How many patches before you get a new inner tube?

[KneesUp]

I've got a puncture on my 'new' eBay bike.

On removing the tyre I found an inner tube with no less than seven patches already. Soon to be eight because I don't have another to hand - but this got me wondering how many patches you use before you consider a tube finished?

I think this will be the last one for this tube; I'll be picking up a spare tomorrow!

 

[MikeG]

I binned one a few days ago with 10 patches on it. When the patches themselves start perishing, you know it's time for a new tube.

 

[Saluki]

We tend to stop at 5 patches here. 8 is going some. Why not keep going for a bit longer?

 

[summerdays]

I've never reached my limit so I don't know yet, though my bike shop thought 6 was too many so changed it whilst I was in getting various things done including a new tyre.

 

[albion]

I'm using Weldtite seamless ones that have the feel of kevlar and do not come off.

It passed my mind that in 12 months or so I might well get to the point where I have full double protection.

 

[fossyant]

3 max on the commuter. best bike has new tubes. Can't be faffed fixing latex tubes.

 

[sazzaa]

I'd probably patch once then just stick a new tube in, it's not like they cost a lot.

 

[TheDoctor]

Depends. If it gets to the point where there's overlapping patches then that's too many...

 

[swee'pea99]

Can't see the point of throwing away a patchable tube. Why draw a line at any particular number? If it's patchable, I'd patch.

 

[fabregas485]

In all fairness, inner tubes are not too expensive so if you have the wheel off for any reason, why not change it. Then again, why not patch it and live with it till it becomes unpatchable.

On lower psi tyres I patch till the patches leak or patches overlap. On my road bike, I fit a new inner tube while out and about cycling, and patch the damaged tube if possible.

 

[raleighnut]

New tyre-new tube old one goes in the box and what bike its from written on the box. As for binning them this only happens if I get a flat when riding then get "snakebites" before I can stop or if I hit an area (in September) where the farmers been out with his hedge trimmer, last time it was 7 front 5 rear thorns and I had to walk 3 miles home (good job there's a nice pub on the way home. Red Cow LFE)

 

[screenman]

1 would be too many for me, new tubes every time. Bearing in mind that one of the bikes I use a lot does not have tubes in.

 

[biggs682]

1 would be too many for me, new tubes every time. Bearing in mind that one of the bikes I use a lot does not have tubes in.

same here every time

 

[DiddlyDodds]

Same here, i just cant be bothered with patches , just stick a new one in, and as i only get three or four a year its not exactly a bank breaker.

 

[Basil.B]

I usually bend the valve before the inner tube has more than two patches on it.