Preserving old tyres

[hiflange]

Thanks to the forum I bought a job lot of old bits a while back. It included a slightly banged up Dunlop Special Lightweight wheelset which I've tidied up and recently rebuilt. When I bought them I didn't pay a lot of attention. Whilst dismantling the wheels the tubes came out in a mixture of small pieces and dust. The tyres seemed ok though so I put them on the pile of round things in the corner of the garage and forgot about them until a couple of weeks ago when I noticed that they have "Dunlop Special Lightweight" embossed on their sides. They’re both in really good shape, no perishing at all of contact surface or sidewall.

I remounted them this evening with new tubes and they look fab. Any tips on keeping them in good condition?

[KGB]

Dark, cool, dry. As best you can anyway!

[LG]

Don't use the black auto tyre polish, makes them very slippery.

[twowheels]

Glycerine is good, but I would not treat the road surface with it.

[Clydesdale Scot]

are the tyres like the ones found here?
If they are different, can I suggest you contributing to that collection, and a new entry at Velobase?

[outnabike]

Hi Robert,
I am no expert on tyres but being currently involved with caravanning, we are constantly told to change our tyres at the 6-8 years mark for safety. This after people had tyres blow up in the USA that were years out of date but brand new. The effect of glycerine is the soften the rubber like say Vaseline but also decays it in the long term. Of course it depends on the compound your speed. The heat that compound generates etc.

For my money if really old I would go the museum route rather than take the risk. Many out their will disagree with me but that is my information. Just something to consider.

[hiflange]

are the tyres like the ones found here?
If they are different, can I suggest you contributing to that collection, and a new entry at Velobase?

They're like these but with tan sidewalls. I''ll take some pics and contribute to both. And I'll go the cool dark dry route for preservation.

[hiflange]

The rubber in question..

[frailer5]

Years (decades) ago, I can recall an older RN reviving some starting-to-perish tubing on a sphygmomanometer with baby-talc. Don't ask me why, but it seemed to work.

[Clydesdale Scot]

excellent photography.
Was the section of the tan sidewall protected by the rim the same colour, or was it lighter?

[hiflange]

Same colour

[Clydesdale Scot]

how they were advertised in the 1952 Brown Bros. Catalogue


as for preserving them, it seems that oxygen is the problem, after light and heat. So a good photographic record will be invaluable. Nice find.
perhaps a photo showing the tread pattern.

[ldrcycles]

The effect of glycerine is the soften the rubber like say Vaseline but also decays it in the long term.

This is why at my workplace we don't use Vaseline on rubber O rings but use silicone lube instead. Could that be an option?

[twowheels]

excellent photography.

they look quite architectural!

Robert, When you asked about preservation I guessed you meant for display/slow speed purposes. I also wouldn't suggest they be used at racing speeds. If they are kept in the dark sure they will last longer.

[twowheels]

how they were advertised in the 1952 Brown Bros. Catalogue


as for preserving them, it seems that oxygen is the problem, after light and heat. So a good photographic record will be invaluable. Nice find.
perhaps a photo showing the tread pattern.

re the oxygen. I had found my spare tubes that I carry on rides were splitting where folded. A reliable source told me to store them in glad wrap, which I must get round to doing.

[hiflange]

Yes, display and slow speed only. Oxygen, that great "reactive" element, not sure how to get away from that ... I guess silicone/glycerine is one way of creating a barrier. I'm amazed at how good these tyres are, there's a very little bit of crazing on the sidewalls but the tyres are quite supple and the interior of the casing looks new. The rotten tubes probably protected from oxygen on the inside. Perhaps I'll pop them in evacuated light tight bags

[ldrcycles]

Reminds me of the crashed Spitfire that was recovered from a swamp somewhere in the top end. After 40 or 50 years the Dunlop tyres were still immaculate .

[Kermit TF]

Ive always used Neatsfoot oil. Its used to preserve horse saddles etc... A friend put me onto it for some ancient brookes saddles he was restoring. Ive used it on 70s tyres, and its worked a treat.

[Clydesdale Scot]

if you were in Adelaide you could have a talk to the experts for free. That is where I would be taking them.
A call to your local Museum might be worth it to see if they have something similar. Some advice from Canada. Some advice from the British Museum.
I would be reluctant to use any product unless it is "industry standard". How they have been stored so far has been good. They do not appear to be immediate need of treatment.

[open roader]

I'd use Armour All. From experience it works a treat on vintage motorcycle tyre walls.

[outnabike]

Yep ,so does the old WD 40.