On the two I referred to, both were just the tubes failing, not the tires. I sent them off to Tire Alert and have been merrily using them since.
-S-
Cino1947@aol.com wrote:
>
> Would using latex solution on the sidewalls prevent flats on old tubulars?
> Are unused but old tubulars equally prone to flats?
> Josh Berger
>
> In a message dated 11/19/00 11:00:29 AM Eastern Standard Time, moos@penn.com
> writes:
>
> << Steve, I agree about used sewups. I think I posted about a year ago my
> sage
> of flatting the front and spare on a solo ride 10 km from home.
> Fortunately, the 10 km had all been climbing, and I rolled back downhill on
> the flat front tire (slowly and carefully). That cured me of using used
> tubulars of unknown age as spares. I agree old tubulars should be tested
> for several miles around town, and the spare should be new or at least
> little used with a known history.
>
> Regards,
>
> Jerry Moos
>
> Steve Freides wrote:
>
> > Anyone know anything about these? As part of a deal from a fellow list
> > member, I got a few old sewups, some of which I'm going to have repaired
> > and some of which still hold air. Among the living (at least they're
> > holding some air in my basement) are a couple of Vittoria Trofeo tires.
> > They say "250" on them and, according to my handy-dandy kitchen scale,
> > that's about what they weigh in grams - I got 260 or so.
> >
> > They seem like nice enough tires and I'm looking forward to taking them
> > for a spin around the neighborhood, but I'm curious to know about when
> > they were in use, what sort of materials they may be made from, if they
> > were made in Italy or elsewhere, and the like. Any light anyone could
> > shed on these would be appreciated.
> >
> > (For anyone else who may want to have the experience of riding on old,
> > used sewups, allow me to share my one previous experience. I put the
> > original tires back on my Raleigh, which were probably 15 years old at
> > that point, and they both held air. "Great," I said, and took them out
> > on a club ride. That became the only club ride on which I've gotten two
> > flats, and I had only one spare tire. (Fortunately I had a cell phone
> > and my kind, generous wife rescued me.) One of them held air for
> > perhaps 5 miles while the second one lasted about 30. Thus, I've
> > decided that any used sewups get ridden around town for at least a few
> > days, preferrably a few weeks, before venturing further afield.)
> >
> > Thanks in advance.
> >
> > -S-
> > >>