Split in tire tube

[SMO]

Had a flat tire on the Rocket the other day. Took the wheel off this is what I found:



Looks like a defect to me. The split is in a place where it is joined - there is double thickness all the way round at that spot. The tube doesn't say who made it (maybe rubbed off?) but does say "Made in Mexico". It is at least 8 years old.

I checked the inside of the tire carefully for any protrusions that might have contributed to this but didn't find anything. Is there any operational reason for a tube to split like this?

[rmarshall234]

I would suspect under inflation as the cause. See that a lot with those small tires that don't hold much air and are almost impossible to keep full inflation all the time. More pronounced, it shows as a series of those small pinholes that can run the entire circumference right where the sidewall bulges when not fully inflated. Throw in a little relative motion between the tire and tube when the wheel accelerates upon landing and you get a tear like yours. That's my guess.

[donaziza]

HA! I had a flat tire last Saturday with the leak in the inner tube in the exact same spot. Luckily it waited til I pulled up in front of my hangar instead of 300 miles away in N Carolina. Don't know if it was made in Mexico or not, but tomorrow, when I go flying, I will pull it out of the garbage and see if it says.

[AndyRV7]

I have my first flat under my workbench. I know the leak was in that area but I will pull the tube out next time I am at the hangar and see if it was on the seam.

[flyboy1963]

Mark, hope you had no other damage or grief.
...hmmm....making tubes for 100 years or so, and that's the best they can do? for a $80 aircraft tube?

perhaps send the photo to Goodyear or Michelin, Desser, and see what their techs say...apparently a common problem, we all need to know how to avoid it. (could easily have written off a 1/4 million dollar aircraft!)

not that it would solve this, but for the persistent nosewheel issues, balance, etc. does anyone use the green snot that many motorcycle riders put in their tubes? ( puncture seal, leak stop and balancer are all claims, or uses, for this gunk. I used it on all my motorcycles with no ill effect)

[AndyRV7]

I think you are talking about Slime. I bought a squeeze bottle to carry in the plane after I got my first flat. I never considered putting it in before a leak developed. What type of experience do yu have with it in your bike tires?

[DanH]

Mark, Don, inflation pressures?

[donaziza]

35 PSI for donaziza By the way, I did pull it out of the garbage to see if it was made in Mexico. Couldn't find anything---that I could read anyhow.

[rwtalbot]

That tube looks quite worn. I also think under inflation, not enough talc and age. Once they go flat the wheel and tire will destroy them very quickly. Tearing at the seams is not uncommon.

[flyboy1963]

Originally Posted by AndyRV7

I think you are talking about Slime. I bought a squeeze bottle to carry in the plane after I got my first flat. I never considered putting it in before a leak developed. What type of experience do yu have with it in your bike tires?

bought the slime, put the suggested amount in each tube, and smooshed it around. Mounted tube & tire. did not balance tires, but found no vibration or shimmy at any speed, so figured it was gravitating to the out of balance spot as suggested. never lost air, or got a flat in 5 years of riding. put the same stuff in bicycle tires as well.
Never tired in aircraft tires....I'd be concerned that it would settle to the bottom, and a short taxi wouldn't be enough to warm up and distribute it around the tube before takeoff, especially in cold weather....not an issue with fair weather motorcycling though.