Is there a shelf life for tubular tires?

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saldana_joel

2009-07-15 8:31 AM

Regular

117

Carrollton, TX

Subject: Is there a shelf life for tubular tires?

I bought a pair of Continental Competition tubular tires off ebay a couple weeks ago. I took them in yesterday to get installed on my new wheels (figured I'd leave that to the lbs). When I came in to pick them up, they asked me how old the tires where. I told them I wasnt really sure.

Apparently while installing, the base tap ripped off of one of the tires. No big deal, they just did a warrantly replacement. But now I'm paranoid about riding the other tire. Is there anything I should be watching out for? At what point during installation would the base tape have a chance to get ripped off? Maybe they just installed the tire wrong, and the glue was too dry to easily remove?

Daremo

2009-07-15 10:09 AM

in reply to: #2286329

Cycling Guru

15134

Fulton, MD

Subject: RE: Is there a shelf life for tubular tires?

Some pro teams "age" their tubulars for 5 - 10 years before even mounting them. Don't ask me why, I just know they do it.

Age is not so much the issue as the exposure to elements and such are. If the tire is around sunlight or chemicals it can easily start to degrade. Just look over the tire and see if there is any sort of dry rotting/cracking on it.

But Conti Competitions are not THAT old of a tire ......... shouldn't be a problem usually.

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saldana_joel

2009-07-15 10:28 AM