Installing a Car Tire Inner Tube: Bringing a Car Out of Long-Term Storage

The first tubeless tire was patented by Goodyear in 1903, and even though it was a great idea they did not become available on American production cars until 1954 when Packard introduced them on their new models. Many classic cars of the 1950s and earlier used inner tubes and some cars and trucks used them into the 1970s and some commercial and industrial applications still use them today. Perhaps a bigger concern today is that few tire shops know how to properly service a car tire inner tube, and even fewer want to take on the liability of servicing a rim that in some cases is irreplaceable.

Knowing how to properly service a car tire inner tube is a great skill to have in your arsenal and can go a long way toward maintaining your classic or getting you off the side of the road in an emergency. We join Mark Simpson in the shop as he replaces the car tire inner tube on our 1931 classic on its journey to come out of long-term storage.

While we all know the risks that road hazards present to our tires, storage can also shorten the life of a tire. Cars need maintenance in storage too. Tires lose pressure and under inflated or flat tires can cause damage to the sidewall and inner tube. Additionally as tires age the rubber dries out, cracks and even fails. Our project car had good tires and tubes when stored away nearly 30-years ago, but require attention now to get this classic back rolling again.

Simpson demonstrates the process to insert the tube without twists or pinches, remount the tire on the rim, and reset the bead on the rim while properly inflating the tire. He’ll also explain how to remove trapped air between the rim and the inner-tube. Keep your ride rolling or get it rolling again using these important skills for replacing your classic car’s inner tubes.