H: Hubs, Wheels and Tyres Quality of Inner Tubes

[Matty]

Have owned my Comet for 61 years now and seem to remember that in the past the tyres maintained pressure for many months.
Over the last few years however I have found that they rapidly lose pressure - dropping from say 30psi to 20 psi in a couple of weeks.
I ride the bike most weeks all year round but have to check and re-inflate my tyres most times I take it out !!
I have renewed the tubes, tyres and pressure caps a few times in the last 10 years or so and hoped that pressure would be maintained, but this has not been so and I have a similar problem with a 1976 Suzuki with tubed tyres.
Do the tube manufacturers now use some much more porous and probably cheaper material now to make tubes - bearing in mind also that with tubeless tyres now much more common, there is probably less demand for a good product?
I believed that the tubes I have used were from a reputable manufacturer, but has anyone had a similar problem and then found a manufacturer whose tubes are not porous please?
Matty

 

[Michael Vane-Hunt]

I use Michelin Air Stop tubes and they seem to keep their pressure quite well.

 

[Hugo Myatt]

Have owned my Comet for 61 years now and seem to remember that in the past the tyres maintained pressure for many months.
Over the last few years however I have found that they rapidly lose pressure - dropping from say 30psi to 20 psi in a couple of weeks.
I ride the bike most weeks all year round but have to check and re-inflate my tyres most times I take it out !!
I have renewed the tubes, tyres and pressure caps a few times in the last 10 years or so and hoped that pressure would be maintained, but this has not been so and I have a similar problem with a 1976 Suzuki with tubed tyres.
Do the tube manufacturers now use some much more porous and probably cheaper material now to make tubes - bearing in mind also that with tubeless tyres now much more common, there is probably less demand for a good product?
I believed that the tubes I have used were from a reputable manufacturer, but has anyone had a similar problem and then found a manufacturer whose tubes are not porous please?
Matty

Yes I have had a similar problem and no I have not found a manufacturer of non-porous tubes.

 

[ClassicBiker]

All the books on riding and the maintenance manuals say you should check your tires before each ride. Perhaps the authors and publishers of these books and the manufactures of inner tubes have conspired to make sure we do just that. Perhaps they're a bit miffed that we've ignored their advice for so long and this is their response? No? Okay I'll sod off now.

 

[vibrac]

For a real pain in the a**e try my GS1000 BMW wonderful road bike (while it lasts) but almost every time I take it out I have to top up the tyres and the pressure indicator flashes if I dont!, and to add to the frustration it will not flash till you have gone a mile or so.
I suppose its progress of a sort

 

[John Cone]

I took my Prince off the road for 12yrs, when i came to refitting the wheels both tyres had dropped a couple of PSI. Last year i had the wheels rebuilt, new tyres and tubes and now i have to check the pressure every time i take it out. Progress!

 

[Nigel Spaxman]

You can get some valve caps that indicate tire pressure. They can be purchased for different pressure ratings, and they are green when the pressure is above the pressure they are rated at. As the air leaks out they turn first yellow and then red. You can check your tire pressure as you walk towards your bike. It doesn't keep the air in but at least you know when it has leaked out. I have these on two of my bikes, one of them has had those for two decades but I haven't bothered to put them on the Vincent yet.

 

[david bowen]

Tubes years back had a rubber in them,Check your Condoms?

 

[Matty]

Hi Nigel
It seems the porous tube problem is a pain to a lot of people and the result of "progress".
I have been using Michelin Tubes, possibly the best, which still lost pressure, so think I shall have to live with the situation. I am however 82 and will not have to put up with the agro for very long !!!
Apologies for my cynical Brit humour.
Matty

 

[Matty]

PS I do not seem to have had many pregnant ex-girlfriends so the old condoms must have been good !!
Matty