My race wheels and tires have about 700 miles on them and next year will be their 4th race season. I have never had to replace a tubular during a race, and really would like to avoid the experience. I was thinking about putting new rubber on the wheels prior to next season. Will changing the rubber really help me avoid a flat? If yes, do you have any information on how often I should change the tires(in time, or miles, or a combination of the two)?
I replace race tires every year.
jaretj
I change rubber based on condition, not so much on miles or age. I check them often and if there is any signs of wear or imperfections those tires become my training tires and new rubber goes on the race wheels. I have never had a flat in a race.
Whatever you decide - rip off the tires and re-glue them!
While I never have seen tires rolling off the rim due improper gluing - I’ve seen a lot tires rolling due old, dryed-out glue. Would never ride with glue older then 2 years.
thanks for the input. I definitely need to re-glue the ones I have. My challenge is that I do not run tubular on my training wheels - so once I pull these tires - - they are only good as emergency flat replacements for racing - so I was trying to maximize the investment. I will check them over, and most likely replace them next Spring. If anyone has any stats on mileage, etc… as it correlates to increasing probability of flats - -that information would be appreciated.
why would removing the tires make them only good as emergency replacements?
Reglue them is def. a good strategy.
In our shop, we have seen many problems due to “old” glue (dries itself).
I personaly prefer to change the tubular on my wheels at every big event like IM. For a local HIM or smaller distance, I don’t really care.
But since an IM is becoming a big investment, i prefer to avoid problems.
You can for exemple buy a very good set of tubular that you will only use for specific and important races.
For the other races, you can use the “old” tubulars.
I figure that once I decide that the tire needs to be replaced - I will not use them again(since I do not run Tubulars on my training wheels). When I said “remove”, I probably should have said “replace”?
Your old tires are the fastest right up until they get a flat. So the question is–do you want to be fast or have flat protection? 
For me, I would rather take a chance of a flat and be fast than run a heavier, slower tire. Most races have better road surfaces than I normally train on, so I’ve never had a problem.
Chad
Your old tires are the fastest right up until they get a flat. So the question is–do you want to be fast or have flat protection? For me, I would rather take a chance of a flat and be fast than run a heavier, slower tire. Most races have better road surfaces than I normally train on, so I’ve never had a problem.
Chad
Coincidentally this morning I tested a ~ 5 year old Zipp tubular (pre dimples) which I took off a H3 wheel (original Conti glue was old and dried out) and reglued with Mastik 1 about 6 months ago. That tire had tested very well when about one year old - ~ 0.00270 but today was ~ 0.00290. The tire has ~ 1000 miles on it with squared off and resultant thin tread on centerline. Why did the Crr go up ?? I think the rubber may have hardened with age. I believe that this is the theory (hard rubber resulting from losing most of the volitile constituents that make the rubber soft - I obviously am not a rubber scientist) that Julian, the mechanic for Discovery, was using to reduce flatting problems by storing tubulars in his potato cellar in Belgium. Not a huge Crr hit but something to think about.
I’m sure that “fresh” tires with “soft” rubber and thin tread are fast but at some point the rubber may start to harden and the tires won’t roll as well. IIRC the Discovery tires were aged 2 years but I really don’t know where the break point might be. I’d guess that it would be good practice to replace your race tires every 2 -3 years regardless of age ???
Having said all this I’ve tested some fairly old clinchers that did very well - Michelin Pro Lights.
I wonder what motorsports tire softeners would do to those older tubulars, or even a new tire.
I wonder what motorsports tire softeners would do to those older tubulars, or even a new tire.
Interesting - I did some quick surfing. Lots of warnings from tire manufacturers warning about tire damage although many racers seem to use them ?? I’d be afraid of the softening chemicals getting into the glues used on the tread and possibly into the latex tubes causing bad things to happen.