Wondering if latex tubes have a lifespan. Put mine on my FC’s last year, wondering after how much time they should be replaced. Thanks for input…
I am wondering the same. Last year was the first time I rode with latex tubes.
My experience with latex tubes has been all over the place. Sometimes I’ll have one last for two or three years. Sometimes two or three rides. My tube that is on my front race wheel that I never swap out is probably close to two years old. Just make sure you store them between races in an airtight container; I did not know that early on and wasted a couple of tubes that rotted and well apart.
Chad
Have you continued to ride the wheels periodically through the winter? If so, being encased in the tire has probably preserved the latex fairly well. But if you didn’t ride and the tires went flat (breaking the nice seal where the tire hooks into the rim), then the tubes will likely have gotten brittle from exposure to the air. Unused latex tubes should be sealed in zip-lock bags so they don’t go brittle (dry rot). But if you store them inflated in a tire or otherwise sealed up as described, they’ll last quite a while.
If you have any doubt, you should change them out because, when a brittle latex tube blows, it splits wide open and the air loss is complete and immediate – something you don’t want at any speed.
i’m curious about that theory of storing them in ziplock bags. do distributors do that with them? or do they just have them in the boxes ready to ship??
The good ones come in sealed packaging. Vredestein, challenge, etc. Michelins do not and I’ve had a few of them fail right out of the box.
that’s interesting. I’ve only used michelin’s and haven’t had any issue’s yet. admittedly though, i’ve only been using them for the last couple of years…so i haven’t used many of them yet.
to be clear: i’m not saying i don’t believe you. but, i didn’t realize that some come in sealed packages. good to know.
Have you continued to ride the wheels periodically through the winter? If so, being encased in the tire has probably preserved the latex fairly well. But if you didn’t ride and the tires went flat (breaking the nice seal where the tire hooks into the rim), then the tubes will likely have gotten brittle from exposure to the air. Unused latex tubes should be sealed in zip-lock bags so they don’t go brittle (dry rot). But if you store them inflated in a tire or otherwise sealed up as described, they’ll last quite a while.
If you have any doubt, you should change them out because, when a brittle latex tube blows, it splits wide open and the air loss is complete and immediate – something you don’t want at any speed.
This seems like reasonable advise. I have not ridden my race wheels since August, and yes they have gone quite flat as expected. I will plan on changing them before my next race. Thanks!
Do you keep bike stuff in your house? In your garage? What kind of climate? That makes a lot of difference. I live on a farm and have an unheated and un a/c’d out building where all my bike stuff is stored. The issues I describe are probably exaggerated by those conditions. Regardless, I can assure you that the lifespan of your latex tubes will be extended if they’re sealed up.
Midwest, dry in winter, everything stays inside. Firecrests hang on wall rack. I’d imagine they are drying out. I guess only way to know is to take them out, but putting new ones in pre-race season makes the most sense.
I know latex tubes are pricey, but compared to the cost of blowing a race with a flat or a trip to the ER after some pavement surfing, etc. … not so much. 
BTW, I think I posted the same question as your OP as I approached the start of my second season using latex tubes and got the answers I’m giving you here. Better to be safe than sorry.
Hello boilerup and All,
And I am wondering how the various liquid sealants affect the life to latex tubes - positively (sealants have latex in them) or negatively.
http://www.slowtwitch.com/Products/Things_that_Roll/Tires/Tire_Sealants_2765.html
Cheers,
Neal
+1 mph Faster
My experience with vittoria latex tubes seems to be that they are good for the lesser of:
- until they flat,
- until you need to change out the tire,
- a season.
Violate one of the above and you are ready for a replacement. Flatting is obvious. When I wear down a tire, the tube appear to have done some drying and bonding to the tire. It looks warped when removed and I just dont trust it. Regarding a season, last year I had a rear wheel go the whole year without busting and without needing a tire change. After a cold winter in storage the tube was compromised.
After having a ton of trouble with challenge latex tubes busting at the valve hole I have had two great years with vittoria latex tubes with only one puncture.
The latex tube hierarchy based on my experience:
Vredestein were the pinnacle, but they seem to have been discontinued a couple years ago. Major bummer!
Challenge, but the places I find them seem to go out of stock a lot.
Vittoria. I buy Em 'cuz they’re easy to find, but they’re of inconsistent quality.
Bontrager has some nice latex tubes, but based on their price, they appear to think way more highly of them than I do.
Michelin. Also inconsistent quality and non-removeable valve cores. But they offer the shortest stems which makes them good for discs with tight valve openings.
Note that Vittoria, Bontrager and Michelin come in plain old tube boxes, so if they’ve been sitting around gathering dust in a warehouse or on a retail shelf for a while, they might not be worth the price.
The good ones come in sealed packaging. Vredestein, challenge, etc. Michelins do not and I’ve had a few of them fail right out of the box.
Vittoria, Bontrager and Michelin latex tubes don’t come in sealed packaging. A pair of each were purchased in 2010. These six latex tubes have been in my six race wheels and some combination of the wheels selected for every race in 2010, 2011 & 2012, The tubes are stored deflated in the wheels between races. None of these six tubes failed in the three years of racing. They haven’t been tested yet in 2013.
Google hits for latex care do not point to air as a problem, but do suggest keeping latex clean of oils, dry, cool and out of UV light. The Halloween and bondage crowds might be good examples to follow in the area of latex care. We already follow their fashions.
Maybe if I explain to my wife how much I could save on latex tubes, she’d let me start keeping my bike gear in the climate-controlled house.
I’ve never had dry rot issues and I just leave my race wheels uninflated until the next race season. I’ve had much less isues with latex than I have had with ultralight butyl tubes. My wheels are in the house too.
Interesting opinions.
I have some thick Vredestein latex tubes that are 6 years old and are fine. I only use them for TTs. They are not kept in sealed containers. I also don’t live in a place with ozone pollution… maybe that makes a difference. I have others from Challenge, Bontrager, and Michelin that are a couple years old and look fine. I use these for road riding.
Latex seems to deteriorate (turn dark and wrinkly) if you do a lot of hard braking that causes them to overheat. Otherwise I haven’t had any problems.
Flatting is obvious.
You don’t know how to patch a tube?
*When I wear down a tire, the tube appear to have done some drying and bonding to the tire. It looks warped when removed and I just dont trust it. Regarding a season, last year I had a rear wheel go the whole year without busting and without needing a tire change. After a cold winter in storage the tube was compromised. *After having a ton of trouble with challenge latex tubes busting at the valve hole I have had two great years with vittoria latex tubes with only one puncture.
Powder the tubes and work on your installation technique… failures at the valve are caused by not seating it properly before you inflate. Press the valve down against the hole for the first few strokes.
Always used Michelin (no longer available) and you need to talc them a couple of times a year. Never had anymore issues than regular tubes.