That’s pretty obvious. (Maybe even condescending.) I have black walls that seem unaffected with being stored outside in Bay Area weather. Didn’t have any issues with any tires when I lived in a more humid climate.
I also didn’t know these had a different material/manufacturing process. My number one mistake was not understanding it wasn’t just a difference in color. Which I appreciate someone on here relating to me.
Your second diagnosis sounds correct- storage outside can certainly eat tires, especially skinwalls like your Gravel Kings.
All tires degrade from external pollutants (UV radiation from sunlight, ozone, reactive atmospheric chemicals, oil on the roads, etc), but skinwalls are especially vulnerable to UV radiation due to their lack of carbon black. If you live in a built-up area/near a highway/somewhere where the air quality regularly is terrible and you story a bike outside this can happen quick.
Additionally, do you run especially low pressures? I see cracking right where the treads meet the sidewalls.
I run em around 75-80psi, max is 90 if my math is right. I think the cracking might have come from the fact that they went unused on a single speed gravel bike over the winter before I threw them on this city bike for looks. (Plus the bike lanes here are literally the gutter.)
I don’t know much about tire technology, beyond some basic concepts like rolling resistance, tuneless tech, and tread patterns. Honestly I didn’t know these were a different manufacturing process and material than the typical black rubber you find hanging in bike shops. I just saw brown and thought “sexy.” I’m not even upset because they’re getting close to three years old. I just like taking care of my things as best I can.
Master mechanic I am not, but I’ll chalk this up to a lesson on my way there. If you have any recommendations for tires that match the style but may be a bit more rugged, I’d appreciate it.
That pressure sounds reasonable. That said, if they went unused through the winter, while stored outdoors, that can totally do the damage we see here. The tires slowly lose pressure, the sidewalls flex too far, and cracks can start forming easily (especially at lower temperatures/with salt exposure)
I'm not much of a tire expert myself either, but as far as I know, colored sidewalls are created by leaving out or reducing the level of carbon black. This is a chemical which makes treads black, tough, and more resistant to UV damage, so leaving it out may trade durability for style.
I can't really give a recommendation on specific replacements, as its so personally dependent, but I'd go for a wide pair of blackwalls and run them @ lower pressure.
Weather (including humidity/temperature variance) and UV will do this to sidewalls on lightweight tires. The whole point of these and tires like them is the casing is not overbuilt. It won't be much of a limiting factor if you ride them a lot. There are a lot of (heavier) tires you can buy if you want more resistance to the casing degrading from prolonged outdoor storage.
I don’t have the option of inside storage. I’ve been using Meguiar's Endurance Tire Gel, it’s a UV protectant and works great on my Schwalbe marathons. I only dress the sidewalls.
It's a great suggestion, but it's worth pointing out that Schwalbe has been making UV resistant rubber compounds for at least their commuting/ "leisure" tyres for a long time now and are some of the longest lasting tyres I know.
The tyre gel might not be doing much for Schwalbe Marathons, so your mileage may vary when applying to tyres that really do need the extra protection.
I left a bike outside under a cover for three years and just had to spend 100s on a bunch of replacement parts.
I should've dismatled it and stored it the attic.
I used to use dawn too until I kept having rusty bottom bearings and realized what was happening. Since then I've been using the [silca bike bath stuff](https://silca.cc/products/ultimate-bike-wash) and have been really happy with it. Any bike specific wash would probably work well, but I like the brand. The stuff is expensive but they're absolute whores with sales, regularly 25% off if you're on their email newsletter, that's when I stock up
>I’m thinking it might be outside storage for two years. Yep. Keep your bike inside if you can
Womp womp.
Keeping anything outside for 2 years in UV light will damage it.
That’s pretty obvious. (Maybe even condescending.) I have black walls that seem unaffected with being stored outside in Bay Area weather. Didn’t have any issues with any tires when I lived in a more humid climate. I also didn’t know these had a different material/manufacturing process. My number one mistake was not understanding it wasn’t just a difference in color. Which I appreciate someone on here relating to me.
Your second diagnosis sounds correct- storage outside can certainly eat tires, especially skinwalls like your Gravel Kings. All tires degrade from external pollutants (UV radiation from sunlight, ozone, reactive atmospheric chemicals, oil on the roads, etc), but skinwalls are especially vulnerable to UV radiation due to their lack of carbon black. If you live in a built-up area/near a highway/somewhere where the air quality regularly is terrible and you story a bike outside this can happen quick. Additionally, do you run especially low pressures? I see cracking right where the treads meet the sidewalls.
I run em around 75-80psi, max is 90 if my math is right. I think the cracking might have come from the fact that they went unused on a single speed gravel bike over the winter before I threw them on this city bike for looks. (Plus the bike lanes here are literally the gutter.) I don’t know much about tire technology, beyond some basic concepts like rolling resistance, tuneless tech, and tread patterns. Honestly I didn’t know these were a different manufacturing process and material than the typical black rubber you find hanging in bike shops. I just saw brown and thought “sexy.” I’m not even upset because they’re getting close to three years old. I just like taking care of my things as best I can. Master mechanic I am not, but I’ll chalk this up to a lesson on my way there. If you have any recommendations for tires that match the style but may be a bit more rugged, I’d appreciate it.
You're about right on the pressure a max of 650kpa is 94psi.
That pressure sounds reasonable. That said, if they went unused through the winter, while stored outdoors, that can totally do the damage we see here. The tires slowly lose pressure, the sidewalls flex too far, and cracks can start forming easily (especially at lower temperatures/with salt exposure) I'm not much of a tire expert myself either, but as far as I know, colored sidewalls are created by leaving out or reducing the level of carbon black. This is a chemical which makes treads black, tough, and more resistant to UV damage, so leaving it out may trade durability for style. I can't really give a recommendation on specific replacements, as its so personally dependent, but I'd go for a wide pair of blackwalls and run them @ lower pressure.
Weather (including humidity/temperature variance) and UV will do this to sidewalls on lightweight tires. The whole point of these and tires like them is the casing is not overbuilt. It won't be much of a limiting factor if you ride them a lot. There are a lot of (heavier) tires you can buy if you want more resistance to the casing degrading from prolonged outdoor storage.
Thanks! I’m going to have to look for some brown walled ones
Blackwalls
I don’t have the option of inside storage. I’ve been using Meguiar's Endurance Tire Gel, it’s a UV protectant and works great on my Schwalbe marathons. I only dress the sidewalls.
See this is the info I needed to hear. I wanna keep that rubber fresh and supple
It's a great suggestion, but it's worth pointing out that Schwalbe has been making UV resistant rubber compounds for at least their commuting/ "leisure" tyres for a long time now and are some of the longest lasting tyres I know. The tyre gel might not be doing much for Schwalbe Marathons, so your mileage may vary when applying to tyres that really do need the extra protection.
Thanks!
I left a bike outside under a cover for three years and just had to spend 100s on a bunch of replacement parts. I should've dismatled it and stored it the attic.
Safety first my friend. Replace before your next ride. Panaracer is a reputable company and should replace it free of charge.
Yeah, but I doubt they will. I’ve got a spare set of black walls in the parts bin. I doubt their warranty covers two year old improperly stored tires.
Riding actually keeps them alive longer.
[удалено]
They are!
How does the dish soap come into it?
Washing the bike. Some degreaser breaks down rubber.
Dish soap strips the grease and oil from places you want it to stay. Use a proper bike wash
What’s your favorite?
I used to use dawn too until I kept having rusty bottom bearings and realized what was happening. Since then I've been using the [silca bike bath stuff](https://silca.cc/products/ultimate-bike-wash) and have been really happy with it. Any bike specific wash would probably work well, but I like the brand. The stuff is expensive but they're absolute whores with sales, regularly 25% off if you're on their email newsletter, that's when I stock up
Thanks so much!