How long can you store tyres before they go off?

[Mistik-ka]

from the answers it seems very few people here buy tyres in bulk to forstall not being able to get ther fav tyre in the future?

We're a dying breed

Only if one of our precious tyres bursts at a dire moment.

[Rob_Shepter]

I have, today, received two Continental Grand Prix tyres from a well-known online cycle retailer. Decoding the date codes on the side walls reveals that they were manufactured in April 2014 (before this thread was started!) Given everything that has been written about buying NOS and keeping tyres in good condition (i.e. not a damp warehouse), should I ask to return these tyres or take a chance in the hope they will not fail in the same way as the Vittoria and Michelin tyres have done (less than two years from each before the sidewalls gave way)?

I accept that Continental Grand Prix tyres are not the greatest, but they did cost £36 the pair, so should last 3-4000km, but based upon the last two sets of tyres, I will be lucky to get 1000km from them.
My bikes are stored in a spare room in the house, so never damp or cold, but with no direct sunlight either. Would anyone else share their experiences of tyres life, Continental or other brands?

[reohn2]

Rob_Shepter
Which Vittoria tyres?
I ask as I have 5pair of Hypers in a storage and fitted one of the oldest of them bought some 5 plus years ago,which has suffered no obvious deterioration

[peetee]

I have had Schwalbe and Vittoria tyres deteriorate after a matter of months stored in my cool dark garage.
What I cannot account for is where and for how long they were kept before I bought them.

[Cyril Haearn]

Best to learn to decipher the codes and get them from the LBS not the www

[rjb]

That would make sense.

I know it was recently made law that car tyres can't be sold if over a certain age, 8 years I think?

This accident may have triggered something in your memory. It's at the consultation stage but not in to law as yet.
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bris ... or-2596289

[simonhill]

Question - should folding tyres be stored long term folded up

Does anyone have a view on this?

[Cyril Haearn]

Question - should folding tyres be stored long term folded up

Does anyone have a view on this?

No, they should not be stored folded, that would damage the beads
I think

[jacksonz]

I bought a lot of S Marathons on sale, I put them in vacuum packing (jumbo size). Might help.....no problems so far

[Brucey]

Question - should folding tyres be stored long term folded up

Does anyone have a view on this?

No, they should not be stored folded, that would damage the beads
I think

If they are folding tyres it should be OK. If they are wire-beaded tyres then they need to be stored 'in the round' or rolled up into three turns with no twist (there is a knack for doing this that not all packers of mail order tyres know about, evidently).

For good tyre storage the recipe is 'cool, dry, dark'. UV light is a major factor in causing rubber to deteriorate, especially in amberwall tyres. Years ago Michelin amberwalls came wrapped in yellow plastic to prevent UV degradation in storage. IME they rarely lasted more than a year on the bike without starting to perish in an alarming fashion.

cheers

[reohn2]

Question - should folding tyres be stored long term folded up

Does anyone have a view on this?

No, they should not be stored folded, that would damage the beads
I think

No problem with the 5plus year old one I unfolded and fitted to my Salsa Vaya a couple of weeks ago.

[reohn2]

........For good tyre storage the recipe is 'cool, dry, dark'. UV light is a major factor in causing rubber to deteriorate.....

That is my experience.

[Cyril Haearn]

I remember reading in Cycling Weakly that one should buy tubulars early and hang them up to mature. Was that in the 1.April issue?
Rubber changes/deteriorates over time and one does not know how tyres were stored, I would try to check the date and buy young ones but they are made in the far east so are probably a few months old at least when they go on sale
..
Worked in a LBS once, smelt good, tyres and oil

[The utility cyclist]

I've got Michelin select 27" tyres fitted to hookless clincher Weinmann's, they are probably best part of 30 years old and are not cracking or have any splits. I store all my bikes in the house however.

[mercalia]

I suspect its only the really cheap tyres that will deteriorate? I have some City Marathons unused that are 20 years old and still look ok ( My Dawes 1-Down came with them)