Inner tube life

[1925 Touring]

I recently ran across a few unused inner tubes from some of my grandpa's old things, still in their plastic wrap and was wondering how long and inner tube lasts in storage.
I opened up one of the bags and looked at the inner tube no dating could be found. The tube is in very nice shape, and was obviously never inflated, and stored in a cabinet out of direct sunlight. It was in a garage that is heated during the winter so there is not much extreme temperature variation. I am guessing the tubes are at least 2008 or older. They are Bridgeport brand. Do you think these would be any good? Thanks.

[speedytinc]

Use them. As long as there is no cracking @ the folds.

[Humblej]

Should be OK. I am using USA made Wards Riversides 30x3.5 tubes that were in my wheels when I bought the car. Mine should be over 50 years old and I am still using them.

Over inflate them and see how they look. Without being constrained by a tire they may take an uneven shape but if they hold air and are not cracked they are keepers.

[TWrenn]

Use them. As long as there is no cracking @ the folds.

Storing them folded is the key words here. I never leave em folded. Hard as it is to believe they do "crack and wear" at the folds just sitting in the box. I take mine out and put about 10 lbs. of air pressure in them and lay them flat in the basement. I have stored them upright too...no problems.

[Steve Jelf]

I would give them a conditional OK. My experience with old rubber has not been happy. Use them, but prepare for them to fail. For each one that you use, carry at least one new tube. Of the brands currently available I would call Blockley the best, but the less costly Hartford is also good. There was a run of bad Custom Classic tubes, and in case any of those are still in the supply chain I avoid that brand. I agree that storing them folded is asking for trouble. Softly inflated and lying flat, preferably in the dark, seems the best storage. If you have different sizes in front and rear, it's good to have a spare tire of each size with new tubes in them. This avoids carrying tubes folded.

[Colin Mavins]

my inner tubes were new in 1948 I replaced the tires in 2013 they are on a car that drives once a year but the tubes are still working well I did add steel valve stems . I carry spare tubes in case of a flat and they are also old so hearing about the trouble with the new tubes I would go looking for the old tubes . Cheers Colin

[Dan jensen]

I bought new Blockley tires, and I ordered new tubes from Jegs.com as they were a lot less money than the Blockley tubes. The tubes were Custom Classic, and I had one blow out when returning from a show. I ordered 1 new tube from Jegs and they sent me a Hartford tube. Put that one in and didn't take the car out at all, 3 days later it was completely flat. It cracked on a seam. Jegs replaced it with another Hartford. Held air for a couple of days when I heard a hissing sound from the garage. Flat number 3. I ordered another tube from Lucas, it's a Custom Classic, put it in and has been holding air. Then on the way home yesterday another blow out (different tire this time)
Are the Blockley tubes the ones you need for Blockley tires?

[Steve Jelf]

Are the Blockley tubes the ones you need for Blockley tires?

They have a great reputation, but like you I was put off by the price. Unlike you, I've had good luck with Hartfords. I'm cheap enough to buy the rubber-stemmed ones, cut off the rubber stems, and install my own metal stems. Your Hartfords quickly going flat makes me suspect that the problem there is something other than the quality of the product. Your unhappy experience with Custom Classic is not a big surprise. A few years ago there was a run of them prone to splitting (drove me nuts until I figured it out), and I have avoided that brand in case any of the bad ones are still in the supply chain.

[1925 Touring]

Thanks all!
They were folded up from when they were packed, but they look good yet. Im going to go ahead and use them.

[MariaDenesik]

If the inner tubes have been stored properly, they might still be usable despite being from 2008 or earlier. Check for cracks or signs of deterioration. Inflate them slowly to see if they hold air without leaking. If they seem fine, they could be good for use, but prioritize safety—consider replacing them if you're unsure.

[Allan]

The Blockley stockist here in Australia was out of stock on Blockley tubes when I ordered the last set. The substitute Michelin tubes are excellent. They have screw-on metal stems, are made of really thick material and hold air! Who'd have thought that? They were the same price as the Blockleys.

Allan from down under.

[Steve Jelf]

The substitute Michelin tubes are excellent.

And I bet they are made in a country that would make some people recoil in horror. Where tires and tubes are made is irrelevant to quality. China? Vietnam? Taiwan? Fine. What matters in quality is what standards the IMPORTER REQUIRES the factory to meet. Tubes from India? Maybe OK, maybe not. It depends on what the importer is willing to accept.

[RecklessKelly]

Cheap enough to buy new. Ive seen 3 year old orings that sat in storage without light exposure fail leak tests and they looked like new. Put them under a magnifier and then I could see a million cracks in them.

[TXGOAT2]

I just bought new tubes for a Packard. Made in Korea. They look good, smell fresh, and are marked butyl, but no brand name. Vendor description mentions Hartford. I think butyl tubes will hold air pressure for extended periods. I don't know what tubes are in the Packard's Lester tires, but they are 23 years old and they hold a pressure setting for months on end. The tubes on my T need to be aired up about once a week to hold pressure at 26 PSI. They all leak the same amount, and are otherwise OK. My car has Ford wire wheels.

[TXGOAT2]

I've had some India-made rubber items deteriorate very quickly.

[Allan]

I have a couple of red rubber, metal stemmed Goodyear tubes in service, likely new in 1925 or earlier.

Allan from down under.