Split New Inner Tubes

[Penthode]

Hi All,

I recently bought two new 21" inner tubes for my '29 Ford from a respected supplier we should all know in this forum. One was to replace the one in the spare tire and the second to be kept as a spare. The old inner tube appeared okay and held air but I was concerned that it was at least 20 years old.

After I replaced the tube I rotated the tires and the spare was attached to the front left. After a few days (and a hundred miles) the tire was flat due to a split. I have attached a couple of photos which depict the split. I then replaced it with the second inner tube and lo and behold after a few days it split in the same way!

I checked the rim and it was smooth. Last year I removed the tires from the rims, wire brushed them off and applied Rustoleum. I left them drying for a week and then applied new rubber protector bands before installing for new inner tubes from another vendor and replacing the tires. I did the same to the spare tire except I reused the old inner tube. I have had no problems with the inner tubes until now.

The bottom line is I do not think the rim damaged the inner tube as it is relatively smooth and the old inner tube has been running in the former spare for the last few days without any problem.

Comparing the tubes from another vendor, they were a bit fatter than the two I just purchased. In fact the recent two when I put air to them to test appeared to be a bit skinny for my 4.50 tire even though the tubes were labelled to match my tire.

I am going to call the vendor and relay this problem. My question to the forum is have anyone else gone through this and what are your thoughts?

Thanks,

Terry

[Railcarmover]

talcum powder.

[Penthode]

I failed to mention that. I did the talcum powder.

[31 Vicky]

That has been an issue with one supplier's tubes, would have hoped they would have corrected it...

A's Always
Dave

[Mike V. Florida]

If I remember correctly, Bratton's have the tubes made on spec for them with 100% new rubber not recycled rubber. There are no USA made Model A tubes.

[Tom Wesenberg]

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Any rubber products from China are junk. Never had a problem with rubber inner tubes made in the USA. Unfortunately we are now stuck with China junk. I tried to find bicycle inner tubes made anywhere other than China, but had no luck. Finally bought a couple Goodyear bicycle inner tubes off ebay, and so far they are holding air, even though they also came from China.

[john in illinois]

Firestone tubes are made in USA. I think they have model A sizes. Others may know for sure.
http://firestonetubes.com

John

[P.S.]

From their website:

"Bridgestone Americas Tube Business (BATB), a division of Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC, is based in Russellville, Arkansas. <snip> Today, BATB is the only inner tube manufacturer in the U.S. and Canada."

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

[B]Since they split on the seam line, it's quite apparent that you DIDN'T[PINCH them. Must be TRULY defective!!!
Isn't it amazing, that over the years, NOBODY has come up with something BETTER, than the OLD PNEUMATIC TIRE?---Even TRAIN WHEELS have been UNCHANGED. Train tracks STILL mimic the spacing of ROMAN CHARIOT TRACKS!!!
Saw a pic of some SOLID RUBBER TIRES, made here, that had 2" HOLES bored through them, for "CUSHION"---LOL----A Frenchman made a tube shaped SPRING, to replace the TUBE, but that didn't wurk, either!!---My Home Help Gal just had a flat, from a 4"" NAIL, My Daughter had one from a 4" BOLT!---Mine have mostly been from SCREWS!!
MOST flats happen on the REAR, I "think" the FRONT hits something & propels it at ROCKET speed, into the rear tire. Once found a 1/2 X 9/16" wrench, INSIDE a rear tire!!!
Bill Flat/B]

[160B]

FWIW

In august of 2017 I purchased inner tubes from one of the Tire vendors, and the tube valve stem was not on center, I sent them back and purchased tubes from Berts and am happy with them, they are china tubes.

Here are two photos of the tube with the off center valve stem.

[Y-Blockhead]

The tubes in my Town Sedan that I got from Lucas Tires in Long Beach were Made in India. This September will be 4 years since I installed them and have had zero problems.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

When I changed the 16" tubes, in Vermin, some Guy in Canada, wanted to BUY my Old Tubes!
Bill W.

[RandyinUtah]

I have been running tubes which I purchased from Snyder's over 35 years ago. They have out lasted three set of tires and have no problems. I see no need to purchase new tubes with when it's time for new tires again.

[Herb Concord Ca]

Bert's has the best tubes, the 19" are radial tubes, don't know about the 21".

[Jeff/Illinois]

Can you run a radial tube in a bias ply tire?

[rocket1]

I have inner tubes on my ccpu for 35 years,never had a flat,probably usa made.

[Jeff/Illinois]

Originally Posted by rocket1

I have inner tubes on my ccpu for 35 years,never had a flat,probably usa made.

Same here,,, same tubes in the Model A they are from the mid-70's never leak. Always hold air.

Why can't a person buy anything with quality today so much stuff is pure junk

[ursus]

I have found old red rubber tubes in tires that were mounted in the 1960's. No idea when those red tubes were made but they still held air in the 1990's. The best old tubes were those made by Firestone and Montgomery Ward's Riverside brand.

[Herb Concord Ca]

For Jeff post #15.
Yes you can use radial tubes in bias ply tires BUT not the other way (bias ply tubes in radial tires).

[michael a]

Originally Posted by Herb Concord Ca

For Jeff post #15.
Yes you can use radial tubes in bias ply tires BUT not the other way (bias ply tubes in radial tires).

It is been my experience and believe me on the farm we have lots of Tire issues the new tubes are not worth putting in a tractor tire unless they are radials if you get the cheap Chinese tubes you're just wasting your money and your labor

Sent from my SM-J700T using Tapatalk

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

Just received two new tubes from brattons (19”).

[updraught]

A few snippets from the below PDF on tube production.

Advantages of butyl innertubes to end users (vehicle owners)
In summary, use of butyl rubber innertubes offers a number of
advantages to the tire end user such as:
• Consistent inflation pressure.
• Reduction in tire rolling resistance, due to the better
inflation pressure retention, which may improve fuel
consumption.
• Longer tire life and more even-wear performance.
• Longer innertube life due to better heat stability.
• Enhanced tire durability.
....

Low modulus innertube
The concept of “low modulus” innertube compounding is an
important parameter for innertubes designed for service in
radial ply tires. Radial ply tires have a longer service life than
bias ply tires. Moreover, the radial ply construction of such tires
results in a higher degree of flexing of both the sidewall and
the innertube fitted inside the tire. Thus, not only must the
innertube last longer in a radial ply tire, it must do so under
conditions that results in a higher stress on the innertube walls
and particularly the innertube splice. In this regard, when
compared to general purpose rubber innertubes, the
advantages of low modulus butyl rubber innertubes could be
listed as follows:
• Compound processing:
- Good flow and green tack, and,
- Improved splice properties.
...

Guidelines for splicing
Splicing, like mixing, is an important step in butyl rubber
innertube production and should be performed as efficiently as
possible, since splice faults often form a large proportion of
total rejects. The worldwide trend of increasing use of radial
ply tires has meant that greater performance demands have
been made upon the innertube splice which must withstand
the higher degree of flexing of the radial tire sidewall and the
innerliner splice must continue to do so throughout the much
longer life of a radial tire.

https://www.exxonmobilchemical.com/~...nual_enpdf.pdf

[TerryO]

After the bad experiences I have had with bicycle tubes (splitting in the seams)and tractor tubes ( same problem) in the last 3 or 4 years I will trust my old tubes. I still have the tubes that were on the A I bought in 1990 and even though I replaced tires and tubes back then (USA made) I put the old ones in my tire rack and I'm glad I did.


TerryO

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by TerryO

After the bad experiences I have had with bicycle tubes (splitting in the seams)and tractor tubes ( same problem) in the last 3 or 4 years I will trust my old tubes. I still have the tubes that were on the A I bought in 1990 and even though I replaced tires and tubes back then (USA made) I put the old ones in my tire rack and I'm glad I did.


TerryO

Sorry, I have to disagree about tubes having seams. If you turn one inside out, you see only a uniform surface all over. If there were seams, you would see lines on both sides. What we see on the outside is only where different parts of the mold come together.
Why tubes would be more prone to splitting o long those lines, I don’t know but they are not seams IMHO.

[TerryO]

Sorry, I have to disagree about tubes having seams. If you turn one inside out, you see only a uniform surface all over. If there were seams, you would see lines on both sides. What we see on the outside is only where different parts of the mold come together.
Why tubes would be more prone to splitting o long those lines, I don’t know but they are not seams IMHO.

OK, no seams but they still crack on the line where the molds come together I admit I have never seen tubes made or really inspected one to try to figure out how they are made but the old ones work fine and the new ones I have had are junk
TerryO

[Synchro909]

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Originally Posted by TerryO

OK, no seams but they still crack on the line where the molds come together I admit I have never seen tubes made or really inspected one to try to figure out how they are made but the old ones work fine and the new ones I have had are junk
TerryO

100% agreement there!

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by TerryO

After the bad experiences I have had with bicycle tubes (splitting in the seams)and tractor tubes ( same problem) in the last 3 or 4 years I will trust my old tubes. I still have the tubes that were on the A I bought in 1990 and even though I replaced tires and tubes back then (USA made) I put the old ones in my tire rack and I'm glad I did.


TerryO

Yep, I have the same experience with today's junk inner tubes. American made have always been good.

[Rich in Tucson]

Do your split tubes say "Made in DenmarK"? If so, they were not new when you bought them and were made for tractors years ago. They were dumped in the USA and as far as I know have a 100% failure rate in just the manner you experienced. Very thick rubber or technically a plastic or whatever tubes are composed of and they fooled a lot of people.

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by Rich in Tucson

Do your split tubes say "Made in DenmarK"? If so, they were not new when you bought them and were made for tractors years ago. They were dumped in the USA and as far as I know have a 100% failure rate in just the manner you experienced. Very thick rubber or technically a plastic or whatever tubes are composed of and they fooled a lot of people.

Some of those “Made in Denmark” tubes are marked “Made in EEC”. I believe they are recycled material and absolute junk.

[DHZIEMAN]

Lot of good info here! At my age and tire changing capability, I bought Coker tires and took my Model A ford up to my local repair shop. The owner told me he would remove the old tires, inspect and clean the rust on the rims if necessary, install inner tube rim protectors and new tubes. I have no idea where the stuff came from, all I knew was he stated he had done this before and had no problems with his parts source. And the car was ready the next day. It has been a year and no problems!

[c125bob]

Been there done this...... use Berts tubes and you wont be sorry. They have the best available tubes.

[iron mountain 1]

in the last couple of weeks I was excited about buying new tires and metal stem tubes for my late 31 CCPU.

The tubes had metal stems like original. I installed them (extremely careful not to pinch tube) and two held air for about 25 minutes before I heard a "poof" and they lost air. I only inflated to 25 psi. The tubes were marked "made in EEC"


I just found this post and am now educated on tubes.


Will I be able to salvage the stems and put them in tubes from Bert's or Bratton's? Or Will they have new tubes with the metal stems already installed.

Thanks Kris

[eagle]

I bought tubes from macs
4 or 5 years ago, installed in universal tires from Coker, no trouble since. Check the pressure every spring, add a bit of air then usually. No idea what brand or where made.