resistant tires. Was planning to save the two I am taking off as spares. They have 800 miles on them and do not look bad
I have to ride on lots of shoulders and had repetitive flats.

FBinNY 

You don't have to explain anything. You ask for information and advice, but aren't obligated to follow it.

OTOH - and this is purely for your consideration. What are you saving the used tires for? Unless you have another bike or plans to ride where flats are of less concern, odds are you'll be saving them only to toss them later on.

Consider donating them to a co-op or bringing them to a swap meet and getting some value from them. Then buy a spare of the kind you'll actually use. Just my 2 cents worth.

jefnvk

I've personally got a couple decent old ones I keep around in case I want to get rid of something and keep the tires it has, and one for whenever I actually get this trainer working, but I agree completely. I kept old used tires around for a while thinking I might need them, and a couple weeks ago the entire pile went to Performance's recycling bin. Haven't missed them at all, and in all honesty unless they are something special, tires are relatively cheap.

As to tubes, they can last a LONG time. I redid a 1968 Schwinn for the girlfriend, the tubes were original per their date code, and looked brand new and held air better than the ones that went on. Kept them just for the novelty factor. Original tires were crap, though. Realistically, most of the bikes I've bought had tubes that are likely decades old, and all hold air fine.

Miele Man

Once a tire of mine reaches the point where I'd not trust it to be ridden I use a pair of cutters and cutthe tire so that it can't be use by someone scrounging who might not know the tire isn't safe to ride. There's a guy in my building that wanted the tires I was cutting up and couldn't understand thattheose tires weren't safe for any bicyling use.

We used to destroy badly used tires/wheels at the shop i worked at so that someone wouldn't use them then sue us if they had an accident on/with them.

Cheers

rydabent

Store new tires and tube in a cool dry place.

Then-------------I keep my pretty much worn out tires and patched tubes with me along with pump when I travel. Who knows when I might come across a cyclist out on the hiway that destroyed a tire and could use them.

SpikedLemon

I have a spare tire. When I ordered a replacement rear: I ordered two tires so that I have a 'new' as my spare.

I've thought about having my old tire as a "just in case" tire but I considered that if I'm in such dire need for a new tire, and my spare is consumed, I'm a 10 minute drive away from a large box/dept store that has long hours and I can buy a cheap Kenda emergency tire.

Now if I didn't own a car: I might keep a used tire just to make that trip to the store to purchase a robust replacement.

fietsbob

In talc, in a zip lock bag, is how I hoard tube spares , in my seat bag.

10 Wheels

I have ridden on 23 y/o tubes.