General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Sudden temp changes and tires? Rss Feed  
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2006-10-05 3:55 PM

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Veteran
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San Antonio, TX
Subject: Sudden temp changes and tires?
Can sudden temperature changes deflate a tire? I JUST picked up my bike from the LBS where I had taken it for a tune up/inspection before the MS 150 this weekend. Both tires were fully pumped, he has replaced a tube on the front tire I had busted right as I was pulling into my house the other day back from my bike ride, and I had just put the bike outside on my balcony. Next thing I know I hear a sudden "poooooofffffff" and look outside and watch the front tire quickly deflate. What the heck? I hadn't even touched it. Could it have been the difference between being in air conditioning and then coming out into the heat on my balcony that did it? Damn I'm pissed, hope the tube isn't busted!

Edited by fattyboombalatty 2006-10-05 3:56 PM


2006-10-05 3:59 PM
in reply to: #562067

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Extreme Veteran
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Subject: RE: Sudden temp changes and tires?
it's possible but I'd be surprised if it happened that quickly. have a check of the valves would be my first step and see if they're not sat right

Tim/.
2006-10-05 4:00 PM
in reply to: #562067

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Elite
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Austin, TX
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Subject: RE: Sudden temp changes and tires?
Ask JeepFleeb about pumping up tires on race morning outside when it's dark and 33 degrees and then coming into T1 a few hours later when it's sunny and nearly 60.....He'll tell you about his 10 minute T1.

Yes, the change in temp can cause the tire to blow if it's extreme enough. If that's what happened, the tube will be shot. It's likely to have a pretty significant split in it.
2006-10-05 4:06 PM
in reply to: #562067

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Québec City
Subject: RE: Sudden temp changes and tires?
It can be a lot of thing but the same happened to me once after a ride. It was a HOT day and, after the ride, I put my bike next to my car while I was chatting with some buddys and suddenly : Paofff! As the tire was exposed to the sun, I figured that the heating from the ride, plus the heating from the sun had it blew off. Since then, after the rides, when temperature is hot, I deflate my tires a little (~20-30psi) right after the ride. Didn't happen anymore...

Christian.
2006-10-05 4:08 PM
in reply to: #562067

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Kuna, Idaho
Subject: RE: Sudden temp changes and tires?
This summer I had both tires in the trunk of my car so I could go for a ride after work.  When I went to get the wheels out I noticed that bot were flat.  I had pumped them up for the ride that morning and It was about 50deg. out and that afternoon it was well in the 90's and much hotter in the car.  Both tubs had split down the seam.
2006-10-05 4:40 PM
in reply to: #562067

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Champion
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Tacoma, Washington
Subject: RE: Sudden temp changes and tires?
Most likely the tube is toast. Here's the thing (remember chemistry?):

PV = nRT

In this case, V (volume) is basically constant (the tire doesn't stretch appreciably), n (the amount of air, by mass) is constant, and R is a constant (a chemical constant for the gas -- air in this case).

So that leaves P (pressure) in direct proportion to T (temperature).

As temperature goes up, so does pressure. If you inflate the tires to max pressure at low temperature, you may just blow them when the temperature goes up. Add in weak spots, possible bad installation (part of the tube under the tire bead), and it just gets worse.


2013-06-13 9:45 AM
in reply to: briderdt


6

Subject: RE: Sudden temp changes and tires?
The temp has to go up 273* C to double the pressure, so a few degrees of change is negligible. It was most likely something else.
2013-06-13 12:01 PM
in reply to: ronniewo

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Pro
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Subject: RE: Sudden temp changes and tires?

Wow!  This might be a record for the longest-dead resurrected thread! - 6 1/2 years!

 

2013-06-13 12:25 PM
in reply to: TriMyBest

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Sudden temp changes and tires?
Originally posted by TriMyBest

Wow!  This might be a record for the longest-dead resurrected thread! - 6 1/2 years!

 




We have a WINNAH!
2013-06-13 12:57 PM
in reply to: TriMyBest

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Subject: RE: Sudden temp changes and tires?
Originally posted by TriMyBest

Wow!  This might be a record for the longest-dead resurrected thread! - 6 1/2 years!

 




And yet it took that long to get a real answer.

I live in Vegas and often my tires go from 80F (early morning garage) to 110F (air temp while riding) to 140+F (in the back of the car while I eat lunch) and I've never blown a tire from the temperature change.
2013-06-13 1:11 PM
in reply to: bufordt

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Master
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Midlothian, VA
Subject: RE: Sudden temp changes and tires?
My bike blew a tire sitting in the cool basement. I turned from my desk and saw the cat running away from that general area....

Was ready to get rid of the cat if I found a new puncture mark.

When I investigated, the tube had cracked against the base of the stem. Weak spot I guess.

While the math says that tubes shouldn't pop in the heat, there are just too many anecdotes about them bursting in the sun. Any time my bike will be sitting in the hot sun for a while I let a bit of air out of the tires.


2013-06-13 1:13 PM
in reply to: bufordt

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Sudden temp changes and tires?
At 140+ it's more likely that the epoxy used on a carbon bike starts to let go. :D
2013-06-13 1:57 PM
in reply to: Leegoocrap

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Subject: RE: Sudden temp changes and tires?

When did the BT forums actually start?  This has to be close to a record...

Anyway...I've heard stories where people have their tubes blow in the middle of the night...when the temperature DROPS...so just another example of correlation does not equal causation. 

If you get 2500 bikes in one small transition area, and you hear 3-4 pops in the morning...well...that's just statistics.  Especially when you consider a lot of people change tires and tubes for race day and may not have installed them properly.

2013-06-17 7:51 AM
in reply to: TriMyBest


6

Subject: RE: Sudden temp changes and tires?
Originally posted by TriMyBest

Wow!  This might be a record for the longest-dead resurrected thread! - 6 1/2 years!

 




I swear to God it was one of the first few pages. Oh well.
2013-06-17 10:46 AM
in reply to: Jason N

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Master
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Subject: RE: Sudden temp changes and tires?
Originally posted by Jason N

When did the BT forums actually start?  This has to be close to a record...

Anyway...I've heard stories where people have their tubes blow in the middle of the night...when the temperature DROPS...so just another example of correlation does not equal causation. 

If you get 2500 bikes in one small transition area, and you hear 3-4 pops in the morning...well...that's just statistics.  Especially when you consider a lot of people change tires and tubes for race day and may not have installed them properly.




I think this is a more likely cause.

I do wonder if leaning a tire against the hot metal of a car after the sun has been baking it all day would be enough to heat the rubber of a tire enough to make it burst though....
2013-06-17 11:50 AM
in reply to: fattyboombalatty


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Subject: RE: Sudden temp changes and tires?
Do you use rim tape?

This happened to me a couple times right from the LBS. I literally made it outside the shop, hopped on and POOF! I replaced another one right after this at home and same thing. I inspected my rim and realized it had a stamping imperfection that stuck up. I filed it down, threw some rim tape on over it and haven't had a flat in over a year (Knock on wood).

I'm guessing either a pinched tube or something from the wheel pressing against the tube. One replaced tube isn't that big a deal. Several is enough to start throwing wrenches and cursing like a sailor.

Hope you get to the bottom of it.



2013-06-19 8:33 AM
in reply to: faded_memories

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Master
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Rural Ontario
Subject: RE: Sudden temp changes and tires?
Its not the pressure increase due to the temparature rise.

Room temperature of 20C (70F), expressed in absolute scales is 293K (or 527R for Americans). An increase of 80C (150F) will only increase pressure in a sealed container by 30% - i.e. tire goeas from 100psi to 130psi.

This typically will NOT casue a rupture.

The other factor is the heat can soften weak spots in butyl rubber or glues that hold the tube together.

BUt most often its a pinch flat.


2013-06-19 9:27 AM
in reply to: e_powered

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Subject: RE: Sudden temp changes and tires?

The resurrection!

I had an issue with my rear wheel 3 weeks ago where the rim tape by the valve stem hole was all messed up and caused a hole at the stem. Tube was in the tire for 2 years.  I pumped it up the night before for a morning ride and a minute or so later later pfffffffffffffff it went flat on me.

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