Tyre Patches - Life span.

[simongt]

We, well most of us, keep spare tyre patches on the bike or at least in the home toolkit.
Depending on the frequency of how often one gets punctures, said patches may sit unused for quite some time.
So how long does the 'stickiness' of these patches remain effective I wonder; months, years - ?

 

[albion]

No idea, but at least my recent 'quick fix' patch seems to be holding, at least for now.
I have 'hope' that the lower pressure in the 20" tyre helps.

Finding a tube of glue that has not dried and getting the backing foil off old glue type patches is now my main difficulty.

 

[Sharky]

Finding a tube of glue that has not dried

This is very true. Once a tube of glue has been unsealed, the P'fairies sabotage the glue and remove it's contents. Then they wait in ambush on the road until you puncture. Then you find out that your patches are fine, but the glue has gone!

How do I know .......

 

[roubaixtuesday]

This is very true. Once a tube of glue has been unsealed, the P'fairies sabotage the glue and remove it's contents. Then they wait in ambush on the road until you puncture. Then you find out that your patches are fine, but the glue has gone!

How do I know .......

Bitter experience has taught me three things in this regard.

1. Always have a new, never used tube of glue in your saddle bag.

2. Pack the puncture repair kit with something (eg kitchen paper) to stop the contents rattling as this can both remove backing from patches and induce glue tube pin holes.

3. Periodically check kit contents and that your frame pump still works.

Between my son and I recently we only just had the wherewithal to fix a puncture between us!

Vibration in your saddlebag can also wear holes in spare inner tubes over time...

 

[albion]

Yup, the fact that I luckily had packed a self stick patch, and fairly new one very recent saved me.
I now have a fresh tube of glue in its own kit case. I might just put some of the more none haggard looking foil backed patches in too.

The stick on patch case was new sealed so I maybe must now find a mini sealing bag. Or better, maybe box taping it 100%.

 

[a.twiddler]

That reminds me. I must check my puncture outfits. I try to keep a kit with an unopened tube of glue on whatever bike I'm using but I end up with plenty of spare patches and one useable tube of glue. Unless you're very lucky once opened, a tube is likely to have evaporated by the time you use it next. When you have more than one bike, sooner or later the unopened tube will be on the bike you're not riding!

I've seen suggestions that you uncrimp the sealed end rather than take the cap off, then re crimp it afterwards. I think the unopened tube option is still the safest. You can buy packs of mini tubes on ebay -open then discard. That seems a feasible solution, if you'll excuse the pun, though I've not tried it yet. Fortunately, in these days of puncture resistant tyres, I've so far only found myself with a tube of fumes when I've gone to fix a flat in the garage.

As for self stick patches, I did experiment rather unsuccessfully some years ago and came to the conclusion that if I was going to take a tyre off, I might as well do a proper job and stick a traditional patch on or fit a spare inner tube if there was any doubt about the permanence of the self stick option. Maybe modern ones are more effective. Perhaps I should try them again, and do away with the worry about evaporating glue.

 

[albion]

My theory is that high pressure tyres are too much for the self stick glue type.
The recent self stick patch I used was very sticky so even if it becomes a permanent fix for my 20", I will still not know the exact reason it worked.

 

[Moodyman]

I find with self-stickies it’s best to put that tube back into the tyre and use it. When you blow it up, it expands and pushes against the inside of the tyre, thus creating a firm press and seal.

I’ve repaired tubes with stickies, put them back into the saddle bag and used them some years later. Most were fine, though the odd one developed slow leaks from the original hole.

 

[steveindenmark]

Patches last years. I cannot recall the last time I had glue on the bike.

 

[dicko]

I had a puncture in 1963 ar almost home from work. After dinner I set to and glued a patch on. It lasted years until 1967 when I acquired a motorcycle. I sold the bike for £5. Puncture repairs made properly last and last.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

No idea, but at least my recent 'quick fix' patch seems to be holding, at least for now.
I have 'hope' that the lower pressure in the 20" tyre helps.

Tyre pressure has no effect on these patches. That's because the patch is between the tube and tyre. The higher the pressure, the bigger the squeeze and the converse is also true. Had the patch been on the outside, like a baloon, then pressure would have an effect on sealiness.*




* Actual word I've just invented. You read it here first.

 

[Dogtrousers]

We, well most of us, keep spare tyre patches on the bike or at least in the home toolkit.
Depending on the frequency of how often one gets punctures, said patches may sit unused for quite some time.
So how long does the 'stickiness' of these patches remain effective I wonder; months, years - ?

If an old style patch is applied properly using rubber solution, and providing it's not in an awkward position like near the valve there's no reason to think it will be any more likely to fail than any other, unpatched, part of the tube.

I'm less confident about instant patches.